Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-05-03

=" MdCl|eou sprung oUC upon tDe
platform as We stopped, and went into a
bar room adjoining the station. / went
hack and spoke to ole bf the brakemen. an
athletic Maine man. with thcws and sinews
"f iron. and the statue of giant.
Jim, said, in a low voice-his name
was Jim TUrraucc--'l want you to keep
your eye on Macleod and come on the 10.
connective with me. He talks and acts yery
strangely Tonight; and he may attempt
some violence
4 saw him draw out that outiandish
knife o. his. sir, a minute or two ago, said
jim, shrewdly. could easily jerk it away
from him when we're mOrin again,
mo, do not wish you to use foecc of
any kind unless it is absolutely necessary.
| think he il harmless. but it's lust az
we'll to keep little watch over him
Hes queer said Jim. Ill keep an
eye on hin..
Once more after ten minutes stop the
little signal-bell sounded 60 ahead. the
brakes moved nOisily. and the wheels be Z.
gan to revolve. Macleod had not return.
ed to his place by my side, and began
heartily to hope that he designed to favor
the with no more of his society. Twas
| Overjoyed to feel this. and in much lighter
spirits than usual let on the steam and
was soon going at a rapid rate. Three or
four hundred yards from the depot the road
ran through deep cut, and Just beyond it
was corresponding fill. or embankment
about ten feet high. The engineers, that
is the surveyors as we mechanical engin
GERS insist, half sneeringly in calling them.
had with very bad taste made compound
| rnrvGt hnra cn thnt h.c
cut could see nothing in it. and when
was in the cut could see nothing berond
1t. SO, OF course we had to go through with
whistle blowing and usually at a slow gait.
But feeling in good spirits at MaeT.eod.s
absence. the prospect Of a good run, hav-
ing the Lady in fine condition, with the
trains We were to meet reported .all right.
and the track clear, let the dogs loose. I.
opened valves, dashed through the cut,
and.
Very, very nearly into eternity. Daft
ger is said to he very fascinating it is par
tcularly so when you see it coming, have
the t" reflect upon it, and plan and exc.
cute a rescue or what you hope to prove
so. saw it plainly this night the rail half
removed, the figure of the nadn,an still
bent at bis hellish work. saw him rs he
completed it, saw him shake his fist say.
agely at me and lump aside to watch the
slaugh he had plotted. was not a
second in sounding down brakes. not an
instant IN reversing the engine, hut moth
ing could have saved that train except the
lnadnan's lack Of method, or want of the
sktfi u the despiscd Surveyors. For want
oil this knowledge. perhaps for want of time,
Macleod had removed hut one rail- and
that the inside one Ofihe rn,re- hnv" is
l could check the 'l.adv's speed she would
not leave tlIe track, as the outside rail is
the one which guides the train on a curve.
and This was 'lnract Jim Torrance had
come on the locomotive with me. and
turned to tell him to Jump for his life
when saw him standing upright in the
center of tile tender graspng IL huge block
of wood aud his eyes cleaning like Goals.
1t was no time to look after his safety: |
saw linn tnr! the stick of wood at Macleod
as he ran down the embankment. and the
next minute we struck tile ground, sand
plunged INTO the break
My calculations had been correct. jolt
ing violently over several cross ties, shat
terng cow catcher. and headlight, mash
ing the baggage and first passenger Car
throwing Jim Torrance with great violence
from the tender onto the locomotive. leav
ing him sensclcss by the shock, and nearly
| throwing me onto the boiler. the Lady.
struck and stopped withou: leaving the
track except upon the side where Macleod
had removed the rail. We were disabled
for the time, with nobody but Jim seriously
injured.
| Except Macleod. ,Jim's aim had been
too true, and the block of wood hurled with
all his force, gaining additional velocity
from that of til train, had struck Macleod
AS he ran aud feled him scnseless-the fact
is. as we soon found dead. The bullet struck
him. Jim Torrance was never tried for
it on earth poor fellow, he.s gone since,
and | don't much think tlrer recorded any
verdict against him in heaven.
After Jim was taken care of. the lantern
put out ahead and behind us to warn ap-
preaching trains, and the disabled train was
gone through to see after the wounded.
John MacLeod's corpse was taken up and
carried back to the station which he had
just lett.
Frank said Carew, when matters were
slightly settled again. who is to tell this
story 10 Mae wife J.
She does not suspect anytliins-that is,
she don't know how it occurred
She knows there has been an accident
| hut she dosen know thar Mac was thrown
out Of the locomotive and is the only on,
killed.
! Good Even Carcw did not suspect how
Macleod had been fellcd by Torranc',
blow and killed.
Il will tell her. I said determined that
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