South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-06-30
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
- BY, G. L. oATLM.


less clatteF- of the. car-wheels beneath
them. Tine snow was still falling fast, and
great clouds of it, caught up Upon the gale,
came dashing in drifts against the. train,
enveloping roof, and platform, and window
ledge, and anon whisking away again,
leaving them as bare as newly-swept
floor. Now and then sensible Tetarding
of motion would tell unmistakably that
the great engine, fer up forward, had en-
countered some snowy barrier, difficult to
penetrate; vet through and on, and away
again, moved the train, in the dim light OF
morning, winding its dusky length through
the field of otherwise unbroken white, un-
III day gradually stole upon the travellers,
and disclosed a scene so cold and forbid
ding without, as TO only serve TO give a
keener zest to the warm, G0zy comfort
within.
As the hours wore ON, the storm, far
from showing any signs of abatement,
seemed, if ANYTHING, to increase in vio-
lenee. Eight O'Clock had arrived, and the
station where the train usually stopped at
that hour for passengers TO breakfast was
vet matter of twenty miles or so distant.
The snow-drifts ahead grew more and more
formidable, taking all the strength of the
engine to batter them down before it.
Passengers began TO grow uneasy, pulled
out their watches, peered anxieusly out of
the windows, consulted their timetables,
tried to take note. of familiar landmarks by
the waIside. and assailed the conductor,
whenever he passed, with all sorts Of ir-
relevant inquiries, when suddenly the
train slackened its speed-ag ain moved on
a little-slackened more-again tried to
II r4nv1v1o1 CT c4i1 VrifhRQ
Jar and rebound (which had well-nigh
sent some unwary ones off their feet.
Instantly there was a rush for the for
ward car, in the hope of ascertaining the
cause of this unlooked-for stoppage. One
or two imprudent -ones undertook to
alight. but on finding themselves waist
deep, were only too glad once more to re-
gain the solid footing of the platform.
Meanwhile, the word ran, down from
mouth to mouth, from car to car,
SHOWED in" Every moment the situa-
ton was growing worse, and the posi-
biity of extricating the train grew more
remote with each keen blast that came
piling a few more inches of t1eecy wall
around US. Front and rear, and on the
side, the barrier each instant grew higher.
Spasmodic efforts-now forward, now
backward, but each succeeding one more
feeble than its predecessor-all proved
fruitless, and at length the great monster,
weary and exhausted, ceased its fierce,
fiery breathing, and the train lay still,
half buried in the snow. 'ts.r-zE..
Meanwhile, upon impromtu seats, boxes
and logs, and barrels, merry party had
gathered about the glowing stove in the
express car forward, and were smaking
themselves vastly comfortable under the
circumstances. .....
"Pve been thinking" said the express
messenger, " that our friend Jim T,
during his twelve years of running an
engine on this road, must have run up
against many worse adventure than this,
my friends. So propose we call on him
for a story, from his own experience.
"That's good idea" answered several
voices. y.-.. -. .-z
"Come, Jim, old fellow said the con-
ductor, "give us the story of that day
when you came so near going head first
over the p Bridge, train and all.
never did hear the whole truth of that
matter" --.s-- sd,
The engineer looked into the fire
thoughtfully for a moment, and a shadow
stole over his pleasant face, as he an
swered: ~
"Well, boys, it's ten years ago since that
little affair happened, but it never comes
back to mind without making me shudder
at the recollection of it. l was running
No. Z. between H and B., at that
time; the road was in prime condition, my
engine had Just had thorough overhaul
ing, and altogether the duties were pleas
ant and easy enough, as one of our trade S
duties go. -le .r- - ~ --.---
"Well, on Sunday morning, had back
ed down from the engine-house to the sta.
ton at H, coupled on to my train, and
was waiting for the passengers to finish
their breakfast, and get aboard again for a
start. One by one they came hurrying
out, and 1 stood on the platform by the
tender, playing with the children, whom
my wife had brought down to the depot
as was her custom every Sunday morning
to see me of. was living in H. al
the time, for that way had chance to
pass my evenings at home, you see. was
Just giving my youngster parting hug
and wondering why the fireman stayed SC
long at his breakfast, when all of sudden
/ saw man, a stranger to me, JUMP
stealthily but quickly upon the engine, and
pull the throttle. The wheels creaked, the
train moved, the lOiterers on the platform
jumped hurriedly on board Quick a:
as thought I placed the child in its moth
erss arms, and in another instant was fact
TO face with the Intruder. = u = y li
"a single look -sufficed to tell me tha
he meant mischief. A man of herculeaI
stature, bare,headed and scantily attlred
with ewes glarings like Goals Of fire, will
l. i hic
with sleeves rolled up above his elbows
displaying, brawny, muscular arms, anC
with wild, excited laugh upon his coun
tenance, was before me, pulling the bell
rope violently, and taking apparently bu
little notice of my presence. In less tim
than l have been telling it, had closeC
with him. yrT e n -r.Fl .-
What are you doingf Arsyou crazy 2
I cried a-s".H
"He looked at me for minute, witt
that same devilish leer in his eye, ant
pushing me back as if were a feather
said, abstractedly:
@tDon't annoy me now, 1 beg of you
I'm busy =. - ,.,.--.-..----f.
al summoned all my strength and rush
ed upon him again, for by this time tn
train was well in motion, and the nate c
speed was momentarily increasing.
He let go of the bellrope, and, as
seized him by the arms, grasped mine i
turn, and holding me in a vice-like griI
looked me full in the face. .r
"'Didn't tell you,' said he, in harshe
voice than before, that didn't wish t
be annoyed
al glanced into his face closely as b
spoke. and then, for the first time, th
horrible truth broke in upon me-tse ma
Sods mad! -
"I felt a shudder run through my vein
and great drops OF. cold sweat stood OF
upon nv face, as In single moment n
allied the dreadful danger before me-
thought of my little children, whose kiss'
were yet warm upon my face, and OF tn;
long train behind us, full of passengers
little suspecting their peril. All the ST
ries / had ever heard or read of Graz
people and their freaks, flashed throug
my mind in that instant, as I felt myse
pushed backward to destruction.
"But no; quietly seating me upon IL
bench, on the other side, he loosened b
} hold and returned to his post, saying,
the same distracted voice as at first:
"ttThere, nowi / don't want to be bot
eredr
aBy this time we were dashing slong
a rretty rapid rate, and / could see tn