Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1874-07-18
TIE SIGNAL LIGHT.
An InterestIng Narrative of Life on TIA,
Rail.

An Interesting Narrative Of Lile on th'
Rail.
Taylors Fast Life on the Modern Highway,
An engineer who had neglected to
display his red lamp tagging signal,
and being reminded of the omission
when approaching the train against
which he was bearing the flag, attemp'
ted to prevent the inevitable collision
by a mode not in the rules, made the
following singular statement to the gen.
eral superintendent
You see, when we got the order l
went to the front of the engine to help
my fireman to fasten on the lamp. The
iron strap had got bent and would not
20 into the slot made to hold 1t, so we
tied it on with a piece Of rope. 1t de-
layed us Just about minute fixing this.
"Was it lighted?"
Yes, sir. After taking so much trou-
bic to fix lamp on we should not be 30
green as to go away without light IN
it.
Well, we were little behind tina,
and had not much to spare TO save the
connection. | was keeping a sharp
lookout ahead, and we were getting
along pretty fast.
II was not clear night and it was not
thick night; l had a good view OF
things ahead.
Well, sir, you may think I've lost my
senses, but tell you solemnly that l
saw woman, or womans ghost,
walking straight up the middle OF the
track toward my engine
It was no use whistling, she was 80
close. crawled out of the cab window
as quick as could, and went along to-
ward the front Just in time to see the
form sitting on the bufier,heam and
putting out the light in the rel lamp
The creature got off when It saw me,
and walked away in front OF the engine,
and as we thundered along after 1t, ii
somehow disappeared. -.
| got back into the cab trembling
some.
| told John the light was out, and
to 60 and get it and light it.
After he had done it he went out and
tied it on. -
I went to see if it was burning all
right and it was burning bright.
/ said nothing to Jack about what
had seen.
Well, it was no more than three min
utes, and we were going on smart
when saw that same tgnre walking "
the track towards the engine as before
"Jack," cried, "look there y
Jack had already seen it, and hac
sounded a long whistle and began tc
put on the brake. .,..
eco 10 tho oev~ catcher eiAVu
and he crawled through the window.
A few minutes after he came back
his face pale and his eyes starting ou
of his head. He looked at me and
, looked at him, but we said nothing
l pointed ahead, and there it was
I got out aud etched in the lamp.
! The lamp was out !
az saw it open the lamp door AM
blow it out, said Jack in an awful ter
. ror; "and then it got down and walked
away in front of the engine.
4 Well, l guess there never was tW
/ men on an engine so mortally sacred a
nv fireman and me.
{ However, I went out again with tn
lamp aud tied it on. also turned tn
ropt once or twice around the door, s
it.could not be opened without som
s trouble.
a Jack" 1 said, when ! got back int
the cab, "there's going to be some tel
p riblv dreadful thing happen to us t.
night. That woman's ghost OF eyyl
/. No living thing could do as that hi
n done" E,
Jacks teeth were chattering vii
e fright, and SO we're mine for the matt
d of that. ,,.
l felt that we had been singled out
N be the cause or the victims OF somethlI
D, awful. r
T. keep a good lookout, Jack, sal
i. "we're only mile from G., whe
r we are tagging No. 174 to, and we mu
le show the light if all the the devils
IN hell are agin us. -,
<. | ordered Jack to the front OF the
D. CINE to watch the lamp.
c. He did not seem to like 1t, but
went.
l wrote on the back Of the time ca
these words:
"For Gods sake don't pass the switc
w We are tagging TIA"
al | stuck the paper on the end OF
he of pine wood and kept it ready.
le- When looked ahead again saw
it shape as plain as l see you, sir, Yalkl
bi- toward us, and afterwaSd Bets@ !
lg- front of the engine.
he | could see the headlight of No.
ut. on the side track, and l was sure
a tagging signal lamp was out, for tn
was that female figure walking ahead
a MS on the track for the third time. =.
9at | wasn't so scared as before, so l ]
ess lighted the pine stick at the fire b
4. and held it up flaming bright with
OF paper upon it. %.
are As l passed the engine No. l3'
nd threw it toward the engineer.
ars 1t was getting dark, but by the eng
'ad light saw him pick it up.
lck He read the paper, as you know,
md and waited till No ia had got in;
de- so there was no collision.
a My svory may seem strange, but
lck true, as heaven is my Judge.
Id You may discharge me and Jack
an. you like, for not showing the flag sigi
rst as you say but can't alter what
list said. .
abs When we got to the end of the tri
'er- found Jack had tainted away, and
re- lying on the front of the engine, for
lite she devil had put the light out so
was how, in spite of him and the rope l
ers, round the door.
by -