Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-07-21
The Heroic Engineer.

One night about four years ago, said an
engineer, telling the story to correspondent,
was coming down this hill with CONSIDER
ing the season. a pretty heavy train. At
WiIkesbarre young lady had got aboard of
my engine. She wanted night ride and
was put on by the superintendent. She was
perfect lady, and her mother was in one Of
the cars, back. To tell the honest truth, l
never saw a more beautiful or game looking
glrl. She was very small sized, dressed in
what my wife calls complete taste, and her
figure was SO good, and her hands 80 small,
and her ways so frank and artoss, that al
most wished she was my daughter. Her
face, though, was what | can't give you an
idea Of. 1t was the most beautiful face | ever
saw. 1t had all the intelligence of womans
and the simplicity Of q child's. Aud size
was so sprightly and ovable altogether, and
asked so many questions, although l had
never had women on the engine but once
before, invited her over to my seat, and ex-
planned to her all about how a locomotive is
run. | showed her how to manipulate the
lever which admits more or less steam to the
cylinders how the reverse lever is worked
how the tests Of water and steam are made.
| showed her how to blow the whistle an
ring the bell, and explained how the brake
were blown down, aud how warnings were
given on the approach to crossings. She
took it all IN, and it was the best lesson |
ever gave. Right up around yonder about
two miles from here, just as l was handling
the reverse lever, We struck a stone or some.
thing on the track at nine o'clock at night.
| was bending down at the time, aud quick.
er than lightning the lever flew back and
struck me in the eye and knocked Newell,
don't know where. Any way, it didn't
make much difference for a minute or two,
for was Just stunned. As we were on the
down grade, with no need offuol, the fireman
was back 10 tho baggage car, and when l
came to, this young girl was holding on to my
head and tanning me with her toy Of hat
1t wasn't two seconds before l knew what
was to pay. The engine and the whole train
had started down this hill at the rate of sixty
miles an hour. tried to spring up and
reach the lever. My right arm aud side and
right leg were numb. My face and even
my tongue were so paralyzed by the blow l
had received that could hardly speak. l
was so desperate that (more to attract the
girls attention to the danger than for any,
thing else) grabbed her hat with my left
hand and threw it outside the locomotive,
and then managed to beckon her car down
close to my lips, and say
"Train's going too fast, Wen ito de-
struction if you don't turn the lever 20
She understood me in an instant and it
was time. The engine was rocking, swaying,
grinding and skurryiug down the track like
beast with great bounds. Every second l
expectedit would leave the rails /; it certainly
was defending at the rate Of seventy miles
an hour, But that little thing sprung up
here, clutched the lever, motioned which way
she should shove or push it, got my nod, and
reversed the wheels like little man. Then
she whistled down brakes--there was no need
of that, for the boys had put on every brake
already. Inside Of a mile and half she
stopped the train; and then she knelt down
all trembling and crying-aud tainted dead
away.