Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-12-23
= frightened Pa.sou ssd sn Unsaae-
tired CouuuetOF,

very amusing incident occurred some
lime las, week on the Illinois Central Rail-
road, west Of Dubuque.
TIC train wss coming slung At the rate OF
about twenty miles an hour, when the con
duetor came into Cne of the passenger
coaches, and took a seat by the side Of a
sober-looking individual, with whom he
soon fell TO conversing. The conductor
soon discovered that his fellow comrade was
"A minister, and no politely listended to
quite an extensive and earnest sermon.
The minister seeing that his auditor was
inclined to pay more than usual attention
and manifest very earnest heed to his ad-
vice and instructions, he at once felt call
10 make special and personal appeal to
The conductor, which also he did in the most
earnest and pathetic language, which. coup
led with such vivid illustrations Of the final
dOen Of the careless and indifferent SEEM
ed 70 carry conviction TO the heart Of the
conductor, who hung his head and appear.
ed 10 be medtatiug very seriously.
The perplexity and gloom which were de-
pictcd in his countenance struck the minis
ter as q positive eN idence Of conviction. So
he very kindly inquired if he was not cons
voted that he was sinner and in need Of
Savior, and added that he need not be
ashamed to make the confession, as that
was q necessary matter If he would obtain
forgiveness.
The conductor, who had not spoken for
some minutes, now looked up, and with a
troubled counteDance said: my friend, l
will tell you the truth. l am in deep trou-
bic, and know not how to avoid the danger
that seems pending with such imminence. ]"
Here the minister took the passive hand
Of The conductor and said: "Thats right,
my dear sir. Go on; open your heart TO me.
Tell all of your trouble, and all will be
wen.
well, sir, " replied the conductor, 81
will explain to you the nature Of my trou-
be-" Then lowering his voice rs though
10 avoid being overheard, he said: &C. am
conductor on this train. We are running
now at the top q our speed. We are half
hour behind time, and if we increase our
speed the engine must burst her boiler
Scarcely quarter of n mile behind US is
another train, which is also behind time ;
and being n much faster train than this, if
we do not increase our speed, she will tele-
scope this train. This, then, is my trouble.
Z Is only question whether we shall be
telescoped or increase our rate of speed and
certainly explode the engine boiler. Which
shall we do ? il the question.
The minister sprung from his seat, and
throwing up his hands in the most frantic
manner fairly yelled "Burst her boiler J
For heaven sake bust her boilerW
The conductor vanished from the car, and
the minister, believing that his last mo
nents were drawing nigh; fell upon his
knees, and bad just begun saying bis pray
ers when the locomotive whistlcd down
trakes, and the train gradually and quietly
rolled up TO the station and came to full
stop The minister rot off the cars, and was
not inclined to resume his journey until the
oke was explained, when some muttered
.entences escaped him which were not dis
tinctly understood, but which sounded like
that often used by railroad men, and some
times by conductors.