The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1871-06-29

I" couldn't have lain there half an houl

"I couldn't have lain there half an hou
for, when | came to, the first object tha
met my view in the distant landscape wa
the white tower of the Methodist Churcl
in N. was lying onmy side, betweel
the engine and tender, with my head hal
over the edge"
Weak and exhausted from loss o
blood, which was still flowing from tn
wound upon my head, lay there helples
and hopeless. My eyes wandered t
where the mailman was still standing.
saw him with heightened wildness on hi
countenance, his long hair floating III tn
wind behind, his eye glancing eagerly ou
ahead, his lips muttering words to me III
| coherent and meaningless. Now and thel
ne would dance, and clap his hands witt
a fiendlsh JOY, then settle quietly doWl
! again to his sullen mutterings.
The rate of speed at which we wert
moving was absolutely frightful-not less
| should think, than mile minute-anC
! | feared every instant the crash wOul(
| send me, madman, engine, everything
whifling to perdition.
| As each moment my faculties grew
stronger, | began to realize, in all its force
the horror of my situation. What if ht
| should discover in me signs of returning
life? He would, without q 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.
Heavens Of sudden | remembered
a 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. | had
in my pocket at that moment copy of a
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, 10 be dashed to atoms upon the pitt
less, Jagged rocks below Oh, how |
prayed in that moment for forgiveness for
ali 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
nf.. was gone. | wondered whether
abVCi th find us, or know the real
oa,,so o1S ""ttIa 90 .Io " - Eagerly l
49, ~atcbod u ~ tiIS ing by,
as on, on, on, we dashed, faster and faster,
now seemed all but inevitable.
" L heard a 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.
60 Now! nowP he shouted. Here we
""" ""ma at last SniAnnA AnA infnity.
mine, forever. tie betrayed me, uIU iIe.
and lie died like dog! Ha. hal ha.
"And he danced and screamed with a
horrid zest, which mocking my anguish
and terror, only made me more desperate.
| tried to move-a pang of agony shot
through every nerve, and muscle, and
fibre in my body. | sunk down again, IN
utter despair, and closed my eyes, waiting
for death to come and end it ALL
x 4 x
ck-whiz-whiz--a scream
"a shOut-anO:h her crack-anOther whlZl
| opened my eyes once more. The madman
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 in
horrible cOntOrtiOn, was gnashing his
teeth, while his eyes protruded from their
sockets, foam oOzed from his lips, and a
stream Of blood, ever SO small, trickled
down his shirt front.
"'Come. come come quicklyn | called
out, as loudly as | 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.
Come, for Gods sake, Gomez l
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-.
K x
"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. l felt myself lifted up like a child
in two pairs Of stout, friendly arms. !
heard sobs, and shouts of joy, and the
movement of many feet about me, and a
voice whispered lovingly in my ear:
"SAvEDn"