The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1868-10-16
A Midnight Ride on a Catcher


describes singular adventure =.
The train was to start at 1l:45 and
it wanted but few minutes of the
time. AS / stood there in the dark
ness within q few feet of the kissing
monster, my heart began to fail me,
and / almost resolved to abandon
my hazardous undertaking.
What if | should lose my hold and
be thrown Off in front of that crush
ing mass of machinery? What if
there should be something on the
track? Such thoughts kept whirl-
ing through my mind, and l hesits-
ted. Suddenly the bell rang. Hard
ly realizing what did, i 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
it 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. l had some fears lest
some of the flag men at the street
crossing should discover me and sig
nal to the engineer; for well knew
that if III. should become aware OF
my perilous situation he would stop |
the train and take me Off My fears
were groundless. The strong glare
of the headlight directly over me
made my position, by contrast, al
most invisible to any one in front.
Passing the last crossing with
roar, we sped on through the sub
urbs and into the open country. The
city lights disappeared one by one
in the distance, and we were fairly on
our way. 1t was q wild night. The
light of the moon struggled with diff
ficulty through the dark clouds which
were driven before strong wind
from the southwest. Now and then
an opening would illumine the land
scape with a sudden burst of silvery
light, to be Immediately followed by
almost total darkness as the heavy
cumuli rolled up in masses of inly
blackness. The cone of light from
the dazzling lens above me would
then cut the darkness on its onward
rush with startling 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
surrounding darkness as we emerged
into the open country beyond; then
shooting along the rails aheal, max
ing them look like glistening threads
until they disappeared in the darkness
beyond.
Mile after mile we sped along.
had become somewhat used To my
strange position, but it required con
slant attention to prevent my feet
from slipping from the lower bar OF
the frame on which L was standing.
At best had but partial foothold,
and the constant jar of the enSihe
on the short curves would almost
throw me Off. In passing through
the s. mountains the road was very
rough and crooked. The pOndorous
engine bounded along with now and
then O sudden side lurch in its seem
ingly mad effort to plunge into the
black chasms which yawned on every
side. In one of these sudlen move
ments 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 clasp
ing them underneath. | must hold
on now for dear life. OnceI opened
my mouth to scream, in the hope
that I'll. would hear me. A second
thought convinced me of the utter
uselessness 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 fingers would hold on for
the remaining Ten miles. Aa Occa-
sional glimpse of the country showed
me that we had gone two-thirds OF
our distance, and had also most for I
passed the toughest points.
Twenty minutes more and | should
be safe. /
We had now passed the mountains, {
and the road became straighter and
AS we emerged from the
tunnel on the spur of the mountains, /
I caught sight far down the line, OF
the headlight of the c. express. The (
road is there perfectly straight for
three miles, and had an unobstruct-
ed view. Brighter and brighter grew
the head light till it seemed to glare {
with demoniac fiereeness. Although {
l knew there was no danger, yet thII
sight of that pOnderous creature
toward me, sent through I
me momentary thrill of horror, and
lnvoluntarily clung closer and clos
ed my eyes as the train rushed past.
A long whistle from cur own engine,
announced our approach to LIS, and
assure you it WIS music to my ears.
| could not have held ON fifteen min-
utes 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 cramp-
ed nositiOn- AL last / reached the