Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-06-16
THE ENGINEEH's STORY.
Er q. J.. CATLIN.

Ont bitter cold morning in January, the
gers on the night express, due in
E- az noon, aw0ke 10 look out through
i.a a-rrIw wlntowpanes upon a landscape
willie with snow, and to hear the wind howl
ing d.smaLly loud above the endless clatter Of
the car wheels beneath them. The snow
WAS still falling fast, and great clouds Of it,
caught up upon the gale, came dashing in
-r..t- against the train, onveloping roof, and
PLATFORM, and windOw-leige. and anon
v.sk.ng away again, leaving them as bare
ne newly swept floor. Now and then, a
sensible retarding Of motion would tell un-
ui-ta5abiy that the great engine. far up
rwarI, had encountered some snowy bar
rier. dihcult % penetrate; vet through and
1n. and away again, moved the train, in the
dim light of morning, winding It's dusky
length through the field of otherwise unbrO-
ken white, until day gradually stole upon
the travellers. and disclosed scene so cold
a1d l1roIdding without. as TO only serve 70
give keener zcst to the warm, coy COM
fort within
IS the hours wore on, the storm. far from
showing any sign of abatement, seemed if
ANYTHING 70 increase in violence. Eight
clock had arrived, and the station where
the train usually stopped at that hour, for
Passengers 20 breakfast, was yet a matter Of
twenty miles OF SO distant The snow
drifts ahead grew more and more formidable,
taking all the strength of the engine 20 bat
ter them down before it. Passengers began
% grow uneasy. pulled out their watches
pcercd auX1usiy out Of the windows, con-
suited their timetables. tried % take note Of
familiar marks hy the wayside, and assailed
the conductor, whenever be passed, with all
sorts of irrcvciaut inquiries, when suddenly
the tram slackened its speed-again moved
0u a Ettie-siackened more-again tried to
move, and then stopped stock still, with jar
and "a rebound which had well nigh sent
some uuwarv ones of their feet.
instantly there was a rush for the forward
ear, in the hope of asoertaining the cause of
this unlocked for stoppage. One or two i'm
prudent ones undertook to alight, but on
finding themselves waist-deep, were only too
glad once more % regain the solid footing Of
tie platform, Meanwhile, the word ran
down from mouth 70 mouth, from car 70 car,
showed in.' Every moment the situation
was growing worse, and the possibility Of ex-
Treating the train grew more remote with
each keen blast that came piling few more
inches Of descy wall around it, Front and
rear, and on the side, the barrier each in
s-ant grew higher
STasmodic ei1rts-nOw forward, now
backward. but each succeeding one more fee
'.e than its rredecessor-all proved fruitless,
and at length the great monster, weary and
exhausted. ceased It's fierce, fiery breathing,
and the train lay still. half-buried in the
snow.
Meanwhile, upon impromptu seats, boxes
and logs, and barrels. merry party had
gathered about the glowing stove in tine
express car forward and were making them
selves vastly comfortable under the circum-
stances.
I've been thinking said fhe express
messenger, THAT our friend, Jim T,
during his twelve years Of running an en-
-ue 90 this road, must have run up against
many worse adventure than this, my
friends. So | propose we call on him for
story. IRON hi- own experience.
That's q good idea, answered several
Voices
''Comc, Jim Old fellow, said the conduc-
tur. give MS thc story of that day when You
came so near going head first over the p
whole truth Of that matter.
The engineer looked into the fire thought
u.Y FOR a moment, and a shadow stole over
al- pleasant face. as he answered
well. boys it's ten years ago since that
little affair happened, but it never comes
back % mind without making me shudder
at the recollection of it. was running num-
Der J, between land Bat the time
tac road was in prime condition, my engin:
aad gust got thorough oyerhauling, and al
cetler The duties were pleasant and easy
en.lsl- as one Of our trade duties 20.
Wei. one sunday morning, had backed
down from tie engine house to the station
at u-.c1up.ed on TO my train. and was
waiting for the passengers 10 finish their
OIeaAilsts. and get aboard again for a start.
"Ne ny one they came hurrying out, and |
5.o2l 90 The platform by the tender, playing
-I 'ae children, whom my wife had
1's-' down to the depot, as was her Gus
yum every Sunday morning, to see me off. |
"-7 4Fiog IN ll-at the time. for that way
ial chance to pass nv EVENINGS at home
-.,-.ir. was Jus, giving my youngsters a
- 9.l - anu wondering why the fireman
- @- Ais breakfast, when all of
-.-.i.,. -'',-'-.-- -" a man, stranger to me.
yum ,i s'5al'Aily .I out quickly on the engine.
ana pun 1Ae throttle. The wheels ereased
the tram moved, the l1iterers ON the rIstf,rm
jumped hurriedly on board OIL, as
thought placed the child in ,ts rootbo-,s
arms, and IN another instant was f,co ~ e.
with the intruder. '''' 10 i''oe
4 single look suihced to tell me that bo
meant mischief. A man Of bercpIea,, -. ~
hare-headed and scantily attirc5 -r;,s +,a'uIe'
siaring ike Goals Of fire, with long hair IN
ing down upon his shoulders. with sleeros rl.
rolled up above his elbows, DISPLAYING braw.
n.y. muscular arms, and with a wild evc;tol
laugh upon his cOuntenance, was before mo
pulling the bell-rOpe violently. and takin,
4.lIarentiy but little notice of NV nrese-,,,e
10 less time than / have been telin, II
had closed with him.
cried aio you crazy J!
lie looked at me for a minnie with tho.
l.l Ie ue'iiish leer IN his eye, and pushing me
l,.. - a9 il l were a feather, said, abstracted-
busy -'"' "es oi you-l m
summoned all my strength and rusbod
ul''h MN again, for by this time the tra;n
well IN motion, and the rate of s,.ood
vac m9mentarily increasing
ne let 60 OF the bell-rope. and as I saized
h1Ii.y .'Il " 'he arms, grasped mine in turn and
IN ',Iing ,n me IN a Tice-hke grip, looked me fnII