Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-10-15
MIscELLAMls O ous.
POKING FUN AT A RAILRoAD.

Frederick Dodd writes as follows about the.
branch railroad between Baitimore and the,
Capital. Piis yS -
Bu. about this railroad Ofoourse want
it abolished every one does. The reckless
velocity with which the trains are run between
here and Baltimore is absolutely trirbtfui- .t
4 was delighted, years ago, when this road :
was established, because thought we had
got rid OF the old riaketyt and daugerously.
fast Stage coaches, but the speed at which.
they are beginning, to run the trains on this
road is worse yet IS
Now. every one knows chat Baltimore, n
forty miles, from Washington, if it's ap,inch!l
and three days and a half is plenty quick
enough for the trip; but the managers haso 5
already reduced the time TO- three DAYS and (.
four hours. and with making the engine fires
too hot, and racing with cows along the road
and all that. .the conductors are seves, ctitting
that time down. -
Why, it was only the other day. on .thst )
down trip. We happened toSspy old Sinfni's
mule, about two miles out of town. What
should the reckless wretch Of an epgibeerido
but clap on full steam, aud race every foot OF
the way into the District. We didn't exactly
pass the mule. but we caught up with hin,
twice. and came into the depot neck and neck
and which was putting most the mule or the
life. 3 -,
Now it.was all very exciting, and all that.
[ know; but hadn't purchased an accident
ticket. and don't believe tho other four pas
tengers had, either. This is wrong, all wronei
And then, on another occasion, [ remem>
Der. we came within hairs breadth OF hav-
ing very serious accident The engineer
had gotten off to SNOWFALL chipmunk. and
the conductor was minding young widows
baby for her-tbe result was the train han.
pened to get on down grade, and was start.
ed off at a terrific rate, every bit of four miles
| an hour, | should think
We were just half a mile above the Ap.
napois junction, aud the first thing we knew
there being no one to whistle aud wake, up
the switch tender-we were turned of into
the Annapolis road, and went down the wrong
track at full speed. Imagine our consterna-
ton, when just at this moment we heard this
whistle. not half mile ahead of US, Of the
Annapolis up train.
We were paralyzed with terror. Here wers
trains on the same track, approaching each
other at the dizzy speed just mentioned. Evi.
dently our time had come In few short
hours the engines would meet, and then
destruction!
With great presence of mind mininter on
board organizrd prayer meeting, but calm.
the doomed band of passengers sat, and.
though with the very shadow of death upon
them, raised their voices in parting hymn.
''Send forthe baggage master" said young
man, with a sad smile.
''Why?" was asked
Because we are all about to pass in our
checks"
Everybody wept. From the rear platform.
we could see the miserable engineer straipine
70 atah l,.A L.
boots on, and didn't gain anything to speak Of
AT this moment ray OF hope dawDed upor
us. l had just finished writing my will on
the back of visiting card when observed
young lady in the act of detaehing her hustle.
Placing the article-which was composed of
eight hundred papers and bair mattress
under her arm, the heroine marched through
the car.
We followed her anziously.
She climbed upon the tender, and then
! over the engine. 1t was very interesting to
see her climbing over the wheels and brass
things on her way to the cow-cateber. Itre~
minded me of country girl getting over a
wire fence. But never mind that now. Let
me see where was. Oh! yes; on the cow-'
catcher. Holding on by the CROSS bars with
one hand, the noble maiden tied the hustle
on the sharp prov with the other.
You can guess the result. In the conrse
of the afternoon the collision came off Pro-
tected by the hustle, the engine received q
| gentle bump. and we were saved. / took MP
collection for the woman on the spot I al
ways take mp a collection Oh such occasions
always. And what's more, never forget to
give tbe Interested something nice out of i.
never. There is nothing mean about me.
L suppose you noticed my clothes
In the decade from 1a5o 70 1sso a.