The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-18

eye Settleu upon tne uaIzhhB opJeCt pciOTt |
it swept pass us on the other track so
quickly as to seem to have been flash of
lightning, and, for an instant, quite taking |
away my breath, though my companions
did not so much as wink an eyelid. In
this instance we had not only the thirty
miles per hour Roadway Of our own train
but also the twenty miles per hour of the
accommodation train added to the speed
which so rapidly separated us. 1t was not
a very pleasant thought which passed
through my brain just then, that mis-
placed switch might bring these two trains
upon the the same track facing each other,
and, at this frightful rate of speed, the re-
suit can easily be conceived
Frank Moore, the engineer, had been
long in the company's service. Vie was a
man of some thirty eight or forty years, in
telligent, though not cultivated, and as
watched him standing at his post, that dark
and dismal night, l thought how many
lives were trusted in his sole guidance.
Surprising an accident were to happen to
him, what would become of the hundred
souls and moro in the trainp But he stood
there as firm MS the iron about him, never
for one moment quitting his hold upon eth
err ,he valve which should signal danger,
or that which shut off the motive power in
case of necessity. Begrimed, by long ex-
posure to SCOT and smoke, his features
were very dark, but there was kindly ex
preston through all the bronze, and firm
ness visible in his face which challenged
trust and entire confidence in the man.
We had stopped twice for wood and wa
ter, at which times might have taken my
seat in the passenger cars, but sense OF
wild fascination seemed to attach me to the
L.. .,.I g.. lana
upon it at least for awhile longer. And so
on we dashed still through the dense dark
ness and the binding snow, as we had been
doing for so many long mile. Now and
then the engine would jump in its fierce
Roadway on striking some tri6ing obstruc-
ton upon the rails, and my heart would
leap idto almost audible action, and to me
it appeared at times as though the whole
train was going over an embankment to in
evitable wreck. When one of these expe-
riences was more decided than usual, |
coold not quite suppress an ejaculation at
which my companions would glance at me
with an amused smile. Custom had Injured
them to these occurrences, so that they
gave them no heed.
On, on, and still the driving snow storm
and the darkness reigned supreme. The
stoker fed the fire, and the engineer, watch
full as ever, pecred ahead. / was perhaps
getting to be little sleepy from the force
of the wind and the lateness of the hour.
for it was now about midnight, when, fear
ing to drop to sleep, | rose from stool on
which had been sitting, and determined
to change to the passenger cars at the next
stopping place. Just as / had made this
mental resolve, there came suddenly
crash at the front window of the engine
that sent every drop of blood back to my
heart with sickening thrill. had time
to draw one long breath when the engineer
whstcd "down brakes" and shut off steam
from the engine, exclaiming.
My God what is that?' while both he
and myself shook the broken glass from
our faces and neck, and he still further re-
versed his engine.
cts lantern," said the fireman, pick
ing up what remained of the article which
had come crashing in at the window
"Thrown at u.s." said the engineer.
'That means danger if it means anything"
In the meantime the train had been
brought to stand-still, the conductor had
appeared at the side Of the locomotive to
consult with the engineer, the bell was
rung, whistle started, and gradually we ran
backward toward the spot where the Ian
tern had struck us. We had retraced our
way for nearly quarter of mile, when a
man suddenly appeared through the dark
ness and came to the locomotive.
''Did you throw that lantern?" asked the
engineer.
"To be sure l did, ana worse luck if
hadn't hit ye !" was the answer that came to
our ears with unmistakable Mlesian ac-
cent
"Who are your asked the conductor.
"I'm trackman between here and Bran
dom
"Well, what's the matter?" asked the
engineer.
"The matter is a broken rail, just beyant
as would have sent we all to glory !" replied
the Irishman.
The affair was soon explained. During
| the winter season the frost often renders
the ruins very brittle, so that they break
under passing train. In consequence OF
this liability to danger corps of trackmen
are so placed as to walk over and examine
every mile of the northern roads, in ex.
treme weather, after the passing of each
train. Those trackmen are supplied with
the ordinary tools for repairing any slight
break, and also with lantern to signify
danger when necessary to any incoming
train. In tho instance to which we refer
the trackman had discovered seriou:
break in a rail just beside steep embank-
ment and viaduct, one of the most danger
GUS spots on the route. In his efforts to re-
pair the danger, by some means his Lantern
became extngushed Here was an unfor-
tunate plight. In that sparsely-inhabitet
region there was neither house nor shelter
where he could renew the light. Hi
matches he exhausted in vain endeavors t.
| lirbt tl,a ,oly in 10
sides, as the man well reasoned, ''the en-
gineer, knew, could not see my Lantern
if it were lighted. three rods off in such
night" The Irishman was puzzled; tn,
Lightning Express was nearly due; if j
struck that defective rail the train would
surely be wrecked!
What was to be done? A sudden inspi
ration struck him. He started and ran lik
a deer nearly half mile up the track to
ward the incoming train. Already h
heard the rumble of its approach as he place
himself on a slight elevation on the side O
the track. On came the train; he coul
see her signal light, though the engine
could neither see nor h i've heard him-on
on, thirty miles an hour, toward destruc
ton. The Irishman braced himself, an
with a swift but careful throw of his unlight
ed lantern, he cast it straight into the en-
gineer's face!
"Bedad 1t was the only thing coul
do" said the honest fellow, as he grateful
pocketed a purse of fifty dollars made u
by the passengers.
We crept carefully on to the dangerou
spot, where detention of twenty minute
served to mend the track sufficiently
permit the passage of the train, and we ono
: more dashed ahead in the darkness; but
shall never forget the experience upon tn
Lightning Express.