St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-08-30

death was the laceration ofthe lung It's
sue by broken rib, causing hemor-
rllage and inflammation of the lungs. He
remained conscious much of the time
until death. hut WAS not an acute suf-
ferer. His parents, who were away
from home ut the time, reached him
several hours before death. and were
recognized.
A Wonderful Preservation.
The up mail train oven the Passump
sic road last Thursday afternoon, had Il
very narrow escape from Il dreadful
calamity. About il half mile below Me-
lndocs Falls, at IL short curve in the
road next the river, Il large portion of
the dump >loughed off into the river.
leaving the track hanging over the
chaSm. As Mr.. Robert g. Beattie was
passing that way. he discovered the
waSh-out. and knowing that the mail
train at that time was some half an hour
overdue. he left his team and made all
possible haste To prevent an accident.
He first pulled off his coat and hung it
on il pole north of the break. to warn
amy train that might come from that
to warm the up train of its danger. For
fear he might not he able to signal the
engineer. he put some brush and nail
kegs on the track. hoping that if he
failed. the instructions would give him
warning. Fortunately he Signallcd the
train. and IL most appalling catastrophe
was prevented. Had no warning been
given. il would seem that the entire
train must have plunged into the cha>m.
fifty feet below. This would seem in
cVitahle from the fact that the break
WAS ON Il curve. and could not have been
seen far enough away to have Slackcncd
the speed of the train much if any.
And the track cuVimg Ia the left, with
the river on the right. the train must
have been driven partly or wholly into
the water. in the Judgement of the en-
gimcrr. and all others who SAW it. In
plunge. the result would have been too
t" think of without Il Shuddcr.
Some may think the management of
the road WAS faulty OF such Il thing
could not have occurred. We suppose
three or four trains had passed over this
place in safety that day and hut Il
short time before Mr. Bcattic discovered
the break. the section men had gone
over this very place. and then every
Thing appeared right. 1t will Ice re
mcmlrlrd that after nearly two weeks
OF rainy weather and heavy showers. il
raimcd hard all "Wednesday night and
Thursday forenoon. The earth was
completely saturated with water. and
after the section men had passed this
point "n Thursday afternoon. some thir-
tl "r forty feet of this dump. which had
stood there securely for twcnty-thrcc
Years. slid out. taking rocks and trees
with il. 1t Was an occurrence entirely .
to forc>cr ur guard against
and when We consider the vast amount
of water " hich has fallen this summer.
the only wonder i that there have not
been many such slides.
bn" circumstance i'll connection with I.
this TrnaI hahlc dcHNrIancc should not .
hr oNcrloukrd 81 forgotten: Ever since
Nh Bcattic'> little boy was run over
and killed hN the ears twelve days he I.
fore the mother has been very sick
made i'll h\ the shock of hIS death
and il Was while carving home the
muse of his wife Thursday attcImnun.
that MI. Brattir discovered the damage
done I" the railroad and FASTENED To
warn the trains at danger. The newt
able conclusion i. that had not the boy .
Ia" Young T." appreciate danger. been
killed. the father would not have been
called away at that time. and the train
with IT. living freight would lEINcIll>hrd
on To it, doom. Can amy one fail ("
little boy. two Years old. who watched .
I lIc approaching train with such childish
and glcc. the lives of many
NcIc not saved
Sickness in our Town, and its Cause.