Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-07-06
Miscellaneous.
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
BY @. l.. cATLTy.

BY O. L. cATLIy.
Oxa bitter cold morning In January, the
messengers on the night express, due IN
B At noon, avoke 10 look out through
the narrow window panes upon land.
scape white with snow, and TO hear the
wind bowling disfnally loud above the end
less chatter OF the car-gheels beneath
them. The snow was still falling fast, and
xreat clouds Of it, caught up upon the gale,
came dashing in drifts agsinst the train,
enveIoping roof, and platform, and window
ledge. and anon wbisking away again,
leaving them ga bare as newiy.swept
floor. Now and then sensible retarding
Of motion would tell Enthusiastically that
the great engine, far up forward, had en-
cDuntered some snowy barrier, difficult To
penetrate yet through and on, and away
again, moved the train in the dim light OF
morning, winding It's dusky length through
the field Of otherwise unbroken white, I'M
Ill day gradually stole upon the travellers,
aud disclosed scene 30 cold and forbid
ding without, as 10 only serve to give a
kcener zest to the warm, coy comfort
within.
As the hours wore ON, the storm, far
from showing any signs OF abatement,
seemed, II anything, To increase In yio-
lence Eight O'Clock had arrived, and the
station where the train usually stopped at
that hour for passengers 10 breakfast, was
yet matter Of twenty miles or so distant
The snow drifts ahead grew more and more
formidable, taking all the strength OF the
engine 70 batter them down before II.
Pas engers began 10 grow uneasy, pulled
out their watches, peered anxlously out OF
the windows, consulted their timetables,
triei 10 take note OF familiar landmarks by
the wayside, and assailed the conductor,
whenever he passed, with all sorts OF ir-
relevant inquiries, when suddenly the
train siackened it, speed lag Ia moved on
q ljttle-slackencd more--again tired TO
move, and then stopped stock still, with
lar and q rebound which had well-nlgh
sent some unwary ones oil their ieet.
Instantly there was rush ior the ior-
ward car, la the hope OF ascertaining the
cause Of this unlooked-for stoppage. One
or two imprudent ones undertook TO
alipht, 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,
sSnowed in" Every moment the situa'
ton was growing worse, and the posi-
bility of extricating the train grew more
remote with each keen blast that came
Milling a few more inches OF fleecy wall
around US. Front and rear, and on the
hide, the barrier each instant grew higher
Spasmodic eforts--now forward, now
hack ward. but each succeeding one more
feeble than It's predecessor--all proved
uitless. and at length the great monster
weary and exhausted ceased its fierce
Hery breathing, and the train lay still
halfb In the snow.
Meanwhile upon impromtu seats, boxes
and logs, and barrels, merry party hat
gathered about the glowing stove In tn
express car forward, and were making
themselves vastly comfortable under tn
circumstances
ave been thinking" said the express
messenger, "that our friend Jim T.
during his twelve years OF running 81
engine on this road, must have run u
against many worse adventure than this
INV friends. So propose we call on hin
or story, from his own experience.
"That's good idea" answered sevcra
voices.
"Come. Jim, old fellow" said the cor
ductor, "give US the story Of that da
when you came so near going head frs
over the P Bridge, train and all.
never did hear the whole truth of tina
matter"
The engineer looked into the fir
thoughtfully for a moment, and shad0'
stOle over his pleasant face, a. he al
swered:
Well. boys, it's ten years ago since ths
little affair happened, but 1t never come
hsck to mind without making me shuddt
~ the recollection of It, was runnin
No. Z. between H and B, at thu
time the road was in prime condition, m
engine had Just had thorough overhaul
ine. and altogether the duties were plea
ant and easy enough, as one OF our trade
duties go. :.
swell, on Sunday morning, had bacl
ID down from the engine house to the ST
ton ut H, coupled on to my train, an
Vas waiting for the passengers to fms
their breakfast, and get aboard again for
start. One by one they came hurryin
out, and stood on the platform by tt
tender. PLAYING with the children, whol
my wife had brought down to the depo
- was her custom every Sunday morning.
20 see me of. l was living In H,
the time, for that way had chance
psss my evenings at home, yousee. WI
lust giving my youngster . parting hui
and wondering why the fireman stayed 9
long at his breakfast, when ali Of q sudde
/ Jaw q man, q stranger to me, jun
steslthily but quickly upon the engine, an
null the throttle The wheels creaked, til
trsin moved, the loiterers on the platforr
jumped hurriedly on board. Quick q
: thought I placed the child In Its moth
ers's arms, and In another instant was fac
o face with the intruder.
"A angle look sufIlced to tell me thu