The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-10-19

JOS words came to my mind Was l
fiji to take charge of the engine | was
not fit to answer. | ought to have asked
some sober man. As it was. | only
caught my hat and rushed away. | was
just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in the
morning sun. The cars were filling rapid
ly. From my post | could hear the peo-
pie talking-bidding each other goodbye
promising to write and come again
Amongst them was an old gentleman |
knew by Sight-one of the shareholders ;
he was bidding two timid girls adieu.
"Good-bye, Lue :" heard him say
''don't be nervous The San Francisco is
the safest engine on the line. and Gueldon
the most careful engineer [ would not
be afraid to trust every mortal | loye in Il
batch to their keeping. Nothing could
happen wrong with the two together"
| said, 'I'll get through it somehow and
10 shall never have to talk to me again. "
After all, it was easy enough Ireeled as
| spoke. | heard the signal We were
off.
Five hours from L. to d., five hours
back On the last | should be myself
again | know now saw red hutter
and never guessed what 4 was until we
were past the flag. | heard shrek and
we passed the down train at the wrong
place. Two minutes more and we should
have h-d collision. Somebody told me.
laughed. | heard him say respectfully:
"Ot course, Mr. Gueldon, you know
what you are about
Then | was alone and wondering whetIl-
er to 90 slower or faster. did some
thing. the cars rushed on at fearful rate
The same man who had spoken to me
before was standing near me. | heard
some question.
! How many miles an hour were we max.
ING Ididn't know
Rattle, rattle, rattle . was tryin.
now to slacken the speed OF the San Fran
CISCO. could not remember what
should do. Was ii this or that FaStel
only faster. | was playing with til,
engine like child.
Suddenly there was a horrible roar
crash | was flying somewhere. BY ;
miracle | WAS olIly Sohercd. not hurt
e;,ined the shore stood upon the groun,
between the track and the rivers edge an,
stood there gazing al my work.
The engine was Ill fragments, the car
in splinters dead and DYING and wound
ed were slrewn around-men and womcl
and children-od age and tender youth
There were eroans and shricks of despair
The manned cried out i'll pain. The ul
injured bcwaiIcd their dead anl a voic
unheard by ary other, was in my cal
whispering Murderer ~
The news had gone back to A.. IN
people came throngin@ down to find thci
friends. The dead were stretched OH tn
Grass. | went with some OF the distract
cd, to lind their lost ones. Searching tc
an old mans daughter. came to this :
place under the trees, and five bodies "
ING there i'll all their rigid horror-an ol
woman, and Young one, Il baby and tw
tiny chiidren-lt was tancy-it WIS pun
fancy, born OF my anguish-they locke
like-oh, great IIeaven-thev were m
old mother, nv wife, my children :.
,, cold and dead.
How did they come on the train
What chance had brought this about
= screamed, | clasped my hands and tore IN
hair. | gazed on the good old face of he
who had given me birth, on the lovely tc;
: lures of my wife, on my innocent children
called them by name there was no al
swer. There never could be-nevcr cou1
be. And as | comprehended this. onwal
up the track thundercd another train |
red eve glared on me : flung myself b
fore it | felt it crushing me to atoms
\ Ills head is extremely hot, said som
: body.
| opened my eyes and saw my wife.
II How you feel p she said, "a lit
9 better .
was so reioced and astonishcd by Il
c SIGHT of her that | could not speak at fir,
n She repeated her question.
Il must be crushed 10 pieces" sal
}. ''ior the train went over ne but | f,
no pain.
1t "There he goes about the train again
= said my wife. ''Why Ned"
l. tried to move-there was nothing t
ct matter with me | sat up. was in Il
X own room opposite me a crib III win
two children were asleep, beside me, 4
= nv, bald, baby head My wife and cll
dren safe Was | delirious, or could
K. be
70 10" cried. ''tell me what has ha
ed pened."
ut Its nine O'clock" saiI Jo. ~
ld came in such dreadful state from t
i'll club that | couldn't wake YOU You W
ut not fit to manage steam and risk peopl
le. lives. The San Francisco Is half way
he A., suppose, and you've been fright
he ing me to death with your dreadful tall
Die And Jo began to cry.
op 1t WAS a dTeam-only an awful drea
Il but | had lived through it as though
all were reality.
w. is there bible in the house, Jo