The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-08-16
RICHMOND, WAYNE CO., md, !


has about the same as murdered train
full of people must be, and you'll knop
| if you don't stop where you are. A
steady hand and clear head have been
your blessings all these years. Don't
throw them away. Ned. If you don't
care for my love. don't ruin yourself"
Ny little 10, She spoke from her
heart, and / bent over her and kissed
her.
Don't be afrai1, child said; III
never pain you again.
'.And l meant il, but at twelve that
night l felt that had forgotten the pro-
mise and my resolution
couldn't go home to 10. | made up
ny mind to sleep on the club sofa and
leave the place for good next day AL
ready l felt my brain reel as it neH er
had before In an hour l was in kind
of stupor.
1t was morning. A waiter sood ready
to brush my coat. l saw grin on his
black face. Ny head seemed about to
burst, my hand trembled / looked at
my watch; l had just five minutes to
reac the depot.
JOS words came into my mind. Was
| fit to take charge of the engine? l
was not fit to answer. / ought to have
asked some sober man. As II was,
only caught my hat and rushed away.
was just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in the
morning sun The cars were filling
rapidly. From my post l could hear the
people talking-hidding each other good
bye, 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, kitty-good bye, Lue,"
heard him say, don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine on the
inc, and Guelden the most careful en-
yineer. l wouldn't be afraid to trust
every mortal l love in a batch to their
leeping, Nothing could happen wrong
With the two together.
l said, '.Ill get through it somehow,
md 10. shall never have to talk to me
gain. After all it is easy enough" I
eeled as l spoke l heard the signal
We were Off.
Five hours from L. to D.; five hours
Jack. On the last I should be myself
gain, knew now. / saw red futter,
nd never guessed what it was until we
ad passed the flag. l heard a shrek,
nd we had passed the down train at a
7rong place. Two minutes more and
re should have had collision Some
ody told me. laughed. l heard him
ay respectfully:
'Of course, Mr.. Gnelden, you knew
that you were about
Then / was alone and wondering
neither should 60 slower or faster l
i'll something, the cars rushed on at
sarful rate.
The same man who had spoken to me
efore was standing near me. l heard
ome question.
How many miles an hour were we
!aking1 didn't know.
Rattle rattle, rattle, 1 was trying now
, slacken the speed of the San Francis
D.. l could not remember what should !
0. Was it this, Or that ? Faster-only
Ister. l was playing with the engine
Ike child
Suddenly there was horrible roar-a
rash l was thrown somewhere 1t /
as into the water. Bv a miracle / was
My sobered, not hurt. 1 gained the
lore; l stood upon the ground between +
le track and the rivers edge, and saz- |
at my work
The engine was in fragments, the cars
splinters, dead, dying and wounded /
ere strewed around-men. women and |
age and tender youth
here were groans and shrieks of des-
air. The manned cried out in pain; the
bewaled their dead, and a |
eice, unheard by any other, was in my
ar, whispering. Murderer
The news had gone back to A., and
eople came threnging down to find their
lends. The dead were stretched on /
he grass. I went with some of the dis
acted, to find their lost ones Search
Ig for an old mans daughter, came
lis: place under the trees A''
odies lying there in ri. ao''oA"
= ~ ~~ne, baby and two
~ oh;,dron twas faney-it was pure
,nex hor- of my anguish-they looked
Ia ,e.great heaven-they were my old
o.ier, my wife, my children. all cold
ID dead.
How did they come to be on the train?
hat chance had brought this about?
o one could answer l groaned,
reamed, clasped my hands, 1 tore my
lir. / gazed on the good old face of
r who had given me birth, on the love
features of my wife, on my innocent