Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1869-07-27

rushing engine. 1ow setsid 15aIof5
SO ho! mutinous imp!" he shouted
again. "Your eyes are bright, and oul
lantern is but a poor one! They shall
never supply its place, and light us through
the Valley Of the Shadow of Death! He
ho! 1t is a capital idea and gloriou,
trick !''RoE iitg ie u 9bis
In my lost, helpless condition Of body
and mind, | hardly comprehended wha,
he Was about to do, until he had, again
lifted me on high, and carried me to the
front of the locomotive. Holding me out
with one hand, with the other he lashed
me securely, elbow and heel, before the
putting chimney, just above the lantern
SO securely, indeed, that could scarcely
move finger.
In this frightful position, tied firmly in
front Of the rushing engine, with the
taunting yells of the maniac behind me
ringing in my ears, could only gaze down
the reeling road in stupefaction Of hor-
ror.
We were going at frightful rate Of
rate of speed-over a mile per minute, |
am positive; yet every now and then l
could hear the mudihah heaping fresh fuel
into the furnace, and cracking on more
steam," while his wild yeils and laughter
rose incessantly over even the crashing of
the tearing machine.
Although the wind at first almost de-
prived me Of my breath, the smoke, cin-
ders and dust of course flew behind me,
and left my vision clear.
could see far down the track, along
which the strong lantern sent penetrat-
ing and streaming ustre. The hills AMI
the valleys and rocks rushed by me with
the rapidity Of a dream. Now, we would
fly through a deep defle, or long,
black tunnel with clatter and scream
sufficient TO wake the mumied dead; then
with a lhore subdued, but even dcadlier
horror, we would fly along the curve Of
some dreadful prccipice, down which |
dared not even glance.
Once | saw dark object standihg be-
tween the rails far down the railroad
track. The flash Of our approach reveal
ed the fact to me that it was COW, OF
suliie utl er dumes,iV a"i''"-' '.,..
some neighboring pasture. 1t did not
move at our approch, and | thought that
the hour of my diolution was at hand.
But there was only a slight shock. lfelt
the quick movement of the cow-catcher
under my feet, and then the obstacle--
whatever it might have been--was remov-
ed, and we dashed on with unimpede ve-
locity.
It seemed THAT | had passed many
hours ii tliis agony, when we whirled
ronnd the sharp curve that goes down the
steep grade, which desccnds almost t" the
edge Of the railroad bridge at llarper's
Ferry. / could see the few lights OF the
little town sparkling far below, and the
winding river glimmering in the star
shine. ftF
As l gazed, l suddenly saw what ap-
peared to be a fiery, blood-red eye, NOV
ing slowly out Of the town, and begin to
ascend the slope towards me. Prone as
was to any unearthly belief It that mo-
ment | nevertheless knew it to be the
approaching train which the Superinten-
dent had warned me Of. The wholetruth
flashed upon me like lightning. We had
not been going so fast as l had supposed
we're, in fact, behind time, and the
midnight train was rushing toward us from
the Ferry, on the same track Scarcely
three minutes could intervene before the
collision took place. In the agony 'ol
that thought, | seemed gifted with renew
ed vigor, and, turning my head, like
wild beast, with single snap Of my teeth
severed the thong Which bound my righ
arm. We were just then sweeping dowr
the steep incline, and something futteret
over my face. 1t was the cord attached
to the steam-whistle of the locomotive
| which was thus providentially blown init
my grasp by the sudden nearing of ou
course. seized IT despairingly, and as
, clinging to the chimney, disengaged IN,
! feet and other arm. let off n whiste---or
rather, prolonged, demonlac shrek
D winch echoed throngh the mountain gor
q ees like the combined voices OF all he
Q upraised. us IiiaJ aii q 9
S AsI released the rope, and clambere
: over the edge Of the locomotive, sa'
the maniac pause q moment paralyzo
> with terror at the unusual din. Thel
with wild yell, he sprang from the el
! gine, and disappeared overit.e preeipic'
a along whose dizzy verge we were fyll
y at.tks tipe.ai bas .aograq7-ol laco
: Going at this fearful rate Of speed,
knew it would be useless to attempt
. obreak ,up.' aud began to look for 50