The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-12-17


aboard Something was the matter with
! Joe seed it right off, but it didn't
have the symptoms of drink, and | never
| Inquired into it, The train was rather
| heavy md the old engine jumped and
fri,ked about as if she'd got the rheuma-
i tism, and was pretty busy firing her up
to get her in running trim after we put
| ont. Joe frequently let go his hold and
| leaned out of the window. | seed that
! would never do, and so | says: 'Joe,'
says, you look alive there now; we're
lickin' it at thirty miles and you want to
have all your wits about yon.' Joe Just
gave one look and says: When | want
your advice. Bill Simmons, why then I'll
borrow it, and not before Just so.
Joe was married, knew, and thought
that 1t was trouble at the house that
made him act so. He lived down the
road piece, and we were going to pass
his house below Wilson's Ford, about
ten miles from where / was talking to
him. He crammed on steam and cram
med it on, until | seed the old engine
couldn't stand it. We were tearing
along like the old boy was after us, and
l says again: Joe, l don't think she'll
stand this sort of thing, you're going
faster than schedule, now"
Joe swore awful at this and said he
knew she couldn't stand it, and that he
meant to run her off at the old bridge
just ahead if he could. Well, he was a
great sight bigger than l was, and didn't
like tointerfere; but my life was as sweet
to me as any other chaps, and l didn't
mean to stand by and see myself muir
dered; besides, there was women and
little children behind The old bridge
was rotten knew, and the river below
was running like militail. / seen the
old cypress trees looming up before we
got into it, and began to slow down.
Then looked at Joe's eyes. They glared
like balls of fire, and seemed to Inc like
a tigers. The cold sweat broke out on
me all over, and L thought of all the tales
l had ever heard of lunatics and mad
men in places like this, and tell you /
warnt a bit comfortable. Joe cursed
dreadful and seized hethrottle. grab
bed him and we had sharp tussle. My
shirt sleeve happened to catch just right
on the handle; the more l fit with him
the slower we began to run, which was
simply Providence. think must have
prayed some then. Men will, you know,
in tight places, when they never think of
itanother time. At last drawed deep
breath Thank Godl The bridge was
passed. / heard the train numbering
through, and it sounded to me just like
Gods of heavy earth falling on a coffin.
Joe kinder smiled. His fit had sorter
passed see that in his face, although
he still looked wild.
Let me up now, Sinmonds, he says.
Don't be a fool, didn't mean word
of it,
''I let him up, for was tired out, and
wet as a dish rag l watched him, though,
tell you. He kept crowdin' on steam
until we were fairly flying again. But
the road was pretty good along there.
Then we came to Joe's water tank, close
to where he lived, and we couldn't stop
her.
joe screamed, ''tiere's folks on
the track, and they think we'll stop all
right Pull her down, mani"
Joe's face was deathly pale, and he
tried to slow down, but we shot past the
water tank, like rocket, and oh, miss,
I'll never forget my feelings as felt that
Jolt and jar. | knewed we'd run over
somebody. We came to a stand still af-
ter while and began to back down, and
then see the crowd comm up. Would
You believe it miss. It was Joe's little
boy, who had come out to watch for his
father? Joe laid up long time after
that, and he's never seemed the same
chap since. 1t lCas drink, but never
would have thought it; but couldn't
teiIon him. miss. He swore off after
that, and has never touched a drop since;
YOU needn't be afraid of him now, miss.
Can any one imagine what were our
feelings when we changed engineers, and
Joe Harper came on with his old ''76.'