Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-01-12

\ RAILROAD lNcIDENT.-The "Owl Tram
from New York, had passed Putney, on it
way TO St. Adams. There were but few
passengers on board, several having left a
the different stations below. All was quic
save the ceaseless rumbling of the wheel:
and the constant motion of the cars. Each
OF lie had labored 10 find some easy posture
and to steal a lit;le rest. so appropriate tO
this late hour Of the night.
All at once we were startled BIZ Shrek,
indicating intense suffering. from a young
man on the opposite side Of the car. He
had been leaning forward and looking TO-
wards the engine, but there was no passen-
sepper within several yards Of him. We all
gathered round the sufferer to learn the
cause of bis agony, and if possible, to afford
him relief.
my ewes are put out?'' ne exclaimed, as
he held his handkerchief tight TO his face.
- Is not the blood running down my ehecks?=
he asked, as he removed the bdndage from
! his eyes. We assured HIM that there was
no blood upon bis face, nor evidence Of VIC
/ lence His eyes were very much infamed.
! however, and what could be the cause? sit
must be cinders from the engine, suggest
ed one who stood By. But that was impos-
e4Ilt. lDE every Ni0lDh anu NDoA was dIu
had been tightly closed. - Something must
have struck upon the window from without
and scattered the broken glass and SCOT into
his eyes" said another. Bot there was no
appearance of broken windows. 3" He must
have been suddenly walked from sleep, and
is yet in a bew.ldered state, dreaming that
lie il hurt said third jurO. OF the in
quest. But Imagination could not inAsms
the eyes, was urged a. an objection to this
theory. And finally, q venerable, gray
headed gentleman from New York, who had /.
heard Of such cases, and was sure that this I
was one Of them, thought It was ga sudden 4
attack of inflammation in the eyes, and very /
much feared that something serious would 4
come OF it. But the young sufferer insisted .
strenuOusly that he was not deceived nor |
bewildered nor intoxicated, but knew not
only that he was totally blind and in great
agony, hut that something had struck his
eyes. lie heard noise upon the window
the instant the pain was felt. The mystery
was yet unsolyed, and the amaLement Of the
company was very great And | have no
doubt that the curiosity Of the reader Is by
this time much excited, and that he finds as
much difficulty to ascertain the cause as we
did who were the witnesses Of what was
passing in the car.
4 final search Of the premises discovered a
small empty glass bottle lying upon the floor
under the seat in front Of where the young
man was. The -topple was out, but near
by. On examination, it was found that this
bottle had contained "spirits Of hart
shOrn. and it proved the key for the salts
factory solution Of the whole difficulty.
Ii was remembered that fashionable lady
had left IN seat and the cars at the last
station. She had doubtless lett her fancy
bottle standing upon the window. The mo-
ton Of the cars had jostled it of, and as 1t
struck upon the vindow-sill the stopple flew
put and the contents were deposited In the
-oung soldiers eyes. He had been three {
7ears in the war, and in every battle (saye '
mel from the first Bull Run" to the at
ack upon Richmond by Gen Grant, and he
iad never before surrendered lie had been :
vice wounded by mimic balls, but had
ufftred no defeat until he encountered the q
bsent lady's bottle Of hartshorn 80
The sufferer was somewhat relieved before
&c took leave Of him, and W. trust has, ere 5
hIs, entirely recovered, and become wiser d
nd better man. The next time be takes
seat in the cars he will doubtless select one O
OF liable to be surrounded by the invisible t
ases." PASSENGER. {