The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-10-04

night, but all the days Of tho week
will bo the samo. I'vo often heard
you wonder what the feelings Of
an engineer, who has about the
same as murdered II train full Of
people, must be, and you'll know,
if you don't stop where you arc.
A steady hand and II clear head
have been your blessings all those
years. Don't throw them away.
Ned, if you don't care for my love,
don't ruin yourself"
My little 10. She spoke from
her heart, and l bent over and
kissed her.
"Don', bo afraid, child. I'll nov
er pain you again"
And | meant it; but at IL o'clock;
that night, iolt that had forgot
ten my promise and my resolution.
| couldn't get home to 10. l
made up my mind to sleep on the
club sofa, and leave tho place for
good, tho next day. Already, |
felt my brain reel rs it had mover
before. In an hour, 7 was in u
kind Of stupor.
1t was morning. a waiter stood
ready to brush my coat. ! saw Il
grin on his face. My heart seem
cd ready to burst; my hand trcm-
blcd L looked at my watch J.
had only just five minutes to reach
tho depot!
JOS words came to my mind.
Was | fit to take charge Of an cn-
ginc? | was not fiji 70 answer. |
ought to have asked somc sober
man. As it was, | only caught
my hat and rushed away. / was
just in time.
The San Francisco glittcrcd in
the morning sun. The cars were
filling rapidly, From my post, |
could hear the people talking, bid
ding each other goodbye, promis-
ing to write aud come again
Amongst them was an old gentle.
man | knew by siyht--onc Of the
shareholders; he was bidding two
timid girls adieu.
"Good-bye, Kitty-good-byc
Luc," | heard him say "don't tc
nervous. Tho San Francisco is
the safest engine on the line, and
Gucldcn the most careful engineer.
[ wouldn't be afraid to trust every
mortal [ love to their Keeping.
Nothing could happen wrong with
the two together"
] said TT get it through some
how, and 10 shall never talk to
me again. After all, it was easy
enough. rccIcd as l spoke. /
heard The signal. We were off.
Five hours from Il. to d.; five
hours back. On the last, | should
be myself again, knew now. |
saw II red nuttcr, and never guess
cd what it was until We were
passed the down train, at the
wrong place. Two minutes more,
and wo should have had a COLI
sion. Somebody told me. | laugh.
ed. [ heard him say, respectfully:
"Of course, Mr.. Gueldcn, you
know what you arc about ?"
Then [ VAS alone, and WONDER
ing whether | should go faster or
slower. [ did something, and the
cars rushed on at fearful rate.
The samo man who had spoken to
mo before was standing near me.
l. heard some question.
How many miles an hour wore
we making? | didn't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle! 7 was
trying now to slackcn the speed
Of the San Francisco. could not
remember what / should dc~~was
it this or TINT? Faster or slower?
L was playing with tho cngino like
a child.
Suddenly there was q horrible
roar, q crash. | was flung some
where. | was in the water. BY
q miracle, | was sobcrcd, not hurt.
| gained tho shore. | stood upon
the ground between tho track and
tho rivers edge, and there gazcd
at my work.
The engine was in fragments,
and the cars in splintcrs dead,
and dying, and wounded were
strcwn around-and men, women
and chi!drcn--old ago and tender
youth. There woro groans and
shriclss Of despair. The manned
cried out in pain ; tho uninjurcd
bcwailcd their dead aAd u voice
unheard by any other, was in my
ear, whispering "Murdor !"
Tho nows had gono to A, and
people camo thronging down to
find thoir frionds. The dead wore
stretched on tho grass. ! went
with somo Of the distracted to find
their lost ones. Searching for an
old mans daughter, | camo to a
place under tho trees, and found
five bodies lying there all in their
rigid horror-an old woman,
young ono, a baby and two tiny
children. Is it tancy--was it pure
fancy, born Of my anguish ?-thoy
looked like--oh, Heaven they
wero my old mother, my wife, my
children; all cold ard dead.
How did they como on the
train? What chance has brOuoht