Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-10-01
TEE MAD ENGINEER.

L LII LII al
* ANlEL DUPONT was an engineer on
the -R. r A good paturcd. brave
honest aud hardy young man. Iu6us,rious
and attentive to his business, he had becnne
quite pet II his company. His Iocomo,Ive,
the Irn''1e STIR, was kent in good ,rlto-
and made the best time of anv on tie rid.
, He was large, powerful Of frame pn.l III. v.,v
picture "t good healrh hns he had q wife
who was directly his oppos!t;, 30 w!,c:. ,,r
was most te"d"rty and devu'cuIy attached.
Minnie Dupont was pale but pretty little
woman, twenty years of age, WHO we
might say, had scarcely enjoyed day of
good health for five years 1t was uatnral for
her to cling to her manly husband, who was
three years her senior as her superior in
everything.
One Monday morning as Daniel was leay>
ing his pleasant little home for his regular
trip his wife complained of feeling unwell
aud expressed wish that he would get some
one else to run the train that time.
The young engineer with his hand on the
door knob. paused and glanced at his wife
She looked no paler than usual, and he could
see no use in remaining.
minnie" he said, II have asked leave so
often to stay with you that | fear the COM
pany will become tired of it, and + lose nv
position"
Daniel Dupont was proof, and his profes,
sion was his only means Of sustenance.
Minnie, patient, darling Minnie. only
hcavcd sigh. but said not another word
Her husband went His conscience felt a,
pang; but engr0ssed in the management of
his engine, he forgot his suffering wife as
home. The trip made to the entire end
OF the road. and two days after Dupout's de-
parture from =. the train was within two
hundred aud forty miles of his home. As.it
thnndered into st'ton the operator ran out
and waiving his handkerchief. shouted.
"D"p0n!"
Aye, aye" responded an individual. black
with coal, and grim with soot leaning, out
from the engine room.
"A telegram for you' handing him slim
of paper. he took the telegram and Glanced
at it. 1t was brief but contained enough to
drive the blood from his cheek to his heart,
'four wife is very sick; she cannot live"
10 whlch was added:
"Oh, come home to your dying Minnie
"Come !! yes I will" he cried. AS with hard
brawny hand he dashed the tears from his
eyes Jake he shouted to the fireman.
'.uncoupe us from the train"
'Why, Dan, what
"Qn'ck, say; aud ask no questions -
The faithful fireman oheyed, aud quick as
hghtning-the work was DONE
The engine sprang forward with lurch
that sent the man to the feet of his Chief
When he reganed his equilibrium thew
were leaving the train behind and speedino
forward like the wind.
The frightened fireman glanced at the en-
glneer, whose face was the picture of stony
hrpness; his strong hand on the lever told
that he was putting on every ounce of steam
there was to spare
''More coal" he shrieked in harsh. sepul>
chral tones. The fireman heaped the furnace
full. The black smoke rolled back in one
vast cloud Faster and faster they flew
The engineer leanng out his face although
black and grim dIspIayinga deatbly paIlor
They thuudered past one, two ststious. and
although signal flags were waved no heed
was pad to them. Jake .lauced out at the
earth, which ar,earcd a mere sEmmcriny
shn''"w. He .it"u4ht of meet ny snn.e up
tFAlo. huu tHr fesriuI collision II wunid PRO
"Gcc. !Ast-f and faster the o"nm y. went
nnr' It's ieatin roar became a glcau. II
'"eieH snn st:g-,red from side tn -;d,.; tat
St''"d'es h"came hot and the t ID drops - ,roq
dnpNc1 from 'h",n. The tire:nnu'- lac. was
hags".d with fear. aud the engineers eyes
ht#ze" like those of iunat.r. Tie pIfes
1a5hcd news 10 stetion ahead:
"a mad engineer is on the rosd throw
open the switch"
Ere it could be DOME the engine rushed
past the station and was speeding, groauing,
staggering on
Several trains had been passed, but, lnck-
iiy, all were on the switches, and no 1mpedi
ment had been met a telegram was Eext
flashed along the whole line:
keep the track clear mad engineer is
on the road
Dupont spoke not word save to command
the fireman aud get more speed, or occasions
ally exclam:
oh Minnie, I'm coming"
ne groanine locomotive was now running
at the fearful rate of seventy miles an hour.
Trains we're rapidly run off the track, and in
less than four hours he stopped 10 the town
OF Il" and ran up to his house. He was
only In time to clasp his darling wife in his
arms, and receive her last kiss and partipr
blessing ere her spirit fed. To express his
wild grief would be impossible For months
his ite and reason were despaired of; but
gradually he became reconclled to his fate.
and returned TO his business
1t was only few days ago, as I was wait
ing ut the depot for the train, a fellow. pas>
senger po'uted to sad faced looking person.
buslly employed upon an engine, with hair
premature!y grown gray. and said:
''Ihere is the MAD ENGINEER"