Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-09-20
SEPTEMBER 90, 1867.

could not touch any part of the engine
with my feet. was almost at my wits
end. The unaccustomed exerlion was be-
ginning to tell upon me severely, and
was trembling with excitement and cold.
sank despairingly into the seat. ! never
thought Of clambering down and crossing
over by the buffers, for | had so made up
my mind to the ole course, that when it
was interrupted, was for a time stagger-
ed, and rem Tered incapable of further
action. | was so sitting, with my elbows
on my knees and my face buried in my
hands, stupidity brooding over and cursing
my adverse fate, when a blaze OF light
showed me the platform of Feltoa station.
There were not many people waiting, for
the train was not due for several minutes,
but the scared look which distinctly saw
on the faces Of those few. as we tore past.
!, can never forget. 1t may be thought
impossible that, at the rate at which we
were running, | should be able to see the
faces 50 distinctly, but it is nevertheless
quite true and what is more, | seemed
to take in all,--the people, the clock-face,
the name of the station, and all the MIMI
test e:ceteras,-without trying 10 do 50,
or moving my head in the least, and in the
smallest fraction of time, for we We're in
and out of the station in fash.
What the people thought Of me---if
) they saw me at all on my perchI do not
! know but the sight Of them on me was
/ electrical. Iutlitively / saw that no time
/ was to be lost. In the same moment |
e had resolved and done. had sprung,
: and was clinging round the neck of the
unconscious monster in front, aud sliding
n rapidly down the smo 9TH and heated sur
1, face on the truck of the engine. Once
Ii there all was we'll ! walked along the
/ side over the wheels, always holding on to
ct the brass rod, and, in another moment,
/ was moving the handie to shut off the
f. steam previous to applying the brake.
n knew enough Of locomotives to prevent
n my doing this 70, quickly, and did no
~ draw up until we reach. d Ifcembe station
y Arrived there, l resigned my charge L
ry the station-aaster. and, after securing TIN
th few things ! had left beIsind me in TIN
compartment, made my escape TO tht
by booking-o -oifice as fast as | could far the
ia hand-shakings, God bless you's y and
at othef expressions Of thanks from The peo.
x pie, whom had been Instrumental III saw
OF ing from II terrible catastrophe, were
proving too mnah TOR me, and / was glad
y to gel away from ii. There was some-
ID thing 50 terribly ia earnest, and sincere
y about il, that | was more frightened by il
r than had been by any pat Of my peril
l. ous adventure.
se Very little more need be said. A mes
d sage was Immediately sent to the authori-
n ties of Middlesham, apprising them of our
&, safe arrival at Ifcombe, and requesting
ii that an engine might be sent on with fresh
p drivers and our guard The telegram
in reached there just as they were about to
st send off a special engine and carriage con-
ii tanning all the medical men they could
50 collect in so short q time for their impress
e. sion was that we would all be found buried
IN in the ruins of our train somewhere be-
OF tween Mddlsham and Dillmouth. OF
d. course, when they heard we were all right,
eli the doctors were set at liberty, and the
til engine came one By itself with our guard
RS and drivers. We heard for the first time
nd how the thing happened. The engine
re driver, it appeared, bal gone across the
on line 10 get his usual glass Of whisky before
p- starting, leaving his fireman in charge.
nd While he was gone the fireman had to dc
he some oilng work TO the engine, and some
'as one, supposed to be one of the goods dri-
ay vers, had seized the opportunity and go'
m on. This man had called out to the fire.
,as man to stand by and hold switch while
he he took on horse box.
The fireman, thinking all was right, ant
,nt that it was the proper driver returned
he without looking up, did as he was told
ind Everything then followed as We had sus
as pected. The train moved off without th,
m guard, and with the carriage doors open
ere The engine driver rushed just in time tt
INK see the tail lights of the train disappear
vas ing under the bridge, and very much sur
the prised his fireman by asking for an expla
ted nation Of such an extraordinary proceed
ave ing. The fireman, poor man, could onl
ing protest in strong language, that he ha
ide received his orders from the engine, ant
ext as he supposed, from the engine-drive
TX 7; himself. There was, as might be expect
ing ed, great CONSERVATION amongst the off
ing cials, when it became known that som
my one had run off with the train, and 9
IDS such a thing could not have been don
res with anv harmless intention and the cor