The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1874-09-19
AN HOUR OF HORROR.

The doctor was aroused by q sharp
ring of the bell, and call to the house
of the superintendent of the mill. After
seating himself again for moment OF
rest and reflection, his mind was soon at
work. 1t being but short distance to
his patients home, he did not order his
carriage, but, wrapping up aud grasping
his umbrella--for 1t was raning-he
sailed forth, so tired after his hard days
labor with the epidemic that 1t was with
difficulty his limbs performed their duty:
To reach his destination the railroad
track must be crossed, and as he was
stepping over the track his foot slipped
and slid In between the rail aud the
planking, wedging him so firmly that,
with his greatest exertions he could mol
stir. He pulled and twisted, pried and
strained, but without tavail-thefoot was
fast. The next thought was to remove
his foot from the boot, but that too, was
impossible. It was not the boot only,
but the foot also which was immovabl'.
Il would not do to abandon his efforts,
however, so he redoubled them, but the
result was simply severe pain and no re-
lease
Just then his ear caught the sound OF
O far of whistle. The cold p aspiration
gathered on his brow as he remembered
that the express train was due, and buta
few moments would elapse be'ore il
would rush over the very spot where he
was 80 firmly fixed. 1t seemed terrible
10 be doomed to such death. Again
he tried to free himself, and again aud
again, but with no better success.
Soon in the distance could be seen the
light of the engine. o, the agony of
those moments, with death literally stat
ing him in the facet In his torture lie
shrieked, scream ell and cried like veri-
table mailman, but no one heard tue
voice. Then his past life flashed before
him everything was mirrored in his
mind. Incidents long since fore often
were pictured as vividly as though th y
had but just occurred.
The calmness of despair succeeded the
intense agony OF those few moments,
and, with no more writings and groan-
ipgs, he turned to look at the rapidly
nearing engine of destruction, fastinated
like the bird just ready to full into the
hungry jaws of the serpeni-eyes rlst-
ening, and head bent forward, while
nearer and nearer it rolled.
He had lost all fear, and with super
natural curiosity, watched the light grow
ing larger and larger, sprculating as to
the length OF time he had to live, think
ing calmly of how they would lift his
remains and bear III m to the warm,
bright ireside he had lately left, and
wondering what the travellers who would
pour out from the cars in surprise and
anxiety at the detention might say, as
they looked upon the nOndescript mass,
but Q second before so full OF life and
Sigor, and shiver as they turned away
with the thought of the peril all about
every one, made so evident by this acci
dent; guessing with strange indifrer nee
the number OF cars which would pass
over him, whether they would be Jared
as they met the obstruction meditating
upon the result of his not seeing the
patient for whom he was called, and
whether the epidemic had at last stalked
into the house of wealth and luxury as
we'll as that 81 poverty, and who was the
victim. Then back again to his own
situation In life, thanking God that he
had no wife and children TO mourn his
death, and perhaps suffer want for pro-
tector, then asking himself what would
be his portion after death--whether peace
Or woe, happiness or misery.
His mind few from one subject to
another like the lightning on a summers
eve, flashing here and there, quick y ap
peafing and o. rapidly vanishing. Its
action was almost instantaneous, and as
nearer and nearer approached the time
for death the less he thought, ami his
whole being seemed to centre through his
eyes ON that light increasing in bright
ness 30 fast He could hear the rumble
and roar, could see the swaying OF the
ponderous locomotive, but without ieel'
Suddenly, as the engineer with his
keen eyes caught sight oil the poor man,
the whistle screamed sharply its warning.
But though the brakes were applied, and
the lever reversed, the momentum was
too great to be checked at once, and on
they swept with irresistible force, max
ing certain tue doom and crushing even
the slightest hope that could have found
place.
The sound Of the whistle broke tht
spell, and the terror returned with Tt
doubled force. Drops OF cold perspira.
tion again stood on his forehead, and with
last despaifng, frenZied effoit ht
strove to free himself once more. III,
failed. The warm breath of the destroy
br came upon his cheek, as with one las
prayer, his arms folded, he looked to
ward Heaven, aud prepared 10 meet hi
doom. With crash he was felled tt
the ground, and the fsIy mass rolled owe
him. r...
He awoke. His arm. chair had faller
pver, and he was lying beneath it, hi
head toward the roaring fire. With I
convulsive start he jumped up, while oil
his forehead were the great drops Of per
spiration that seemed SO natural in hi
fearful death. He glanced ut the clock
II had Just struck the hour of nine, NJ
remembering his call to the house oil lii
superintendent, after which, so utterl.
starlel with long strides for the neglecte'
sick room