Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-07-03
Chased by an Engine,

wits lhilhs on u nlght train OF tn
Pennsylvania Central from New York t.
washington, on II mission rs newspape
correspondent. We had passed Baltimore
and, within an hours time, would be a
our place OF destination. The conducto
mad finished collecting the fares, and
seeing Il vacant seat by my side, hat
dropped into it, as if for little rest at tn,
end OF tiresome days work. He mad,
an entry in his note book, closed it, placed
II in his breast pocket. buttoned his coat
folded his arms, and then turned to me
with friendly remark, rs if now he fell
at liberty to lay aside all official dionit,
and be sociabIe. was glad TO while
away the time, AS the train was rusbino
along in darkness which concealed
all objects of interest without; and So
encouraged the conversation.
You must have lnet with some inter-
estln- experiences. and perhaps with some
great dangers. in the course of your life,''
said |, the conductors grizzly beard show
ing that he might have seen long serv-
| ice.
Well. perhaps the most exciting time
in my experience was the night | was
chased by an engine-a night which this
one reminds me Of" sad he, looking out
into the darkness.
I" Chased by an engine! said |. getting
Interested. " How did it happenp"
Well" said the conductor, settling
down in the cushion and bracing his knees
against the back of the seat in front,
" many years ago was running the night
express on Long Island, from Brooklyn TO
Greenport, Il distance of ninety miles, the
entire length of the road. The Long
Islam road was then one-horse affair,
having only sin gle track, with switches
al the different stations to allow trains to
meet and pass. On the evening to which
now refer started from Brooklyn ut 10
O'Clock with the old Constitution, long
since broken up, but then the crack engine
of the road. with baggage Or freight car
and three passenger cars. The night was
just as dark us II pocket, or, if anything.
perhaps little darker" he added, as if
lie had accurately tested the internal OBJ.
scurity of that useful portion of the dress.
1t must have been very dark" said |.
We were the only regular train up
the road that night, with the exception of
the Greenport express to Brooklyn, which
was 10 start at 10 O'Clock and meet us ut
Lakeland station. in the middle of the |
island. switching off there to allow us to
pass.
Well" we were perhaps six or eight
miles on our way when stepped ont on
the back platform of the rear car to see if |
it was growing any lighter. We were
then going over part of the road which
was rs straight as ian arrow for distance
of four or five miles. AS I WAS looking
back over this stretch saw behind us, at
the distance of three miles or 50, what |
knew was the headlight of an engine, rs it
was too bright for anything else; for of
course did not suppose the government
lad been putting up any lighthouses along
he road"
" Probably not" said l.
You may be sure was little sur
'rised,' said the conductor; "for there
wasn't an extra train once q week upon ,
hat read. and | knew there was none ,
,oing out from Brooklyn that night any d.
low. waited for few minutes, until +
aw it was really an engine coming, and, ;
vhat was more was gaining rapidly on us, !
Though we were going at our usual rate !,
( speed. When | was satisfied of this ]
ict hurried forward and said to the en- n
.ineer, Jake, there is a train close be
ind u.s. p"
Jake dropped his oil can and his low
r jaw ut about the same moment, and o
,oking to see whether / WAS crazy or jok-
,g." g
;" swell, let the fireman attend to matters n
ere and come buck and see.' said I. p
"We hurried to the rear, and in q mo- X
lent Jake silw, MS well rs myself that If II
1ere was any joke in the matter we we're n
he victims of one, and of rather serious a
no too; for the train in the rear had
aimed on us full mile while hai been G
,rward. The red cinders we're pouring O
ut of the smokestack as If from Il blastI ii
lrnace; the headlight threw glare along a
10 road, Furnishing the iron rails to our ST
ery wheels. Close as he was upon US. II
70 engineer of the advancing train had i,