The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1873-07-04

most careful engineer. I would not
be afraid to trust every mortal to
their keeping. Nothing could hap
pen wrong with the two together"
Il said, "We'l get through it
somehow, and Joe shall never talk
to ne again. After all it was easy
enough. 1 reeled as 1 spoke. l
heard the signal. We are of.
Five hours from L. to D ; five
hours back again. I saw futter,
and never guessed 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 laughed heard
the shareholder say, respectfully:
"Of course Mr.. Guelden, you
know what you are about?"
Then l was alone, and wondering
whether I should go faster or slow
er. l did something and the cars
rushed on at q fearful rate. The
same man that had spoken to me
before was standing near ne. /
heard the question
SLOW 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 ] should do-was 1t this or
that-faster or slower? l was play
ing with the engine like child.
Suddenly there was a horrible
roar-a crash. l was flung some
where. 1 was in the water. BY a
miracle l was sobered, not hurt. l
gained the shore, and there gazed
on my work.
The engine was in fragments, the
cars in splinters; dead, dying and
wounded were strewn around. There
were groans and shrieks of despair.
The MANNED cried out in pain; the
uninjured bewailed their dead; and
voice, unheard by any other, was
in my car, whispering "Murderr'
The news had gone to A,and peo
pie came thronging down to find
their lost ones. Searching for an
old mans daughter, l came to a
place under the trees, and found five
bodies lying there, all in their rigid
horror-an old woman, q young one,
baby any two tiny childoen. Was
it fancy-was it pure fancy, born of
my anguish-they looked like-oh,
Heaven, they were 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, l screamed, l clasped my
hands, / tore my hair, gazed in the
good face of her who gave me birth,
on the lovely face of my wife, on my
innocent children. called them by
name; there was no answer. There
never could be-there never would
be.
A whistle! Great God! Onward
up the track thundered another
trainl It's red eyes glared upon me
threw myself before it; felt il
crush me to atoms.
ellis head is extremely hot" said
somebody.
Iopened 1 my eyes and saw my
wife
'How do you feel?" said she; &
little better?'
1 was so rejoiced and astonished
by the sight of her that could not
speak at first. She repeated the
question.
81 must be crushed to pieces, said
I, ''for the tram went over me; but
1 feel no pain"
"There he goes about that train
again" said my wife.
Why, l tried to move-there was
nothing the matter with me. l was
in my own room; opposite to me q
crib in which my child was asleep.
My wife and child were safe. Was
delirious, or what could it be?
"Joe," 1 cried, "tel me what has
Mapped"
ats nine O'clock" saidJoe. "You
came home in such a state from the
club that l couldn't wake you. You
weren't fit to manage steam, and risk
peoples lives. The San Francisco
is half way to A, I suppose, and you
have been frightening me half to
death with your dreadful talk"
And Joe began to cry.
1t was only dream; only an aw-
ful dream. But had lived through
it as though it were a reality.
as there a Bible in the house,
JoeY' said |.
care we heathens~ asked Joe.
"Give it to me this moment, Joe -
She brought it, and put my hand
on it and took the oath (too solemn
to be repeated here), that what had
happened never should occur again,
And if the San Francisco ever comes
to grief, the verdict will not be, as it
has so often been, "The engineer was
drunk" k"-ROmaRc and HHmOr Of
The Rail.