Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-13
THE EXPRESS TRAIN.


Two or three Of us had lounged 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 mlighted cigar in his
mouth.
"You're at it late, Benz"
Accident on western road. Sixty
lives lost" without looking up.
We seized the long white slips which
lay coiled over the table, and read the
dispatch.
Tut, tut!'
Infamous ~
Nobody to blame, of course"
II tell you the officers of a road
where such an accident is possible
should be tried for murder !" cried Fer
rers.
Santley showed his copy to the boy,
and lighted his cigar. Il think you're
wrong, Ferrcrs. Instead of being start
led at such casualties, l never travel on
at the security of them. Just think of
it. Thousands Of trains running yearly
GA each, with but minute to spare be-
tween safety ant. destruction, the safety
of these depending on conductors, tel
egraph clerks, brakesmen, men Of every
grade of intellect, their brains subject
to every kind of moods and disease and
tempers. The engineer takes glass of
liquor; the conductor sets his watch
half minute too fast; the fiagman
falls asleep, and the train is dashed to
rum 1t Is not the accident that is to be
wondered at; it is the escape that is
miraculous p
We all had dropped into seats by this
time. The night was young, and one
after another told some story of adven-
ture or danger. Presently Sanity said,
There was an incident which occurred
on the Philadelphia and Erie road n few
years ago, which made me feel as do
IN the matter. l happened to be an
eye witness to the whole affair"
What was it, Benz
It's rather long story"
NO matter. Go on. You can't go
home until your proof comes in, any
how"
No. Well, to make you under
stand, about five years ago had a bad
Observation-Disclosures, hack-writing
and poor pay. You know how fast it
all wears out the machine. The doctor
talked of diseases of the gray matter of
the brain, etc, and prescribed, instead
OF medicine, absolute rest and change
OF scene. would have swallowed all
the nostrums in drug-shop rather
than have left the office for a week.
III take country board and send in
my editorials, said.
No; you must drop Office and work
utterly out of your life for month at
least. Talk and think of planting pota-
toes or Notwithstanding but
newspaper and politics.
Well, obeyed | started on a pc
destrlan tour through Pennsylvania
studied oil stock in Allegheny county,
and ate sauerkraut in Berks. Finally
brought up-footsore and bored be-
yond bearing-in Williamsport. While
mere, fell into the habit of lounging
about the railway station, studying the
constructions of the engines, and max
ing friends with the men. The man
with whom | always fraternize most
readily is the skilled mechanic. He
has degree of common sense-a store
OF certain facts which your young doc
tor or politician is apt to lack. Besides,
ne Is absolutely sure ofhis social stand
ing ground, and has grave self-respect
which teaches him to respect you. The
professional lad just started on his ca
feer Is uneasy, not sure of his position;
ne tries to climb perpetually. | tell
you this to explain my intimacy with
many of the officials on the road.
especially with an engineer named
Blakely.
lhls man attracted me first by his
aolIlty to give me the information |
wanted III few direct sharp words.
Like most reticent men, he knew the
weight and value of words. | soon be-
came personally much interested in
nm. He was about forty, his hair
sreaked with gray, with grave, worn
ace which limited at youth of hard
Sbhips and much suffering. However,
iniaSely had found his way to the up
,ands at last. Three years before he
i Iad married a bright, chez Jul woman.
ihey had one child-a how. He had