The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-07-14


full engineer. would not be afraid 10
trust every mortal to their keeping
Nothing could happen wrong with the
two together"
l said, q Well get through it somehow
and Joe shall never talk to me again.
After all, it was easy enough. l reeled
as 1 spoke. heard the signal. Weare
off.
Five hours from L. to D.; FIVE hours
back again. l saw a futter, and never
guessed what it was until we had passed
the train at the wrong place. Two min
utes and we should have had a collision.
Somebody told me, and laughed.
l heard the shareholder say respect
fully:
sof course, Mr.. Guelden, you know
what you are about ?"
Then l was alone, wondering whether
1 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. l heard
the question:
"How many miles an hour are We
making?" | didn't know.
Rattle, rattle, rattle was trying TO
slacken the speed of the San Francis
CO." Icould not think what shoulddo
was it this or that faster or slower?
was playing with the engine like a
child
Suddenly there was a horrible rar
crash 1 was thrown somewhere l
was in the water. By a miracle | ps
sobered and not hurt. l gained ne
shore and gazed on my work.
The engine was in fragments, the =
were in splinters, dead and 80
wound were sssre
-s,ssss 1F1v1s
manned cried out-in psn} inc ID
bewailed their dead, and voice, trA.
heard by any other, was in my ears,
whispering murderer"
The news had gone TO f., and
people came thronging down TO find their
lost ones. Searching for an old mans
daughter came to a place in the trees,
and found five bodies lying there in all
their rigid horror-an old woman, a
Young one, a baby, and two small chill
dren. Was it fancy-was it pure fancy,
born of my anguish p they locked like
%, 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 1 groaned,
screamed, l clasped my hands, l tore my
hair, l gazed on the lovely face of my
wife, nv children I called them by
name. There was no answer. There
never would be.
\ whistle. Great God Onward up
the track Numbered another train 1t:
red ewes glared upon me 1 threw my
self before it; felt it crush me tt
atoms.
" His head is extremely hot" said
somebody.
Iopened my eyes and saw my wife.
&" How do you feel?" said she. !
little better ,"
l was so astonished and rejoiced a
the sight of her that 1 could not speak a
| first.
q must be crushed to pieces" said I
% for the train went over me; but I fee
no pain"
"There he goes about the train again,
said my wife.
Why, 1 tried to move-there was moth
ing the mater with me. I was in my
room; opposite to me was a crib, il
which my child was asleep. My wife ant
child were safe. Was delirious. or VIVA
could it be?
joe" I cried, tell me what hs- hap
pened"
OTIS nine o'clock" said Joe. " 70
came home in such a state from the clu
that could not wake you. You WEI
not fit omanage steam, and risk people
lives. The San Francisco Is half wa
to A., I suppose, and you have bee
frightening me half to death with you
dreadful talk"
1t was only a dream only an awfl
dream. But I had lived through it &
though it was a reality.
Is there a Bible in the house ?
said l.
Are we heathens?" asked Joe
Give it to me this moment, joe"
She brought it, and put my hand o
it, and took the oath (too solemnly to /
repeated here that what had happene
should never occur again. And if til
San Francisco" ever comes to grief til
verdict will not be, as it has been so of
en-, " The engineer was drunk"