Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-06-29
VOLUME XXVI.
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
BY G. L. CATLIN.

the narrow window panes upon lano-
scape white with snow, and to hear the
wind bowling disnally loud above the end
less 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 drifts against the train
enveloping roof, and platform, and window
ledge, and anon whisking away again
leaving them as bare as newly-sWepi
floor. Now and then sensible retarding
of motion would tell Enthusiastically that
the great engine, far up forward, had en-
countered some snowy barrier, difficult to
penetrate yet 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'
til day gradually stole upon the travellers
and disclosed scene SO cold and forbid
ding without, as to only serve to give q
keener zest to the warm, cozY comfort
within.
As the hours wore OH, the storm, far
from showing any signs of abatement
seemed; If anything, to increase IN VIC
lence. Eight O'Clock had arrived, and the
station where the train usually stopped at
that hour for passengers to breakfast, was
yet matter of twenty miles or SO distant
The snou-drifts ahead grew more and more
formidable, taking all tie strength OF the
engine to batter them down before 1t.
Passengers began to grow uneasy, pulled
out their Watches, peeted anxiously out OF
the windows, consulted tneif timetables,
tried to take note of familiar landmarks by
the wayside, and assailed the conductor,
whenever he passed, with all sorts OF II
relevant inquiries, when suddenly the
ri 80 IN, ronvad on
a little-slackened more-again tried to
move, and then stopped stock still, with a
jar aud rebound which, had well-nigh
sent some unwafy ottes Oft their feet.
Instantly there was rush fof ths 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 sold 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-.
bility of extricating, the train grew more
remote with each keen blast that came
piling q few more inches of fieecy 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 predecessoT-al 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.
Meanwhile, upon impromtu seats, boxes
and logs, and barrels, merry party had
gathered about the glowing stove in the
express car forward, and were making
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 ur
against many worse adventure than this
my friends. So propose we call on him
for story, from his own experience.
That's a good idea," answered several
voices.
"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
Natter
The engineer looked into the fire
thoughtfully for moment, and 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 shudde1
at the recollection of it. I was running
No. Z, between and B, at that
time; the road was in prime condition, my
engine had just had a thorough overhaul
ing, and altogether the duties were pleas.
ant and easy enough, as one of our trade
duties go.
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 I 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 g
to see me off. 1 was living in H al
the time, for that way had chance tc
pass my evenings at home, you see. was
just giving my youngster a parting hug
and wondering why the fireman stayed sc
long at bis breakfast, when all of a sudden
| saw a man, stranger to me, jumr
stealthily but quickly upon the en- ngine, and
pull the throttle. The wheels creaked, the
train moved, the loiterers on the platform
jumped hurrfedly on board Quick as
as thought placed the child in its moth
ers's arms, and In another instant was face
to face with the intruder.
" A single look sufficed to tell me thai
he meant mischief. A man of herculear
stature, bare headed and scantily attired
with eyes glaring like Goals of fire, will
long hair falling down upon his shoulders
with sleeves rolled up above his elbows
displaying brawny, muscular arms, ant
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 I have been telling it, l had closec
with him.
"What are you doing? Are you crazy q
cried.
"He looked at me for minute, will
that same devilish leer in his eye, anc
pushing me back as if I were a feather
said, abstractedly:
"tDon't annoy me now, I beg of you
I'm busy
az summoned all my strength and rush
ed upon him again, for by this time tn
train was well in motion, and the rate O
speed was momentarily increasing.
"He let go of the bell rope, and, as
seized him by the arms, grasped mine il
turn, and holding me in vice-like gril
looked me full in the face.
"sDidn't I tell you,' said he, in harshe
voice than before, that didn't wish t
be annoyed
"I glanced into his face closely as b
spoke, and then, for the first time, th
horrible truth broke in upon me-the ma
aods mad
81 felt a shudder run through my vein
and great drops of cold sweat stood OF
upon my face, as in single moment II
allied the dreadful danger before me.
thought of my little children, whose kisse
were yet warm upon my face, and of tbs
long train behind us, full of passengers S
little suspecting their peril. All the ST.
ries I 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 I'll
bench, on the other side, he loosened b
hold and returned to his post, saying,
| the same distracted voice as at first:
"There, now! don't want to be bot
eredP g. :.