The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-10

Five hours from l.. to d.; five hours
back again. | eaw flutter, and never
guessed what 1t was until we had passed
the train ut the wrong place. Two min
ues and we should have had collision.
Some body told me, and laughed. heard
the shareholder say respectfully
"Of course, Mr.. Gueldcn, you know
what you are aboutf"
Then was alone, wondering whether
should go faster or slower. did some
thing, and the cars rushed on at fearful
rate. The same man who had spoken TO
me before was standing near me. heard
the question;
Glow many miles an hour are we maxi
ingf" didn't know.
"Rattle, rattle, rattle! / was trying to
slacken the speed Of the "San Francisco
could not think what should do-was
it this or that faster or slowerp l was
laying with the engine like child
Suddenly there was horrible roar
crash | was thrown somewhere. l was
in the water. BY miracle was sobered
ard not hurt. | gained the shore and gazed
on my work.
The engine was in fragments, the cars in
| splinters; dead and dying and wounded
were strewn around. There were groans
hlu VI utnBdil. lIo ulhiihtu Cijtu
out iu pain the uninjured bewailed their
dead; and a voice, unheard by any other,
was in my ear, whispering, "Murderl"
The news had me TO A., and people
came throDgiDg down to find their lost
ones. Searching for an old mans daugh-
ter, l came to place in the trees, and
found five bodies dying there in their rigid
horror-an old woman, young one, Da-
by and two small children. Was 1t fancy
was it pure fancy, born of my anguish
| they looked like-O heaven they were
my wife, my children, all cold and dead
How HAD they come on the train? What
chance had brought this about? No one
| could answer. | groaned, | screamed, |
clatped my hands, tore my hair; gazed
on the lovely faceof my wife, my children;
| | called them by name. There was no an
swer There never would be.
A whistle Great God onward up the
track Numbered another train Its red eyes
aared upon me threw myself before it
felt it crash me to atoms!
"Hls head ia extremely hot" said some
body.
opened my eyes and saw my wife.
elbow do you feel?' said she. "a little
better7"
was so sstonished and reioced at the
| tlHut Vi ntI tndl j COulu NOT speak AT DTSt.
Il must be crushed to pieces" said /,
"for the train went over me: but feel nc
pain.
"There lie goes about the train again,
said my wife
Why, | tried to move--there was moth
ing the matter with me. | was in my room
opposite to me was n crib, in which my
child wa; asleep. My wife and child were
safe. Was | deliiious, or what could il
| be.
'Joe," cried, "tell me what's happen
Cd"
Its nine O'Clock" said Joe. 'Yor
came home in such Il state from the clut
that could not wake you. You we're moi
flt to manage steam, and risk peoples lives
The San Francisco is half way to A,
suppose and you have been frightening
me half to death with your dreadful talk.
1t was only a DREAM only An awful
dream. But | had lived through it a.
thuugh it were reality.
"Is there Bible in the house?" said !.
care we heathens?' asked Joe.
'Give it to me this moment, Joe.
She brought it, and put my hand on it
and took the oath (too solemn to be re-
| peated here that what had happened should
never occur again. And if the "San Fran
cisco" ever comes TO grief the verdict will
| not be, rs it has been so often, "The en-
| gineer was drunk"