Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1867-07-04


gone. There remained, therefore, nothing
but the roofof the carriages And now that
| had thought of that way, L could not
help wondering that had not thought of
it before 1t seemed so much easier and
safer to walk along the roofs, and leap from
one carriage to another, than to scramble
like cat from door handle todoor- handle,
and from one platform to the next. To de-
eide, was the work of one moment-the
next, | was in action. | threw the door
open, and stepping from the hoor OF the
carriage upon the window frame, used it
as kind of ladder, and mounted to the
top. AsI did so, | heard the merchant,
from his corner, give me parting God
bless YOU " in a voice weak and trem-
bling, but with an accent so sincere that
felt considerably encouraged and strength
ened in my purpose. God knows | need
ed it for although it was a matter of
comparative ease to reach the roof, yet,
once there, on my first attempt to assume
an upright position, | was thrown violent
ly back, and had not caught the end of a
strap which was flying loose, should most
certainly have rolled of, and have been
killed on the rails below. In my eagerness
| had quite overlooked the tremendous
speed at which we were travelling, and the
consequent immense resistance offered by
the atmosphere. The accident, however,
rendered me more careful and particular in
my every movement, and Immediately set
myself to work with all my faculties of
mind and body in their fullest exercise, to
transport myself to the fore-end of the
train. JTeWaS on the fourth carriage from
the engine, and there were, therefore, four
horrid gaps for me to cross before !. should
find myself safely on its tender, So" =
1t was terrible work and / could only
get on at all by crawling alongHonl my
hands and knees, and holding on to such
straps and rods as came in my way. There
was an old-fashioned guards seat on the
front of each of the carriages, so that, by
stepping down upon this, leaning forward,
and placing my hands upon the next car
riage, and springing up, and so on, crawl
ing and jumping, | at last reached the
guards seat on the first carriage, where
naturally expected should have nothing
to do but spring on To the cinders of the
engine tender. In this [ was, however
cruelty disappointed, for, as if to complete
the chapter OF accidents, l found the en-
CINE was turned the wrong way about, so
that nearest me was the black and ugly
chimney, heaving out its rapid clouds of
luminous steam and smoke. | almost gave
1t up then, my case looked so very hope
less; for, do what would, and stretch my
self and reach out as | might, could not
touch any part of the engine with my feet
was almost at my wits end. The unac-
customed exertion was beginning to tell
upon me severely, and | was trembling
with excitement and cold | sank despair.
lngly into the seat | never thought of
down and crossing over by the
buffers, for had so made up my mind to
the one course, that when it was interrupt
ed, was Tor time staggered, and rendered
incapable of further action. | was so sit
ting, with my elbows on my knees and my
face buried in my hands, stupidity brood
ing over and cursing my adverse fate,
when blaze of light showed me the plat
form of FELTON, station. There were not
many people waiting, for the train wasnot
due for several minutes but the scared
look which | distinctly saw on the faces of
those few, as we tore past, I shall never for
get. II may be thought impossible that, at
the high rate at which we were running, |
should be able to see those faces so distinct
ly, but it is nevertheless quite true; and,
what is more, I seemed to take in all-the
people, the clock face, the name of the sta
ton, and all the minutest etceteraS-without
trying to do so, or moving my head in the
least, and Id the smallest fraction of time,
for we were IN and out of the station in a
flash.
What the people thought of me-if they
saw me at all on my perch-I do not know
but the sight of them on me was electri-
cal. lntultlvely saw that no time was to
be lost In the same moment | had re-
solved-and done. | had sprung, and was
cllnglng round the neck of the unconscious
monster in front, and sliding rapidly down
Its smooth and heated surface to the truck
OF the engine Once there, all was well.
L walked along the side, over the wheels,
always holding on to the brass rod, and, in
another moment, was moving the handle
to shut OIL the steam previous TO applying
the brake | knew enough of locomotives
to prevent my doing this too quickly, and
| did not draw up until we reached If
combe station. Arrived there, L resigned
my charge to the station master, and, after
securing the few things / had left behind
me Id the compartment, made my escape
to The booking office as fast as | could for |
the handshakings, " God bless you's !" and |
other expressions of thanks from the peo-
pie whom had been instrumental in saw
ng from terrible catastrophe, were prov
ng too much for me, and | was glad to |
get away from it, There was something |
10 terribly earnest and sincere about it, |
hat l was more frightened by 1t than |
lad been by any part of my perilous adj |
venture. .4 u
Very little more need be said A, mes
age was Immediately sent to the authori- |
les at-Midd1eshar1, apprising them of our I
'ate afTlvalat Ifcombe, and requestingthat !
IN engine, might be sent on with fresh /
irlvers and our guard The telegram |
reached them just as they were about to I
end off Especial engine and carriage con. |
aiming all the medical men they could col |
ect In SO short space of time, for their
was that we would all be found |
buried in the ruins of our train somewhere
between Middlesham and Dilmouth. OF |
course, when they heard we were all right
he doctor was set at liberty, and the en-
CINE came on by itself with our guard and
rivers, We then heard for the first time
1ow the thing happened The engine
ir1Ver, 1t appeared, had gone across the
inc to getahis usual glass of whisky before
starting, leaving. his fireman in charge.
While he was gone the fireman had to get
1T to do some oiling work to the engine,
md some one, supposed to be one OF the
foods drivers, had seized the opportunity
md got on. This man had called out to
he fireman to stand by and hold switch
While he took on horsebox The fire.
nan, thinking all was right, and that it
vas the proper driver returned, without
ooking up, did as he was told. Every
hing then followed as we had suspected.
The train moved off without the guard,