National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-06-09
companions, mute with eager interest, only

companions, mute with eager interest, onl
drew themselves nearer, as he resumed;
! ~ 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 ". ! was lying on my side, be
tween the engine and tender, with IN,
head half over the edge.
Weak and exhausted from loss Of blood
which was still flowing from the wounc
upon my head lay there, helpless ant
hopeless. My eyes wandered to wher,
the mailman was still standing. ! saw
him, with heightened widness on his coun
tcnancc, his long hair floating in the vino
behind, his eyes glancing eagerly out ahead
his lips muttering words to me incoherent
and meaningless. Now and then he would
dance, and clap his hands with fendisl
JOY then settle quietly down again to his
sullen mutterings.
The rate OF speed at which we wer,
moving was absolutely frightful-not less
| should think, than mile minute-and
| feared every instant the crash which
would send me, madman, engine, every
thing, whirling to perdition.
GAS 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
life He would, without doubt, throw
me from the train, or dash my 'Nrains out.
Meanwhile, where was the conductor ?
Perhaps he had been left behind at H.
The brakemen-could not some of them
come to rescue 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 it was
Surely an end must soon come to this hor
rble affair, in some way or another.
''Ileavens of sudden remembered a
circumstance the thought of which chilled
me to my very bones and well might make
me cry out in expostulatlon and terror to
the terrible being before me. We were
rapidly approaching P Bridge SPAN
ming 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 a copy of a telegraphic or
der from the Division Superintendent, sta
ting that the westward bound track on the
bridge would that morning be taken up for
repairs, and directing all trains to switch
off on approaching the spot, and cross on
the eastward bound track.
In 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 |. and I'll of us,
would be precipitated headlong downward
through the air, crashing through the tim
bers, cars and engine with us, to be dasie'
to atoms upon the pitiless, Jagged rock,
below. Oh, how prayed in that moment
for forgiveness for all the wickedness of
the past With what unspeakable tender
ness ! 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. wondered
whether they would ever find us, or would
ever know the real cause of the catastro-
phe. Eagerly watched the familiar land
marks fitting by, as OF, on, on, we dashed,
faster and faster, toward the death and
destruction which now seemed all but in
evitable.
81 heard a cry ofwild JOY from my COM
panon, as, gliding like lightning around
curve, the valley, and, in the distance, the
massive bridge, were first disclosed to his
view
"'Now nown he shouted. Here we
come, at last Science. and infinity, and
all the unknown, are mine, mine, mine for
ever He betrayed me, did he ? and he
died like dog Ha ha han
"And he danced and screamed with
horrd 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
Crack-crack-w whiz-a scream
"a shout another crack-another whz
opened my eyes once more. The mad
man had fallen upon his knees, and with
the expression of demon incarnate upon
his face his two barred arms stretched high
above his head, his powerful form writhing
n horrible contortion, was gnashing his
teeth, while his eyes protruded from their
sockets, foam oozcd from his lips, and
stream of blood ever so small, trickled
lown his shirt front.
"'Come come come quickly: l called
,ut, as loudly as could; but my feeble
1oice was drowned in the clatter, and ]
Jaw the monster weak and wounded as he
vas, turn and crawl upon his knees toward
ne.
"'Come for Gods sake come y
creamed; but by that time d clutches
we're upon my throat, and looked upward
o the clear blue morning sky above Us, to
eel my breath growing slower and slower
5 the cruel grip grew tighter and tighter
pon me.
'The coarse, talon-like grasp relaxed Of ,
sudden, the din grew less and less, and !
he welcome shrek of the whistle for down ,
rakes sounded in my ears like the voice |
messenger from God, calling me back ,
o life, and loved ones, and all that was I
ear. | felt myself lifted up like child {
| two pairs of stout, friendly arms. | {
card sobs, and shouts of joy, and the q
lovement of many feet about me, and a :
oice whispered lovingly in my ear: $
"'SAvED a
BIsMARCK's FAMILY LEGEND--A fan $