Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-12-21
NV Ettle Jo. She spoke from her heart

4
Jo. stood before me.
"Ned," said she, 81 never had fault
to find with you before. You've been kind,
and good, and loving, always; but l
should be sorry we ever met if you are to
go on in this way. Don't ask me what
mean. You know"
'Jo.," said |, dts only one club night.
at will grow" said she.
Then she put her arms around my
neck.
'Don't be afraid, child. I'll never pain
you again."
And l meant it; but at twelve O'Clock
that night | felt that | had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
l couldn't go home to Jo. l made up
my mind to sleep on the club sofa and
leave the place for good next day. Already
| felt my brain reel as l never had before.
In an hour l was in land of stupor.
Itwas morning. A waiter stood ready
to brush my coat. sam grin upon his
face My head seemed ready to burst; my
hand trembled; / looked at my watch,
saw that had only just five minutes to
reach the depot
JOS words came to my mind. Was ]
fit to take charge of an engine! | was not
fit to answer. ought to have asked some
sober man. AS it was, l only caught up
my hat and rushed away. l was just in
time.
The San Francisco glittered in the morn
ing sun. The cars were filling rapidly.
From my post could hear the talking
bidding each other goodbye, promising
to write and come again. Among them
was an old gentleman l know by sight
one of the shareholders; he was bidding
two timid girls adieu.
Goodbye, Kitty-good-bye Lue," !
heard him say, ''don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine on the
line, and Guelden the most careful engi-
neer. 1 wouldn't be afraid to trust every
mortal love in the batch to their keeping.
Nothing could happen wrong with the two
together"
l said "I'll get through it some how,
and 10. shall never talk to Inc again. u
After all it was easy enough. l reeled as
spoke l heard the signal. We were off.
Five hours from l.. to D.: five hours
back. On the last l should be myself
again, l knew, l saw red futter, and
never guessed what it was until we were
past the down train at wrong place.
Two minutes more and we should have
had collision. Somebody told me. |
laughed. | heard him say, respectfully.
''Of course, Mr.. Guelden you know
what you are about. I"
Then | was lone, and wondering
whether should 60 slower or faster. l
did something, aud the cars rushed on at
fearful rate.
The same man who had spoken to me
before was standing near me. | heard
some question. 4. @.5-r
How many miles an hour were we max
ing! did not know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle. was trying now
to slacken the speed of the San Francisco.
l could not remember what should do.
Was it this or that Faster-only faster
l was playing with the engine like child.
Suddenly there was horrible roar-a
crash; l was flung somewhere. 1t was into
the water BY miracle | was only So
bered-not hurt. gained the shore. l
stood upon the ground between the track
and the rivers edge, and there gazed at
my own work.
The engine was in fragments the cars
in splinters; dead, dying and wounded
were strewn around-men, women and
children, old age and tender youth. There
were groans and shrieks of despair The
manned cried out in pain; the uninjured
bewailed their dead; and voice, unheard
by any other, was in my ear whispering
''Murderer?"
The news had gone back to A., and
people came thronging down to find their
lost ones. Searching for an old mans
daughter, | came to place under the
trees, and five bodies were lying there in
all their rigid horror-an old woman, a
young one, a baby and two little children.
1t was fancy-it was pure fancy, born of
my anguish-they looked like-oh great
Heaven! they were my old mother, my
wife, my children all cold and dead. w.
How did they come on the train! What
chance had brought this abouts | gazed
on the good old face of her who had given
me birth, on the lovely features of my
wife, on the innocent children. I called
them by name; there was no answer.
There never could be-never would be.
And l as l comprehended this, onward up
the track thundered another train. It's
red eye glared on me; l flung myself be-
fore it; felt it crush me to atoms
''His head is very hot" said somebody.
Iopened my eyes and saw my wife.
"How do you feel?" she said "a little
better?"
was rejoiced and so astonished by the
sight of her, that | could not speak at first
She repeated the question.
81 must be crushed to pieces" said |,
for the train went over me; "but l feel no
pain"
''There he goes about the train again,
remarked my WIFE "Why, Ned?"
l tried to move-there was nothing the
matter with me; sat up. / was in my
own room opposite me crib in which
two children were asleep, beside me tiny
bald baby head. My wife and children
were safe Was delirous, or could it
be?
90" cried l, ''tell me what has hap
pened!"
dts nine o'clock" sain Jo. "You came
home in such dreadful state from the
club that couldn't wake you. You were
not fit to manage steam and risk peoples
lives. The San Francisco is half way to
A., suppose, and you have been fright
ening me to death with your dreadful
talk"
And Jo. began to cry.
1t was dream-only an awful dream.
But l had lived through it all as though it
sIs there a Bible in the house. Jo?n