The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-12-21
ROMANCE OF A BOOT HEEL.
An Old RaiIroader's Thrilling story---The
Periis of Frogs in the Track.


Periis of Frogs in the Track.
While two men, employees OF the
Ohio and Mississippi railroad company,
we're on their way to their work in the
car shops of the company ct Aurora,
Ind, their attention was attracted by a
boot heel, freshly torn Of, sticking in
the "frog" OF the railroad track,
short distance from the shops. They
stopped q moment to examine it, and
found that the heel was so securely fast
ened in the frog" that it required a
smart blow with a crutch Zone of the
men had lost leg) to remove it. Long
nails protruded from the heel, and all
the evidence went to chow that it had
taken considerable effort to tear it
from the boot. "It appears to me-"
said one of the men, "that some fellow
has had narrow escape from being run
down by train or else he has been
badly frightened and wrenched his boot
heel off when there was no occasion for
it," 1t reminds me-" replied his
companion, in low tone, "of little adj
venture that happened to mo several
years ago up on the Pan Handle road.
| was then young man, but it isn't
likely that I'll ever forget it," and he
cast rueful glance at the empty leg of
his pants. "The story is soon told,"
be went on, turning the boot heel over
in his hand as if to find inscribed upon
it story similar to his own. 81 was
walking on the track rear Cadiz juno
tion, in Ohio. 1t WIS one dark and
blustry night in February, and heavy
snowstorm was prevailing at the time.
The snow and wind beating into my
face was almost sufficient to have blind
ed one had it been broad daylight. L
was walking briskly along, not dream
ing of any harm-in fact, sir, was then
returning from visit to my sweetheart,
who had that evening promised to be my
wife-when suddenly found my foot
fastened between two rails where side
track joined the main track, just rs this
heel was fastened in the frog here at our
feet. At that moment heard the shrill
whistle of locomotive, and looking up
the track L saw, through the binding
snow, light bearing down upon me.
had passed the depot n few minutes pre-
vious and had noticed several persons
standing on the platform. The persons
were waiting for train, and here was
one coming! It was an unusual hour
for train, and the idea of meeting one
had not occurred to me before, but now
the awful truth flashed upon me.
made desperate effort to release my
foot, and the horror of my situation
was increased hundred fold when I
found that it was securely fastened be-
tween the rails. The light was so close
that its reflection upon the new fallen
snow blinded me. AS q man will in
like situation, 1 thought of thousand
things in an instant. thought of my
aged parents, of events of my past life,
of my promised bride; and the thought
that 1 should be torn from her, or what
was worse, to be MANNED for life, was
infinitely more dreadful than the thought
of death. But I'll not trouble you with
these painful details. What supposed
to be the headlight of locomotive was
blazing right in my face. It was this
leg that was fastened, "lhe said, swinging
his stump back and forth, "and I just
threw, myself f"-"Yes, yes, interrupted
his companion, with blanched cheeks,
"you threw yourself to one side and the
engine severed your leg from your
body!"
"Not exactly" returned the story
teller, smiling blandly upon his victim
"The truth is, sir, 1 am almost ashamed
to say that the light did not proceed
from locomotive, but from the lantern
of watchman who happened to be COM
ing down the track"
"And the shrill whistle that you
heard2"
"That, I presume, came from one
horse sawmill not far off,"
"But your leg--how did you lose
that &"
GAS many another brave man has lost
his, came the answer, accompanied by
a heavy sigh, and far-away look as ii
to recall the scenes of some field of bat
tie; 81 fell under moving machine
and had it chopped Off
swell, all I have TO say" replied his
companion, somewhat disgusted at the
turn the romance had taken againsth him,
call have to say is that 1 hope your
girl went back on you and married an AK
handle maker or some one else who
could make her happy"
"She stuck to me-" said the ro-
mancer, 81 stuck to me through good and
evil report. and married me-married
me one rapturous evening in the merry
month of May, and now" and his voice
grew husky with emotion, "and nowI'd
give the top of this bald and beetling
pate if she hadn't |"