The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-07-04

i Joes words came to my mind. Was l
fit to take charge of an engine [ was
not ft to answer ought to have asked
some sober man. AS it was, I only caught
my hat and rushed away, was just in
time.
The San Francisco glittered in the sun
From my post could hear the people
talking-blddinG each other good bye,
promising to write and come again.
Among them was an old gentleman |
knew by sight-one of the share hold
ers he was bidding two timid girls
adieu.
| Goodbye Kitty-good- bye Lue." l
heard him say; "dont be nervous. The
San Francisco is the safest engine on the
line, and Guelden the most careful engi
neer I wouldn't be afraid to trust every
mortal I love to their keeping. Nothing
could happen wrong with the two togeth-
err
| I said swell get through it somehow,
and Joe shall never talk to me again,
After all it was easy enough" | reeled
as I spoke. heard the signal. We were
| off
Five hours from L to d. FIVE hours
| back. On the last | should be myself
again. 1 know now. l saw a futter, aud
never guessed what it was until we had
passed the down train in the wrong place.
Two minutes more and we should have
had collision. Somebody told me and
| laughed. I heard him say respectfully:
"Of course, Mr. Guelden, you know
what you are about?"
Then I was alone, and wondering wheth.
er shonld go faster or slower. [ did
something, and the cars rushed on at
fearful rate. The same man who had
spoken to me before was Standing near
me. heard some question.
How many miles an hour are we making
don't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle! I was trying now
to slacken the speed of the San Francisco.
I could not remember what should do
was it this or shat-faster or slower? l
was playing with the engine like child.
Suddenly there was a horrible roar--a
crash. l was flung somewhere. was
in the water By miracle was sobered,
not hurt. I gained the shore. I stood
on the ground by the rivers edge and
there gazed at my work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars
in splinters, dead, dying and wounded
were streWn around-men women and
children-old age and tender youth.
There were groans and shrieks of despair.
The MANNED cried out in pain the unin-
ljured bewailed their dead; and a voice
nnheard by any other, was IN my car,
whispering Murder"
The news had gone to A. and people
came thronging down to find their friends
no n = ctr oh ho
went with some of the distracted to find
thier lost ones Searching for an old mans
daughter, came to place under the
trees,and found five bodies lying there ALI
in their rigid horror-an old woman, a
young one, baby, and two tiny children.
was it fancy-was it pure fancy, born of
my angaish-they looked like OH, great
heaven they were my old mother, my
wife, my children-all cold and dead
How did they come on the train What
chance had brought this about? No one
could answer. | groaned, screamed, I
clasped my hands, tore my hair, gazed
in the good old face of her who gave me
birth, on the lovely features of my wife,
on my innocent children. [ called them
by name, there was no answer There
never could-never would be- And as
comprehended this, onward up the track
thnndered another train. It's red eve
glared on me, flung myself before it, I
felt it crush nae TO atoms.
His head is extremely hot" said some.
body.
pened my eyes and saw ny wife.
Glow do you feel?" said she. 20 little
better?"
was so rejoiced and astonished by the
sight other that could not speak at first
She repeated the question.
Il must be crushed to pieces" said I,
>for the train went over me, but feel No
pain.
"There ne goes about thattrain again
said my wife: "Why, Ned!"
tried to move there was nothing
the matter with me- I was in nv own
room. Opposite 20 me a crib in which nv
child was asleep. Ny wife and child
were safe, was dellrious, or what could
it be ?"
200" cried, "tell me what has hap
pened!"
Its nine O'clock" said Joe. "you
came nome IN sucn state from the club
tnat couldn't wake you. You weren't
lit 10 manage steam and risk peoples lives.
The San Francisco is half way to A. Il
suppose, and you have been frightening
me to death with your dreadful talk y
And Joe began to cry.
TWAS only a dream, only an awful
dream. But had lived through it as
though it were reality.
us there Bible in the house, Joe,
said l. w.
care we heathens ?" asked Joe.
She brought it, and put my hand ON
1t and took the oath (too solemn to he
repeated here), that what had Happened
should not occur again. And is the San