Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-03-05

1t is said that the proportion of
deaths in .journeying is not so great
now as in the old days ofpost-chaises
and stage-coaches. Doubtless it is
SO, but recent ride on an express
engine over a marvelous.y curved
and elevated piece of railroad has
made the statement .hard to believe,
and has filed us with wonder that
ever railroad comes in safety to its
destination.
Ruin seems inevitable. We are
certainly to be dashed against the
huge outrcaching cliff; NJ, it is re-
served for us to pitch headlong, with
fearful momentum. over the precl-
pice where our track seems to come
to an abrupt end. Can it be we have
passed both these and are alive? 1t
must be then that rival monster is
waiting in ambush behind that wood
ed point. Our ride is one breathless
prayer that destruction which we can
not persuade ourselves is not inevita-
bic, may not he prolonged in its tor
ture, but may be nercltu!ly quick. 1t
is presumptuous to ask for more than
this. Are we exaggerating. Not at
all.
Standing by the side of the engin-
eer on that never-to-be-forgottcn NOR
ming, it was hard to imagine our
selves the night before calmly lying
down to sleep in the luxurious sleep
ing car. Shall we ever sit unterri-
fed, interested in our book in the
palace car attached to this monster?
Undoubtedly we shall. But never
shall we do it again without thinking
of the man who stands so bravely
Watching for danger, and so heavily
burdened with responsibility.
1t is not unlikely that many Chris
tan travellers remember in their NOR
ming devotions to pray for their own
safety; perhaps they even think to in
clude in their petitions other travel
ers, but are there many prayers sent
up for the man on whose ability and
courage their own safety so much de-
pends? A railroad accident occurs
-"only the engineer and reman are
killed." says the report. at is moth
ing" says the multitude; 1--WE expect
engineers and firemen to be ready to
take the first shock of the broken rail
and to stand close to the scalding
steam.' Is it nothing for men to
stand fronting death for SO many
hours of every day? Do they be-
come so accustomed to the dangers
that they are ''hardened," and do not
think of them? No, indeed; the mo-
ment the engineer becomes needless
of the perils, he ceases to be trust
worthy. He must be keenly sensi-
tive to every one. His eye must be
strained to see the slightest object on
the track. His gaze must be tirclcss,
lest he should not at the first instant
catch the sight of the warning of the
red flag. Stand once by his side
when it appears, as we did, and see
the hand fly to the throttle-valve, and
watch his calm but decisive move
ments, and you will realize something
of his life.
When there comes furious storm,
our hearts are moved with sympathy
for the sailor, and our PRAYER. for
him are neither more frequent nor
more fervent than they should he
His life has its own peculiar trials of
privation and labor. But the nerv-
Gus tension, unknown to him, except
at times of unusual peril, which the
engineer on raih Dad is doomed to
endure, is such as calls for our earn
est prayers.
If he accepts his duty trustingly
and dcvoutly, let US be grateful with
and for him. If he be foolhardy,
and SO is in danger of dying as the
fool dicth, how much more does he
call for our Christian sympathies and
prayers!