Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-29

"I couldn't have lain there half an houl

az couldn't have lain there half an hour
for, when l came to, the first object that
met my view In the distant landscape was
the white tower of the Methodist Church
in N. was lying on my side, between
the engine and tender, with my head half
over the edge"
Weak and exhausted from loss of
blood, which was still flowing from the
wound upon my head, lay there helpless
| and hopeless. My eyes wandered to
where the madman was still standing. l
saw him with heightened wildness on his
countenarce, 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
ne would dance, and clap his hands with
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 mile minute-and
/ feared every instant the crash would
send me, mailman, engine, everything,
whirling to perdition.
AS each moment my faculties grew
stronger, began to realize, in all its force,
the horror of my situation. What if he
should discover in me signs of returning
life7 He would, without a doubt. throw
me from the train, or dash my brains out.
Meanwhile, where was the conductor?
Perhaps he had been left behind at H.
| The brakesman could not 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 wrong? 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.
q sudden I rpu1pmbarpl
circumstance, the thought of which
chilled me to the very bones, and well
might make me cry out in expostulation
and terror to the terrible being before me.
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. l had
| in my pocket at that moment a copy of
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.
"In a moment all the horror of the i'm
pending disaster broke upon me. Should
this maniac persist in his mad purpose
| only ten minutes longer, he and l, 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 l recalled
the parting words of those dear ones
whom might never see again, and how
| o-5l oo1yod God IN vuQtRh them
after l was gone. 1 wondered whether
they would ever find US, or know the real
| cause of the catastrophe. Eagerly l
| ,,,o,, Nnd the familiar landmarks fitting by,
W ""ts". an -, 49, we dashed, faster and faster,
to toward var IT The i dsaih An, M destruction which
now. seemed all but ineTita",-. -n NV
81 heard cry of wild joy nv
companion, as, gliding like lightning
around curve, 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 infnity,
| and all the unknown, are mine, mine,
mine, foreverl He betrayed me, did he?
and he died like dogl Ha! ha! hal
"And he danced and screamed with a
horrid zest, which mocking my anguish
and terror, only made me more desperate.
l tried to move-a pang of agony shot
through every nerve, and muscle, and
fibre in my body. l SUNK down again, in
utter despair, and closed my eyes, waiting
for death to come and end it all!
ack-whiz-whiz-a scream
| "a shout-another crack-another whiZi
l opened my eyes once more. The mailman
| had fallen upon his knees, and with the
| ovyNraco;o,, nf n ta hic
| face, his two barred arms stretched above
| his head, his powerful form writhing in
| horrible contortion, was gnashing his
teeth, while his eyes protruded from their
sockets, foam oozed from his lips, and
| stream of blood, ever so small, trickled
down his shirt front.
"ComeI comel come quicklyr called
out, as loudly as l could; but my feeble
voice was drowned in the clatter, and l
saw the monster, weak and wounded as
| he was, turn and crawl upon his knees to-
ward me.
"'Comel for Gods sake, Gomez 1
screamed; but by that time his clutches
were upon my throat, and / looked up
ward to the clear blue morning sky above
US, to feel my breath growing slower and
slower, as the cruel grip grew tighter and
tighter upon me. :.
"The coarse, talon like grip relaxed of "a
sudden, the din grew less and less, and the
welcome shrek of the whistle for down
brakes sounded in my ears like the voice
! of messenger from God, calling me back
to life, and loved ones, and all that was
dear. felt myself lifted up like child
in two pairs of stout, friendly arms. l
heard sobs, and shouts of joy, and the
movement of many feet about me, and a
voice whispered lovingly in my ear: