Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-11-19
CAUGHT ON THE TRACK
A Tsle Of the OH Rexfon.


shall never forget, said the nsrrator-as be
borrowed chew Of tine cut of me, ana pro
eeeded to stow il away in the cavity in bis mouth
formerly occupied by several teeth-I shall
never, while live, forget an incident that oc
Cured during the early period OF the oil excite
ment In Pennsylvania, and where many are
now nsihg VINO were eye witnesses Of the occur
renee, which was the theme OF universal con
yersation, while strong men, accustomed to
scenes of blOodshed and deadly peril, shuddered
as they related the story to those who were bold
enough to desire to hear the same. In the fall
or loG5, the southern ter minus OF the Oil Greek
railroad was at Shaffer, q small town ON OiI
Creek, that had been called into existence by
reason OF the discovery of oil, and noted princi-
paily as being the nearest railroad point 70 the
then famous PithOle City, the general head
quarters or all operators and the most northern
outlet OF petroleum shipments.
Among those attracted to the oil region after
Inc close OF the civil war was q young man
named James b. Hathaway, who, after four
years OF brilliant and distinguished service as
search OF the wealth that was supposed 10 he
within the grasp of every one. Energetic and
AMBITIOUS, it was not long before he had ac-
gul,sa e. n5ts prGpsTty wnich By judciOas
ceI ain Spectators in New York, who in turn
sold the same for the snug little sum of 900 OOO
which at that time was about the average price
Of farms really, or supposed to be, upon the
"0elt" This transaction netted Hathaway
rearly $780, 600, which he had with a wisdom sell
DOM witnessed at that period OF oil history, sent
uN6sS6cnusettS. A
Gays later after writing to his friends OF his for
tune, and more especially to a young LADY,
named Laura De Haven, then about concluiin9
heI studies at Vassar College, and to whom he
his good fortune near Pithole and started for
lone, by way of Shaffer and Miller farms.
As might be supposed, his thoughts were
pleasant ones, and as he passed through the
woods on the way to the railroad, 1t seemed as
II all nature was in joyful accord with his feel
lnss. AS he passed along, the golden sunshine
~ nhar afvnrvt lxaa -I.A~
OF the oak and maple with more brilliOnt hues.
and soft haze in the distant horizon adding to-
the loveliness Of nature, as a veil over the form
OF beauty heignteps the effect without conceal
seh happy home upon the banks of the Mish-
aDunkeuan in his native State, where, safe
from the prying eyes of the world and the ON
GERS OF the Maine liquor law, he could pass
smoothly down the vale Of life with the fair be-
ing who had promised to be his. But as such
thoughts as these passed through his brain he
until the evergreen crowned bluffs that marked
the site of Shaffer appeared In view. Passing
over the ferry, and in the excitement OF his joy.
Ini emotion fsSIsstStng to pay the ferryman he
latter asking for his customary rec, PIscinS 1 .
en-forty coupon bond on the erim ferrvman,s
SSsts ,h be tf Daas him and walked
;sst time served as passenger station Sor tha ~
railroad when In its infancy. IVA 'A'
AZ! could be but have looked ahead and seen
tue teAiW lao that threatened-could he Int
have known that the ferryman whose services
heihad received, was In reality but the "SharonS
o'er the "Styx"-only In this instance death
awaited on the further side-but digress.
While vending his way along the curves of
the iron road, and silenced in cont emplation If
the engineering genius who must have been "a.
munefated by the length Of his word, Haths-
way suddenly felt his foot sink between the iron
rails that marked the switch, and trying to Dro-
ceed. was thrown violently to the ground; aris-
ing with difficulty he attempted to extricate the
imprisoned foot, but In vain. 1t had become SO
DIR hly wedged between the rails that ali
efforts were fruitless. He struggled, jerked.
tore UP the gravel. broke off ties, but the faith.
full contractor of the road had for once per
formed good job, and the rails were immov-
ably spiked; thinking II would be good joke to
relhte when he arrived home, he paused TO rest,
then attempted to pull his foot out OF
the Imprisoned boot, but this too proved
Q vain deiusion, and his foot having
swollen rendered such an escape impossible
He looked at his watch, however. It wanted
only ten minutes Of the time when the up train
should pass He heard it then whastlng ct the
station below, and its echoing shrek As Il passed
from bluff to bluff up the fast darkeniBg valley
seemed the shrek Of despair. He called for
help, bat nome came; instead came the unmis-
taxable sound Of the fast appso aching locomc-
tive. He moved his Lips In silent prayer, thea
felt for his knife, while Q gloam of hone ran
through his brain ct the thought that by ampu-
tatOn 1t least he could he sSyod. Horrible