Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-11
taIIIdshl Eifs 81 ! lan.l..ielI;ei..

Midnight Ride OF ! wsCatciief'!
writer iii tho onesea Cireblsr describes
singular adventure
1.-THE train was to start at III As, and ii
wanted but a few minutes of the time As
/ stood there in the darkness within a few
feet of the kissing monster, my heart began
to fail me, and almost resolved taabandon
my hazardous undertaking. What if /
should lose my hold and be thrown of In
front OF that crushing mass of machinery
Such thoughts kept whirling through my
mind, and / hesitated. Suddenly the bell
rang. Hardly realizing what did, hastily
left the dark recess and stepped on the
heavy framework in front of the engine
BY means of a stout leather strap l bound
myself on by passing round my body and
under one of the strong bars of the cow
catcher. While / was thus engaged the
train had left the depot and with rapidly
increasing speed was passing through the
city. / had some fears lest some of the
fiag-m at the street crossing should dis
cover me and signal the engineer; for well
knew that If III, should become aware Of nv
perilous situation he would stop the train
and takem off. My fears were groundless.
The strong glare of the headlight directly
over me made my position, by contrast,
almost invisible to any one in front
Passing the last crossing with a rush
and roar, we sped ON through the suburbs.
and into the open country. The city lights
disappeared one by one in the distance:
and we were fairly on our way. 1t was a
wild night The light of the moon strug-
gled with difficulty through the dark clouds
which were driven before strong wind
from the southwest. Now and then an
opening would illumine the landscape with
a sudden burst of silvery light, to be imme-
diately followed by almost total darkness
as the heavy cuInuli rolledup in the masses
of inky blackness. The cone of light from
| the dazzling lens above me would then cut
the darkness in its onward rush with start
ling clearness. Now flashing up the rocky
sides of some mountain gorge, Illuminating
rock, tree and shrub with almost daylight
distinctness; anon losing itself in the sur
rounding darkness as we emerged into the
country beyond; Thea shooting along the
rails ahead, making them look hike glistening
until they disappeared in the darkness be-
yond
''AIile after mile we sped along | had
become somewhat used to my strange pc
sition, but it required constant attention to
prevent my feet from slipping from the
! lower bar of the frame on which | was
| standing. At best had but partial foot
hold, and the constant jar of the engine on
the short curves would almost throw me
of. In passing through the S. mountains
road was very rough and crooked. The
pondrous engine bounded along with now
and then a sudden lurch in its seemingly
mad effort to plunge into the black chasms
which yawned on every side. In one of
these sudden movements the buckle of my
strap broke and / was only saved from
| instant death by wedging my hands between
/ the bars of the cow-cateher and clasping
| them underneath / must hold on now for
| dear life. Once L opened my mouth to
scream, in the hope that II, would hear me.
A second thought convinced me of the
the utter uselessnes of attempting to make
my voice heard at that distance above the
roar of the engine. Even when standing
on the foot board it was with difficulty
that We could hear each other My only
hope was that my stiffening finfels would
hold on for The remaining ten miles. An
occasional glimpse of the country showed
ME that we had gone twO-thirds of our dis
tance. and had also most fortunately passed
the toughest points. Twenty minutes more.
and / should be safe.
eve had now passed the mountains. and
the road became straighter and smoother
As we emerged from the tunnel on the
spur OF the mountains l caught sight
far down the line of the G, express The
IOdu tBGIt - tHIcO
miles, and I had an unobstructed view.
Brighter and brighter grew the headlight
till it seemed to glare with demonic fierce
ness. Although | knew there was no dan
ger, yet the sight Of that pondrous creature
laundering toward me, sent through me "a
momentaTy thrill OF horror, and L lnvolun-
tarily clung closer and closed my eyes as
the train rushed past. A long whistle from
our engine announced our approach to LIS
and l assure You it was music to my ears.
1 could not nave held ON fifteen minutes
longer. As the train stopped, | unclasped
my benumbed fingers and stepped to the
ground but could not walk three steps, my
legs were so stiff from being so long in
cramped up position. Atlast Preached the
side of the road and sat down. The moon
had long been obscured, and few heavy
drops betokened the coming storm
Edwin Forrest is at present securing sew
erAl first-class actors to travel with him the
coming season.