South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-30
ar cor,1dn,. have lain tbere baIfan bor

for. when L came to, the first object that
met nv view in the distant landscape was
the white tower of the Methodist Church
In N. Twas lying onmy side, between
the engine and tender, with my head hall
over the edge" ..,, f.t4 t-at .,,T 70.
Weak and exhausted from loss OF
blood, which was still flowing from the
wound upon my head, lay there helpless
and hopeless. My eyes wandered8 TO
where She madman was still standing. !
saw him Witht heightened. .wildness on his
countenance, his long hair floating in the
wind behind, his eye glancing eagerly out
ahead, his lips muttering words to me in-
coherent and meaningless. Now and then
he-would dafcs, end clap his hands with
a fiendish JOY, then Settle quietly down
again to his sullen mutterings.
. The rate of speed at which we were
moving was absolutely frightful-not less,
/ should think, than a mile minute-and
/ feared evefyl instant the crash would
send me, mailman, engine, everything,
whirling TO perdition- - - ---.y
/" As each moment my faculties grew
stronsers Z began to realize, in alsits force,
the horror Of my situation. What If he
should discover In ME signs of returning
life? He would, without a doubt. throw
me from the train, or dash my brains ont.
Meanwhile, where was the conductor
Perhaps he had been left behind at H.
The brakesman -could f1ot some of them
come TO rescuse me? Had not our wild
speed, our neglect of the usual stoppages,
told those on the train that something was
certainly WronEs And why, then, did
they not come to see what 1t was? Surely
an end must soon come of this horrible
affair, In some way or another. = - : )
." Heayensl of a suddenI remembered
a circumstance, the thought of which
chilled me to the very bones, ald well
might make me CRY out In expostulaton
and terror to the terrible being before ne.
We were rapidly approaching p
bridge, spanning the awful chasm through
which, far below, the T river leaps
and plunges, in three successive falls, to
the quiet level of the valley below. had
in my pocket at that moment copyof q
telegraphic order from the Division Su-
perintendent, stating that the westward
bound track on the bridge would that
morning be taken up for repairs, and di-
recting all trains to switch off on ap-
preaching the SPOT, and cross on the east
ward bound track.
pending disaster broke upon me. Should
this maniac persist in his mad purpose
only ten minutes longer, he and /, and all
of us, would be precipitated headlong
downward through the air, crashing
through the timbers, cars and engine with
us, to be dashed to atoms upon the pitt
less, Jagged rocks below. Oh, how
prayed in that moment for forgiveness for
all the wickedness of the past. With
what unspeakable tenderness recalled
| the parting words of those dear ones
whom might never see again, and how
inwardly asked God to watch over them
after was gone. 1 wondered whether
they would ever find us, or know the real
cause of the catastrophe. Eagerly
watched the familiar landmarks fitting by
as on, on, on, we dashed, faster and faster
toward the death and destruction which
now seemed all but inevitable.
az heard cry of wild Joy from my
companion, as, gliding like lightning
around acurve, the valley, and, in the dis
tance, the massive bridge, were first dis
closed to his view. .... .....
"'NoWl nowp he shouted. Here we
are come, at lastl Science, and inf1nity
and all the unknown, are mine, mine
mine, foreverl He betrayed me, did he
and he died like dogI Hal hal hal
"And he danced and screamed with s
horrid zest, which mocking my anguish
and terror, only made me more desperate
l tried to move-a pang of agony sho
through every nerve, and muscle, ant
fibre in my body. l sunk down again, il
utter despair, and closed my eyes, waiting
for death to come and end it ALL
"Crack-cr ck-whiz-whiz-a scream
"a shout-another crack-another whiz
opened my eyes once more. The madmar
had fallen upon his knees, and with the
expression Of a demon incarnate upon his
face, his two barred arms stretched above
his head, his powerful form writhing il
horrible contortion, was gnashing hi;
| teeth, while his eyes protruded from thell
| sockets, foam oozed from his lips, and s
stream of blood, ever so small, trickleC
down his shirt front. d.. rs -
! "tComeI come come quicklyrI called
! out, as loudly as l could but my feeble
voice was drowned In the clatter, and
! saw the monster, weak and wounded as
he was, turn and crawl upon his knees to
ward me.
| "sComel for Gods sake, GOMEZ
screamed; but by that time his clutche:
were upon my throat, and looked up
ward to the clear blue morning sky abov'
us, to feel my breath growing slower anC
slower, as the cruel grip grew tighter ant
tighter upon me. F Bg.E
I : -
"The coarse. talon-like grip relaxed of
sudden, the din grew less and less, and tn
welcome Shrek of the whistle Tor dow
brakes sounded in my ears like the evoic
of messenger from God, calling me bacl
to life, and loved ones, and all that wa
DEAR L felt myself lifted up like a chill
in two pairs of stout friendly arms.
heard sobs, and shouts of joy, and tn
movement, of many feet about me, and
voice whispered lovingly in my ear: Z
2 (" SAvEDr y .--.---