Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-08-14

smooth rs you please. Ihe express
coming east should meet US fifteen miles
west OF D.. but the operator at the
station had failed TO receive his usual
report from below. That was strange,
/ and yet it was not, and after little con-
sultation The conductor sent me ahead,
We were 10 keep the main track
while tho other train would run in on The
side track. Night after night our time
/ had been so close that We did not keep
them waiting over Two minutes. and SO
were generally in sight when they
switched in."
When We left Dive went ahead
At rafting speed, fully believing that
the other train would be on time. Nine
mi,es from DIS tho little Village oil
Porto. There is lei(graph station
there, br; the operator has no night
work. He closed his oflioe and went
home about o'clock, and any messages
on tho wire for him were held above or
below until next morning. When ]
sighted this station saw red lantern
swinging between the rails. Greatly
as,oniShed, pulled up the heavy train
and got DIT of news that almost lifted
me out OF my boots. 1t was Coos mercy,
as plsiu rs this big depot. 1t was the
operator who was swinging the lantern.
He had been reused FROM sleep by the
whistles of G locomotive, when there
wasn't one within ten miles OF him. lie
heard The toot toot! toot while be
was dressing and all the way as be ran
to the station. thinking ne had been sig
nailed. Lo there was no train there
Everything was as quiet as the grave.
The man heard his instrument clicking Q
away, and leaning his ear against the
window he caught these words us they
went through 10 D.:
"For Gods sake, switch the Eastern
express of quick Engineer on the
Western express crazy drunk, and run
ming q mile minute !"
The operator signaled us at once.
We had left ID. nine miles away, and the
me ssage couldn't have caught US any
whore except at Porto. Six miles fur
ther down was the long switch. 1t was
tine We were there, lacking one minute,
We lost two or three minutes III under
standing the situation and in consulting,
and had Just got ready where we were
when The headlight OF the other train
came into view Great Heavens but
how that train was flying. The bell was
ringing. sparks dying and the whistle
screaming, and not man OF US could
raise hand. We stood there on the
maia track, sps.l-bound as II were
Taere wouldn't have been time. anyhow
either 10 have switched in or got the
passengers out. 1t wasn't over Sky Sec
conLs Ueiore that train was upon Us. |
prayed 10 God ior b.oath or two ard
then sau, ny eyes and waited Tor doatb,
for | hadn't The strength 10 get out OF the
cab"
"Wcll. sir, Gods mercy Was revealed
again. Forty rods above Us tha. loco
motive ilmpel the track and was piled
into the ditch in su awill mass. Some
ol The coaches were considerably
smashed, and some Of tie people badly
I bruised but no one was killed, and OF
course our train e,cspcd entirely. Satan
mus. have cared Tor bis Tlm, the other
en- iueer lie t.ll'. =. b.uS, Dot
was W and across the field like deer
shgiekils aud screaming like mad Il
ger. Il took five men TO biud him after
ne was .uu down, and to-day he is the
worst lunatic in the State"
Tom was good fellow" continued
the engineer, after pause, land he used
to take his glass pretty regularly.
never saw HAN drunk, but liquor kept
working away on his nerves till at last
the trcnen@ caught him when ne had
hundred and fifty lives behind his
engine. He broke out al OF sudden
The fireman was thrown OF the engine
ALI steam turned on, and then Tom
danced and screamed and carried on
like liend. He'd have made awtu
work, sir, but TOR Coos mercy. ln
trembling yet over the way he came
down Tor US, and I'll never think oi II
without my heart jumping Tor my throat
Nobody asked me to sign the pledge
but | wanted my name there. One sucf
night on the road has turned me against
intoxicating drinks, and now that Eve
got this red ribbon on can talk to iht
bows with better lace. Tom is raving,
as told you, and The doctors say hel
never get his reason again. Goodnight
sir-my train goes in ten minutes.
Mother Goose and the ola SOuti
Church.
Mother Goose and her melodies were
commemorated by Rev. j. NJ. Manning
the pastor of the new Old South Church
in Boston. at the Christmas festival o