Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1871-09-28
that night l felt that had forgotten my
nronice anl NV rrSolltiDn

that night I felt that had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
couldn't get home to- Joe l made up
my mind to sl,cp on the club sofa, ana
leave the place for good the next day. Al
rra l felt my brain reel as 1t had never
done btforc. In an hour was in kind
OF stupor. 1t was morning. A waiter
stood ready to brush my coat SAW a
r,in ON his face. My hear, seemed ready
to burst; my hand trembled; / looked at
nv watch; l bad only just five minutes to
reach the depot!
Jr's words came to mind. Was fit to
take charge Of an engine? was not tit
to answer. l ought to have asked some
sober man. As it was, only caught my
hat and rushed away. | was just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in the sun.
The cars were filling rapidly. From my
post could hear the people talking-bid.
t,ing each other goodbye, promising TO
write and come again. Among them
was an old gentleman knew by sight
one of the shareholdt rs; he was bidding
two 'imid girls a'lieu.
GOOD bye, Kitty-good bye Lue :"
ht ard him say; don't be nervous. The
San Francl.co is the safest engine on the
l;rc, au.i Gueldel the most careful en-
gine2r l woud't be afraid TO trust eve y
Mort.l l love IT, tn ir keeping. Nothing
could happen wrong with the two TO-
&c her."
said I'll get through it somehow, and
Joe sh III never talk to me agoln After
III, it was easy enough. l reeled rs
spoke. heard the sie nal We were OIL.
Five hours from L. to D.; five hours
back. On the last l should bs myself
again, l knew now. l saw red nutter,
and never guesse what it was until we
were past the down train at the wror
pace. Two minutes more and we should
have had a c,ll sion. Somebody told me.
laughed. heard him say respectfully:
"Of course, Mr.. Guelden, you know
what you Hre about?'
Then l Was alone, and wondering
whether should 60 faster or slower.
did something, and the cars rushe d on at a
fearful rate. The same man who had spo-
ken ID me before was standing near me.
heard some question.
How many miles an hour were we max
ine1 didn't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle! I was trying now
to slacken ,he speed of the San Fran
cisco. could not remember what should
do-was it this or that? Faster Or slower
was playing with the engine like child
Suddenly there was a horrible roar-a
crash. was flung somewhere. l was in
the water By miracle was sobered,
not hurt. l gained the shore. l stood
upon the ground between the track and
the rivers edge and there gazed at my
work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars
in splinters dead and dying and wounded
were strewn arOund-men and women
and children-old age and tender youth.
There were groans and shrieks of despair.
The manned cried out in pain; the unin-
iured bewailed their dead and voice un-
heard by any other, was in my ear, whis'
pering "Murder!''
The news had gone to A, and people
came thronging down to find their friends
The dead were stretched on the grass. !
went with some of the distracted to find
their lost ones. Searching for an old
mans daughter, came to place under
the trees, and found five bodies lying
there all in their rigid horror-an old wo-
man, a young one, baby and two tiny
children. Was it fancy-was it pure fan
cy, born of my anguish-they looked like
oh, heaven! they were my old mother,
my wife, my children; all cold and dead.
How did they come on the train, What
chance had brought this about? No one
could answer. l groaned, l screamed, |
clasped my hands, l tore my hair, gazed
in the good old face of her who gave ME
birth, on the lovely features of my wife, on
my innocent children. l called them by
name; there vas no answer. There never
could-never would be. And as com
pretended this, onward up the track
Numbered another train. Its red eye
glared on me; flung myself before it; l
felt it crush me to atoms
ellis head is extremely hot" said some
body.
I opened my eyes and saw my wife.
"How do you feel?" said she ga little
better?"
was 80 rejoiced and astoni- he'd by the
sight of her that could not speak at first
She repeated the question.
Il must be crushed to pieces" said I,
" for the train went over me; but feel no
pain"
"There hc goes about that train again."
said my wife Why, Ned!"
tried to move-there was nothing the
matter with me. was in my own room !;
opposite to me crib in which my two
children were asleep; be:ide me a tiny
hald b. al. My wife and chill iren were
safe! Was delirious, or what could it be
"Joe," cried I, "tell me what has hap.
pened!'
"It's nine c'c]ock," said Joe. "You
{ ame home in such a state from the club
that couldn't wake you. You weren't
fit to manage steam and risk peoples lives.
The San Francisco is half way to A, l sup
pose, and you have been frightening me TO
desth with your dreadful talk"
And Joe began to crV
1t was ouly dream; only an awful
dream. But I had lived through it as
though it were rea ity.
els there Bible in the house, Joe?"
said I.
"Are we heathens ?" asked Joe.
"Give it to me this moment" Joe.
She brought it, and l put my hand on it
and took the oath (too solemn to be re-
peated hcre) that what had happened new
er should occur again. And if the San
Francisco ever comes to grief the verdict
will not be, as it has so often been-'' The
engineer aeas drunk"