The Shasta courier., 1867-02-09

ahu rusned away. L was Just in time.
Inc San Francisco glittered in the morn.
ing sun. The cars were filled rapidly
From my. post could hear the people talk.
ing-oiddlng each other goodbye, promising
10 write and to come again. Amongst them
was an old gentleman knew by sig ght-one
OF the share holders; he was bidding two
timid girls adieu
food bye, Kitty goodbye Lou" !
heard him say, don't be nervous. The
San Francisco is the fastest eu CINE on the
road, and Guelde1 the most careful engi.
neer l wouldn't be afraid to trust every
mortal love in batch to their keeping
Nothing could happen wrong with the two
together.
said, "I'll get through it somehow. and
Jo shall never have to talk to me again. -
After all it was easy enough. l reeled as
spoke. heard the signal. We were off.
Five hours from A. to T.; FIVE hours
back. On the last should be myself again.
| knew now. saw a red futtter. and never
guessed what it was till we passed the flag.
l heard the shrek, and we had passed the
down train at the wrong place. Two min
utes more and we should have collision
Somebody told me. l laughed. | heard
him say respectfully:
Of course, Mr.. Guelden, you knew what
you are about"
Then | was alone and wondering whether
l should go slower or faster. | did some.
thing, the cars rushed on at fearful rate.
Ihe same man who had spoken to me be-
fore was standing near me- | heard some
question.
How many miles an hour are we making ?
l didn't know.
n -
Rattle, rattle, rattlel l was trying to
slacken the speed of the San Francisco. now,
| could not remember what | should do
Was it this or that? Faster-only faster. |
was playing with the engine like a child.
suddenly there was horrible roar-a
clash; | was flung somewhere. 1t was into
the water. By a miracle was only sobered,
not hurt. gained the shore TODD upon
the ground between the track and the water $
edge, and stood there gazing at my work.
line engine was in fragments, the cars in
splinters; the dead, diving and wounded
were strewn around-men, women and chill
dren-old age and tender youth. There
were groans and shreks of despair. The
manned crying out in pain, the uniniured
bewailing their dead and a 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 friends
The dead were stretched on the grass |
went with some of the distracted to find their
lost ones. Searching for an old mans
daughter, | came to this a place under the
trees, and FIVE bodies lying there in all their
rigid horror-it was fancy-pure fancy, born
of my anguish-they looked like it oh
great Heaven-there were my old mother,
my wife, my children ! all cold and dead.
How did they come on the train? What
chance had brought this about? No one
could answer me- | groaned, | screamed,
clasped my hands. tore my hair. gazed
on the good old face of her who had given
me BIRTH on the lovely features of my wife,
on my innocent children. | called them by
name; there was no answer. There never
could be-never would be. And as | com.
pretended this, onward up the track thun.
dered another train-ts red eye glared on
me | flung myself before it; felt it crush
ing me to atoms
His head is so extremely hot," said
somebody.
opened my eyes and saw my wife.
g How do you feel ?" said she, '' n little
better?'
| was so rojoiced and so astonished by the
sight of her, that | could not speak at first.
She repeated her question.
81 must be crushed to pieces" said |,
!" for the train went over me; but feel no
pain"
"There he goes about the train again."
said my wife. =" Why, Ned"
tried to move-there was nothing the
matter with me; l sat up. was in my
own room opposite me crib in which my
two children were asleep. beside me a tiny
bald baby head My wife and all my chill
dren safe Was delirious, or could it be?
s'Jo." cried |, tell me what has hap
pened."
Its nine O'Clock, said 10. :" You came
home in such a dreadful state from the club,
that could not wake you. You weren't fit
to manage steam, and risk peoples lives
The San Francisco is half way to A., | sup
pose, and you've been frightening me to
death with your dreadful talk !"
And 10 began to cry.
1t was dream-only an awful Dream
But had lived through it as though it were
reality.
SIS there bible in the house, Jo?" said /.
@ Are we heathens?" asked 10.
"Give it TO me this moment 10 !"
She brought it, and put my hand on it,
and took an oath-too solemn to repeat here,
that what had happened never should occur
again. 1t never bas. And if the San Fran
cisco ever comes to grief the verdict will not
be- as it ought to be so often-' The engineer
was drunk !"