Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-08-30

&c 1t will grow" said sho.
Then she put her arms around my
neck.
Ned" said she, "do you think a
thing so much like belted and strap
ped down demon as steam is fit to put
into the hands of drunken man? And
some day, mark my words, not only
Thursday night, but all the days of the
week, you will be the same. T have
often heard you wonder what the feel
ings of an engineer who has about the
same as murdered train full of people
must be, and you'll know if you don't
stop where You are A steady hand
and a clear head have been your bless
ing all these years. Don't throw them
away. Ned, if you don't care for my
love, don't ruin yourself
My little Joe. She spoke from her
heart, and l bent over and kissed her.
"Don't be afraid, child I'll never
pain you again"
And l meant it; but at II o'clock that
night l felt that 1 had forgotten my
promise and my resolution.
I couldn't go home to Joe. made
up my mind to sleep on the club sofa,
and leave the place for good the next
day. Already felt my brain reel as it
had never done before. In an hour [
was in kind of stupor. 1t was morn
ing. A waiter stood ready to brush my
coat. l saw grin ON his face. My
heart seemed ready to burst my hand
trembled ; looked at my watch 1 had
only just five minutes to reach the
depot
Joe's words came to my mind. Was
| fit to take charge of an engine? l
was not fit to answer. I ought to have
asked some sober man. AS it was |
only caught my hat and rushed away.
1 was just in time.
The San Francisco glistened in the
sun. The cars were filling rapidly.
From my post could hear the people
talking-bidding each other goodbye,
and promising to write and come again.
Among them was an old gentleman I
knew by sight-one of the shareholders.
He was bidding two timid girls adieu.
Goodbye, Kittie /; goodbye, Lue, ;"
l heard him say don't be nervous.
The San Francisco is the safest engine
on the line, and Guelden the most care
full engineer; l would not be afraid to
trust every mortal to their keeping.
Nothing could happen wrong with the
two together.
l said "we'll get through it somehow,
and Joe shall never talk to me again.
After all, it was easy enough" 1 reelcd
as | spoke. l heard the signal We
are off.
Five hours from l.. to d.; five hours
back again. l knew now that on the
last run l should be myself again. l
saw tlutter, and never knew what it
WAS until we had passed the train at the
wrong place. Two minutes more and
we should have had collision. Some
body told me, and 1 laughed. l heard
the shareholder say, respectfully
"Of course, Mr.. Gueldon, you know
what you are about %
Then I was alone and wondering
whether should so faster or slower 1
did something and the cars rushed ON at
fearful rate. The same man who had
spoken to me before was standing near
me. l heard the question
How many miles an hour are we
making %
didn't know. ...
Rattle, rattle, rattle / was trying
now to slacken the speed of the San
Francisco. l could not remember what
L should do-was this or that-faster or
slower? L was playing with the engine
like child.
Suddenly there was horrible roar
Il crash. l was flung somewhere. 1t
was in the water. BY a miracle l was
sobered, not hurt. 1 gained the shore.
| stood upon the ground between the
track and the waters edge, and there
gazed at my work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars
in splinters dead and dying and
wounded We're strewn around-men and
women and children, old age and youth
There were groans and shrieks of de-
spair. The manned cried out in pain
the uninjured bewailed their dead, and
Il voice, unheard by any other, was in
my ear, whispering murder!'
The news had gone to A., and people
came thronging down to find their lost
ones. Searching for an old mans
daughter, I came to place under the
trees, and found five bodies lying there,
all i'll their rigid horror---an old woman,
ayoung one, a baby, and two tiny chill
dren. Was it fancy-was it pure fancy,
born of my anguish ?-they look like
oh, heaven they We're my 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. 1 groaned, ]
screamed, I clasped my hands, 1 tore
my hair, 1 gazed on the good face OF
| lo,, ,.I,> rx,ro ,.oo L;.tb on the Jpya1y