The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-12-19
Don't be afraid, child. I'll never

cOuldn 60 nome 10 Joe. L maj
up my mind to sleep on the club sof
and leave the place for good next day.
Already I felt my brain reel as neve
had before. In nm hour | was in a Ian,
Of stupor.
, II was morning. A waiter stood read,
to brush my coat. I saw a grin upoI
his face. My head seemed ready 3,
burst; my heart trembled! looked a
my watch; Faw had only FIVE minute
left to reach the depot.
Joe's words come to mind. Was &
to take charge of an enginel was no
fit to answer. ought to have askec
some sober man. As il was, | onl,
caught my hat and rushed away wa
just in time.
The San Francisco glittered in tn,
morning sun. The cars were filling rap
idly. From my post ! could hear tn,
talking-bidding each other goodbye
promising TO write and come again
Among them was an old gentleman
knew by sight-one Of the shareholders
he was bidding two timid girls adieu.
Goodbye, Kitty-good-bye, Lue,
] heard him say; "don't be nervous.
The San Francisco is the safest engine on
the line, and Guelden the most careful
engineer. / wouldn't be afraid to trust
every mortal | love in the hatch to their
keeping. Nothing could happen wrong
with the two together.
said, "Ill get through it somehow,
aud Joe shall never talk to me again. "
After all it was easy enough. reeled
as | spoke. | heard the signal. We
were of.
Five hours from l.. TO d.; FIVE hours
back. On the last ! should be myself
again, knew. | saw a red hutter, and
never guessed what it was until We were
past the down train at a wrong place
Two minutes more and we should have
had a collision. Somebody told me. |
laughed. | heard him say respectfully :
"Of course, Mr.. Guelden, you know
what you are about"
Then was alone, and wondered
whether ! should 60 slower or faster.
did something, and the cars rushed on at
fearful rate.
The same man who had spoken to me
before was strnding near me. | heard
some questions.
How many miles an hour are we
making. do not know
Rattle, rattle. rattle. Twas trying to
slacken the speed of the San Francisco
! could not remember what ! should do.
Was it this or that, Faster-only
faster, was playing with the engine
like child
Suddenly there was a horrible roar-a
crash was flung somewhere. 1t was
into the water. BY miracle | was only
sobercd-not hurt. gained the shore.
| stood upon the ground between the
track and the rivers edge, and there
gazed at my own work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars
in splinters; dead, dying and wounded
were strewn around-men, women aud
children, old age and tender youth.
There were groans and shrieks Of de-
spair, The MANNED cried out in pain;
and voice unheard by any other was in
my ear whispering, Murderer"
The news had gone back to A., and
the people came thronging down to find
their lost ones. Searching for an old
mans daughter, ! came to place under
the trees, and five bodies were lying
there in their rigid horror-an old wo-
man, young one, baby and two chill
dren. 1t was fancy, it was pure fancy,
born to my anguish-they looked like
OH great Heaven! there were old moth
er, my wife, my children! all cold and
dead.
How did they come on the train? |
gazed on the good old face of her who
had given me birth, on the lovely fea-
lures Of my wife, on the innocent chill
dren. | called them by name; there was
no answer. There never could be-nev-
er would be. And as | comprehended
this, onward up the track thundered an
other train. Its red eye glared on me; !
flung myself before it; l felt it crush me
to atoms!
"Ilis head is very hot, said somebody. |
| opened my eyes and saw my wife,
"liow do you feel'' said she; little bet.
teri"
was rejoiced and so astonished by the
sight of her, that could not speak at
first. She repeated the question.
81 must be crushed to pieces, said |,
''for the train went over me; but feel
no pain"
There he goes about the train again,
my wife. "Why Ned"
tried 10 move. there was nothing the
natter with me; sat up. was in my
'wn room, opposite the crib in which
.wo children were asleep.
My wife and children were safe! Was
delirious, or could il bei-
Joe, cried |, tell me what has hap
,ened."
Its . o'clock, said Joe. "You came
lome in such a state from the club that
couldn't wake you. You were not ft