River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-24
THE EXPRESS TRAIN.

Two or three of us had louuged out Of
the CLUB one night, into Sankey's office,
to find out the news coming in by cable,
which the sleeping town would not hear
until the paper would be out tomorrow.
Santley was editor of the Courier He
was scribbling away at driving speed, his
hat on, an unlighted cirgar in his mouth.
You're at it late, Ben"
Accident on Western road. Sixty
lives lost" without looking up.
We seized the long white slips which
lay coiIed over the table, and read the
dispatch.
Tut, tut"
Infamous :"
Nobody to blame. of course
tell you the officers of a road where
such an accident is possible should be
tried tor MURDER cried FerFers.
Sanity showed his copy to the boy, and
lighted his cigar. 81 think you're wronG,
Ferries. Instead of being startled at such
casualties, | never travel on a railway
that | am not amazed at the security OF
them Just think of it, Thousands of
trains running yearly on each, with but
a minute to spare between safety and de-
structiOn, the safety of the trains depend
ing on conductors. telegraph clerks,
brakesmen, men of every grade of intel
lect, the brains subject to every kind of
moods and disease and tempers. The
engineer takes glass of liquor; the con
ductor sets his watch half a minute too
fast; the flagnan falls asleep, and the
train Is dashed into ruin 1t is not the
accident that is to be wondered at it is
the escape that is miraculous :"
We ali had dropped into seats by this
time. The night was young, and one
after another told some story Of adven-
ture or danger. Presently Santley said,
There was an incident which occurred
on the Erie -oa few years ago, which
made me feel as l do in the matter-I
happened to be an eyewitness to the
whole affair
"What was it, Benz
ats rather long story"
mo matter. Go on. You can't go
home until your proof comes in, anyhow"
mo. Well, to make you understand,
about five years ago had bad break
downright work, hack writing and poor
pay. You know how fast it all wears out
the machine The doctor talked of ais
eases of the gray matter of the brain, etc,
and prescribed, instead of medicine, alb
solUte rest and change of scene. | would
have swallowed all the nostrums in drug
shop rather than have left the office for a
week.
IN take country board and send in
my editorials ! said.
No; you must drop office and work
utterly out of your life for a month, at
least Talk and think of planting pota-
toes, or embroidery anything but news
papers and politics.
swell, I obeyed. | started on a ped
estrian tour through Pennsylvania, stud
led oil stock in Allegheny County, and
ate sauer-kraut in Berks. Finally ]
brought up-footsore and bored beyond
bearing-in Wllliamsport. While there,
fell into the habit of lounging about
the railway station, studying the con-
struction of the engines, and making
friends with the men. The man with
whom ] always fraternize most readily IS
the skilled mechanic. He has a degree
ct cOmmon-sense. a store of certain facts
which your young doctor or politician IS
apt to lack. Besides he is absolutely
sure of his social standing ground, and
has grave self-respect which teaches him
10 respect you. The professional lad just
started on his career is uneasy, not sure
of his position; he tries to climb perpetu-
ally. / tell you this to explain my in
timacy with many of the officials on the
road, especially with an engineer named
BlakeIy.
This man attracted me first by his
ability to give me the information | want
ed in a few direct sharp words Like
most reticent men he knew the weight
and value of words. | soon became per
sonally much interested in him. He was
about forty, his hair streaked with gray,
with a grave worn face, which limited at
youth of hardship and much suffering.
However, Blakeley had found his way to
the uplands st last. Three years before
he had married bright, cheerful woman.
They had one child-a boy. He had
work and good wages, and was, found,
high in the confidence of the company.
On one occasion, having a Sunday of, ne
took me up to Jersey Shore, where his
wife and boy lived. He was an eXcep-
tionally silent man, but when with them
was garrulous and light-hearted as a boy.
In his eyes Jane was the wisest and fair
est ct women, and the boy a wonder of in
teilect. One great source of trouble to
him was, as I found, that he was able to
see them but once in three weeks. 1t
was necessary for the chiId's health to
keep them in the country air, and, in
deed, he could not afford to have them
elsewhere; but this separated him from
them almost totally. Jane was IN the
habit of coming with Charley down to a
certain point of the road every day,
that Blakely might see them as he dashed
by.
"And when I found out this habit, it
occurred to me that l could give Blakely
great pleasure. How often have
cursed my meddling kindness since.
January 25th was the child's birthday.
proposed to Mrs Blskely that she and
Charley should board the train which
her husband drove, unknown 10 him, and
run up To Harrisburg where he had the
night off. There was 10 be little supper
at the Lochiel House. Charley was to
appear in new suit, etc, etc. OF course
the whole affair was st my expenses
mere trife, but an affair of grandeur and
distinction which fairly took James
breath. She was most innocent happy
happy creature; one of those women who
are wives and mothers in the cradle.
When Blakely found her she was a thin
pale little tailoress-a machine to grind
out badly-made shoddy clothes. But
three years of marriage and petting of
Charley had made her rosy and plump
and pretty.
"The little Highland suit was brought
complete, to the tiny dirk and feather,
AID very pretty the little fellow looked
in it. I wrote down TO order stunning
supper to be ready at eight. Jane and
the boy were to go aboard the train at
Jersey Shore, a queer little hill village
near which they lived Blakeley ran the
train from Williamsport down to Harris
burg that day. His wife being IN the
passenger car before he took charge Of