Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-21

his only business being 10 talk with the
President of the railroad company about
the killins oil his boy.
lie found The President and talked with
him. No Ieasoning could make him be-
lieve that his child had not been willulIy
murdered To test aud decide the point,
he made - proposition To the railroad
company. They should place another en-
gineet on the lreig Int train. There was to
1 be the same number oil loaded cars. They
should be run ut the same speed. When
this train should scach the spot from which
Donald McShecley discovered the child
ON the track every effort should be- made
to stop the train as quickly rs possible II
it proved impossible to stop The train be
/ tore reaching the place where Robert was
killed, then the farmer would bo satisfied
| that no Inul der was intended. II, on the
contrary, the train could be stopped in
side these bunuds, then he would hold
Donald McShcoley guilty of the murder
/ of his boy.
1t was u strange proposition. There
was some shadow oi pIaus5ility in it,.
The President of the road believed in
Donald McSheeley He believed he had
done his utmost to stop the train. lie
I had no doubt but lhS test train would
prove his innocence and sci The farmers
and the public mind at rest. 50 he cou-
seLled To have the trial made as soon rs
possible.
1t The TACT oI The farmers proposition
WAS strange, the tact Oi the Presidents
taxing ANY such notice ot 1t was vastly
nuic 80. IL can be accounted tOr only by
/ the suppusiIiun that II was destined TO be
50. Even when scores ol persons are
/ killed by r-cKlessness of fpIilroad officials.
Presidents take Little pains TO enquire into
the matter. They arU usually deaf to the
demands OF The public. In this case 1t
was not 50 Satisfied wilh the arrange
menl. farmer Brady ltarted honcward.
The day and night previous Il had raincd
learuly. ihc streams M AL directions,
Ncrc bank luIl and still rising. Farmer
Brady pursued his way until he was with
Ia a mile ot home. Here AN appalling
sight burst upon him. For distance oi
twenty rods every vistAgc oi the railroad
track was gone. The river had broken
over and swept il away. Where trains
had passed aud rePassUd not an hour oe-
tore. nov rolled and boiled the whole cur
rent OF The Iroad deep river. Farmer
Brady comprcheuded the situation. lle
pulled out his watch. Ohc glance was
sufficient. In ten minutes the New York
aud Boston express would be due One
in,tantS hesitation was worth hundreds
OF lives. lie did not hesitate. ilo sprung
from the wagon. No one can tell how
lac 20: round the breaA, cIluging 10 that
lrightlully steep bank BY The time it
was accomplished, he heard the whistle
OF the train close AZ hand. lie leaped up
on the track. aud. swingin. his hat and
shouting like II madmAn, rushed down
the road To meet the doomed train sweep.
ing round the curve iuto eternity While
Farmer Brady WAS going TO see the Presi'
dent, Doaald McSneeley was taking his
freight tain ON lis way to tho city But
he was Intercepted 10y u telegram iIom
the superintendent, directing MIN 10 sur
render his train 10 another engineer.
Then he Was to take and run the next
passenger tram back 10 l.. This next
passenger train was the Now York and
Boston express. which he was 10 meet at
The next station. lie was astonishcd at
the strange order, but he obcyed ii. lie
got aboard the express and took his place
al the engine.
IL WAS Il long train seven cars were
crowded with passengers. Many OF them
were on their way 10 The mountains. 80
Donald McShceley, instead ut running
his freight train to the city. suddenly found
himself running the passenger express
back To L. This WAS the result OF farmer
Brady's talk with the President. And
here il seemed that destiny itself ordered
il that Donald McSheeley should run that
train 10 l..
We cannot tell what Donald McShee-
ley's thoughts were rs The train sped on
lis way. No one can tell what his
thoughts were rs the train swept throug h
larmer Brady's meadow, where li;tle
Robert met his DOOM But his hand was
on the lever, his eye was on the track. rs
the train rounded out Ot sight OF the house.
Half minute later his eye caught sight
of u man rushing round the curve, swing
ing his hat and hands irauticllly in the
air.
The faculties OF the trained engineer
are ever ON the alert His trained per
ceptions are keen and quick rs lightning.
He read in that mans frantic manner the
presence of an awful emergency. lie
knew the train, with its hundreds OF lives
was rushing on to its doom. Quick rs
thought the steam whistle shrieked out
The signal of danger. Every breakmau
sprang 10 his post. The steam was re-
versed, but the train swept on past The
frantic man. who had only time TO escape
with his lie. 1t swept on. on, on, and at
last stopped not thu ee feet from the edge
of that awful chasm, where the mad
waters boiled and surged in their unap
neased fury. Donald McSheeley stepped