The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-07-03
POking Fun at a Railroad

MIR. Derrick Dodd writes rs
follows to tho Washington Capital
about the branch railroad between
Baltimore and the Capital:
But about this railroad. or
course | want it abolished, as
every ono does. Tho reckless vc-
locity with which tho trains arc
run between hero and Baltimore is
absolutely frightfnI. l was de-
lighted years ago when this road
was established because, l thought
wc had got rid Of tho old ricIloty
and dangerously fast stage conchos,
but the speed they aro beginning
to run tho trains at now on this
road is worse yet. Now, ovory
ono knows that Baltimore is forty
miles from Washington if it is an
inch, and three days and halfis
plenty quick enough for tho trip,
but tho managers have already re-
duccd tho schedule timc to three
days and four hours, and what
with making the engine fires too
hot, and racing with COWS along
tho road, and all that tho con-
ductors aro even cutting that timo
doWn. .yah rne. ~. l..' 5..1
Why, it was only tho othor day
on tho down trip we happened to
spy Sims old mulo about two
miles out Of town. What should
thc reckless wretch Of an engineer
DO but clap on full steam and race
every foot Of tho way into tho
district? Wo didn't exactly pass
tho mule, but we caught up with
him twice, and came into tho do
pot neck and nccll.--and which
was, putting Tho most, tho mulo or
tho engine. you couldn't have told
to savo your life. Now, it was all
very exciting, and all that, I know,
but [ hadn't purchased an acci-
dent ticket, and l don't believe
tho othor four passengers had ci.
thcr. This is all wrong, Mr.. Edi,
tor, all wrong.
And then on another occasion, |
romembcr, wo came within u hairs
breadth Of having u worry serious
accident.' The engineer had got
ten off to SNOWFALL O. chipmunk
and tho conductor was minding q
young widows baby for hcr-Lhc
result was that the train happened
to got on q down grade and VIC
started off at torrific rate, ovcry
bit Of four miles an hour, [ should
think. We woro just half q milo
above tho Annapolis junction, ant
the first thing VIC knew thoro be
ing no ono to whistle and wake
up tho switch-tondor, wo wore
turned off into tho Annapolis roat
and went down tho wrong tracl
at full speed. Imagine our con
sternation whom just at this mo
mont wo heard tho whistle, no
half q milo ahead Of us, Of thu
Annapolis up train. Wo were
paralyzed with terror. Here wore
two trains on tho same track ap
proachiug each othor at tho dizzy
speed just mentioned. EvidontlJ
our timo had comol In ~ few
short hours the engines woult
meet, and then 49, destruction ,
With great presence Of. mind /
minister, on board organized
prayer-meeting. Pale but calm
tho doomed band of passenger
sat, and though with tho YER,
shadow Of death upon them, raiseI
thoir voices in o parting hymn, ~ -
"Sond for tho aggage-master,
said o young man with q So
smile. sHsu. u alahH", 10. ;" -"
Z Y "Why?" was aked., a'a& s1,ros~r
r. "Recause we d are all about T.
'c pass in,our ehecks.rs .slonri, = noli
III Everybody wept. yFrom,the roe
platform we could SEQ the misera
bio engineer straining every norv
; tolcatoh up, but he hadttight boot
, ton,gand .didn'toigaineasanythi ~
I ftspenk ofs@b~aInHaS9 sSs .b3hIFSno'
'F fNeathis momont,,a Fay of]' hop
" daWncd upon, US, :, Tohsd Just fl
- ishcd Writing, omy.pIWill on. tn
s back Of q visiting card a&hon
D. obs erved q .youngqaladNsinathe &C
!4| of detaohing shep bastle, StPlacin
n[ THE artiolea-eyfiioh@ was compose
8 lof 900 Capitals iill .sl afT paa