The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-11-15
Under The Train

L have been 1or many years IN the en-
ployment of the Telegraph Company,
chiefly in the inspection and repair of the
telegraph wires, and their fixings, which
are subject to many accidents, and re-
quire constant looking after to ensure
their integrity and efficiency. Even
when carried through tunnels, in gutta
percha castings, embedded in leaden tubes,
they are liable to accidents-from passing
luggage wagons, or, in winter, from humps
of ice falling down the sides of the shafts
and damaging the tubes Itappears, that
one day, the door of coal wagon had
got loose in the long tunnel of railway,
and dashing back against the sides of the
tunnel, had torn the tubes, and even cut
across the wires in many places. The
telegraph was. therefore, broken; it
could not he worked, and several work.
men were sent into the tunnel to execute
the necessary repairs Then, in my ca
pacity Of Inspector, it was necessary for
me to to visit the workmcn, ascertain the
nature of the damage that had been done
and give directions on the spot, as to the
repairs,thc necessity for completing which
was Of the greatest urgency.
| knew very well that the tunnel was
Of great length-and that the workmen,
who had set out in the morning from the
station nearest to the tunnel, had entered
it by its south end so | determined to
follow them, and overtakc them, which
would doubtless be able to do somewhere
in the tunnel, where they would be at
work was accompanied by little
dog, which trotted behind at my feet. Ac.
ter walking about mile, | reached the
tunnel entrance, over which frowned the
cffigy Of a grim lions head, cut into the
stone.
There was, as usual, two lines OF rails
the up line and the down line; and
determined to walk along thc former, that
! might see before me the approaching
lights Of any advancing train, which |
would take care to avoid by stepping on
on to the opposite line of rails,at the same
time that | should thus avoid being run
over by any train coming up behind from
the opposite direction, and which might
not see in time to avoid | had, however,
taken the precaution to ascertain that no
train was expected to pass along the up
line, over which | was proceeding for
about two hours; but | was aware that
that could not be depended upon, and
therefore | resolved to keep good look
out ahead. Along the opposite down
line | knew a passenger train was short
ly to pass indeed, it was even now due /;
but by keeping the opposite line of rails,
| felt that was safe as far as that was
concerned. had never been in tnnnel
Of such length as this before, and confess
| felt somewhat dsmaycd when the light
which accompanied me so far into the
tunnel entrance. began to grow fainter
and fainter.
After walking for short distance, |
proceeded on in almost total dardnesss.
But, by walking on in straight line
knew that could not miss my way, and
the rails between which | walked, and
occasionally touched, served to keep me
in the road. In a short time | was able
to discern seeming spot of light, which
gradually swelled into broader CLEAN
though still at great distance before me-
and knew it to be the opening of the
nearest shaft-it was mere glimmei
amid the thick and almost palpable dark.
ness which enveloped me. As | walked
on, | heard my little dog painting at my
heels, and the sound of my tread re-echo,
ed from the vaulted roof of the tunnel
When | stood still, heard distinctly the
beating of my heart.
A startling thought suddenly occurred
to me What if goods train should
suddenly shoot through the tunnel, alons
the line, on which was proceeding
while the wassenger train, now due, cam,
on in the Opposite direction? had no
not thought of this before. And yet
was aware that the number of casua
trains on well irequented railway i
very considerable at particular season
Should | turn back, reach the mouth o
the tunnel again, and wait until the pas
senger train had passed, when coul,
follow along the down line of rails
knowing that no train was likely to follow
it for at least quarter of an hour
But the shaft, down which the ligh
family streamed, was nearer to me tha,
the mouth of the tunnel and / resolve,
therefore, to make for that part wher
there was, | knew, ample room outsid
Of both lines of rail, to enable me to stan,
in safety until the down train had passed
So ! strobe on. But low, hollow mur
| u,ur as IL of remota thnndar and tha,