Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-04

heart, and [ bent over and kissed her.
Don't be afraid. child; III never
pain you again"
And { meant it bat at II O'Clock
that night | felt that [ had forgotten
my promise and nv resolution.
I couldn't go home to Joe [ made
up my mind to sleep on the club sofa,
and leave the place for good the next
day Already l felt my brain reel as
it had never done before. In an hour
I was in kind of stupor. 1t was
morning. 4 waiter stood ready to
brush my coat. | saw a grin on his
face. Ny heart seemed ready to
burst my hand trembled, [ looked
at my watch [ had only five minutes
to reach the depot.
Joe words came to my mind.
Was I ct to take charge Of an engine
I was not fit to answer. | ought tc
have asked some sober man. AS it
was, I only caught my hat and rushed
away. [ was just in time.
The ''San Francisco glistened in
the S, n. The cars filed rapidly.
could hear the people talking-blddin9
each other goodbye and promising tC
come again. Among them was an ole
gentleman I knew by sight--one O.
the share holders; he was bidding two
timid girls adieu
'sGood~by, Kittie; good-by Lue, .
I heard him say. Don't be nervous
The San Francisco is the safest en-
gine on the line, and Guelden the most
careful engineer. [ would not be afraiC
to trust every mortal to their keeping
Nothing could happen wrong with the
two together
said, "We'll get through it some
ahow, and Joe shall never talk to me
again. After all, 1t was easy enough
| reeIed as | spoke. l heard the signal
We are. off. ...
Five hours from L. to d.; FIVE hours
back again. [ saw a futter, and
never guessed what it was until we had
passed the train at the wrong place.
Two minutes and we should have had
a collision. Somebody told me. and |
laughed [ heard the shareholder say
respectfully:
"Of course, Mr.. Guelden, you know
That.sou are about?'
Then was alone, wondering wheth
er [ should go faster or slower. l die
something, and the cars rushed On at
a fearful rate The same man who
had spoke to me before was standing
near NE, I heard the question:
"How many miles an hour are We
making >" [ didn't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle [ was trying
10 slacksn the speed OF the ''San Fran
cisco. I could not think what !
shoulddo was it this or that !-fas.
ter or slower? | was playing with the
engine like a child !
Suddenly there was horrible roal
crash! [ was thrown somewhere
/ was in the water. By a miracle l
was soberel and 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 and shrieks Of despair.
The manned cried out in pain; the
uninj njurea bewailed their dead and a
voice, unheard by any other, was in
my ear, whispering Murder -
The news had gone to 4 and peo-
pie came thronging down to find their
lost ones. Searching for an old mans
daughter, [ came to place in the
trees, and found FIVE bodies lying there
all in their rigid horror-an old woman,
young one, a baby, and two small
children Was it fancy, was it pure
fancy born Of myanguish they looked
ike O, heaven! they were my wife,
my children. all cold and dead
How had they come on the train
What chaece had broght this about
No one could answer. I groaned, /
screamed, [ clasped my hands, I tore
my hair, [ gazod on the lovely face Of
my wife, on my children; [ called
them by name. There was no answer.
There never would be.
A whistle Great God Onward
up the track thundered another train
It's red eyes glared upon me [ threw
myself before it ; felt it crush me to
atoms
ellis head is extremely hot" said
somebody.
| opened my eyes and saw my wife
"How do you feeI?'' said she, "a
little better p
I was so astonished and rejoiced al
the sight of her that [ could not speak
at first.
4 must be crushed to pieces" sai6
I, ''for the train went over me but L
feel no pain
There he goes about that trair
again, said my wife.
Why, [ tried to move-there wa'
nothing the matter with me. | was IL