The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-12-25
SEVENTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR
AN ENGINEERS STORY,

had spent the night in stage, day
in the saddle, night in the sleeping car,
half a day doing business, half day in
bed, and was, after supper, enjoying a
cigar and newspaper, in the reading
room Of the Redwood house, Fayette, Ind.
The newspaper was uninteresting, or else
was rather sleepy-and I guess it was
| little of both-so that I soon neglected
it, to watch the fantastic curling of the
smoke from my fine favored cigar.
didn't feel much like talking, and felt
still less like reading; but did feel as
if would like exceedingly we'll to. hear
good story.
had barely come to this conclusion,
and commenced wishing for some one Of
my acquaintance to amuse me till the
time was up for the train which was to
take me to indianapolis, when I recog-
nlzed, in the person who sat next to ME, a
fellow traveller IN the sleeping car of the
night before. - --., -
He, too, had laid aside his paper, and
! was apparently, like me, Watching the
smoke of his cigar, and wishing for alb
sent friends to keep him company.
lie was very agreeable-looking little
man, with clear, gray eye, light hair,
sandy whiskers and smiling mouth. In
deed, he had so much the appearance of
the man that l would like to hear
tell story that I thought Dame Fortune
! had smiled upon me, when he recognized
me with genial: SHOW dye do, strang-
err.
I returned his salutation, and asked
him some commonplace questions about
how he had enjoyed the ride we had to-
gether.
He said something in reply about the
running being too fast for the poor track
and from this the conversation ran upon
| fast travelling in general for some time
At last remarked, that sixty miles an
hour was the most speedy travelling that
[ had ever done. Whereupon my friend
| informed me, with q pleasant but know
ing smile, that he had travelled consider
ably faster than that, and, in fact, faster
than he had ever heard of, besides. OF
| course I was anxious to know where, how,
and when he had done it; and, after the
| modest assurance that he feared his tale
! would not be interesting, my friend re-
| !ieved my anxiety by relating the follow.
| ing story:
Il am a railroad engineer. Away along
in fifty seven, during the great panic.
| was running on the F. & c. r. r. The
railroad companies were going under, in
| all directions. Every day we heard of
new failures: and quite often in quarter
where we least expected it. Our road
was generally looked upon as one of the
most substantial in the nation; nobody
| seemed to have any fears that it would
fail to survive the general mash-up. But
get | did not fully share in the general
| confidence. Wages were cut down; ar
rearages collected; and great many
| other little matters seemed to indicate to
| me that the road had got ia rather deep
er water than was agreeable all around.
Among other things, the master mechanic
had told me in the spring that the COM
pany had ordered four first quality
Taunton engines for the fall passenger
business. The road was put in the vety
best condition, and other preparations
were made, to cut down the
time and put trains through quicker than
was ever known before, when the new
engines should come. Well, there was
but one of the engines came.
Il said there was but one engine came !:
but she was, in my opinion, altogether
the best ever turned out of the Taunton
works: and that is saying as much as
can be said in praise Of any engine She
was put in my charge immediately, with
the understanding that she vas mine. s
ut was Saturday when she came out
of the shop, and l was to take special
train up to y. The train was to
carry up the president and several OF the
other officers of the road, to meet some
officers Of another road, which crossed
ours there, and arrange some important
business with them. .s.ls55s g51s
II had no trouble at all in making my