The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-11-02

gines WSIe OF SHlaller pattern tndu tDe
heavy coal-burners at present in use,
| aud though not as strong, we're capable
of pulling quite load. Sometimes, in
case of delay, our wood supply would
run out, and then the whole force on the
train was obliged to turn out and cut
enough wood to enable us to make the
nearest station.
"In the matter of baggage, where
Bow spacious new Saratoga or an orna-
mented anvased-covered russell is
necessity, an old painted wooden chest,
with iron handles, was usual, while
hair-trunk and carpet-bag seemed
luxury. There were no baggage
smashers then; they came with modern
Improvements. Our baggage-cars were
simply ordinary box-cars, painted yell
low, with a door at each end and win
dow and door on the sides; the platforms
were without ratings. But very few
of these cars had even stoke in them,
and were decidedly uncomfortable, be-
ing too hot in sumner and very cold in
winter. A ride of thirty or forty miles
In the dead of winter, and not even
time to run into the coach to get warm
Isn't it cheerful thought? But such
was our business, and such was railroad
ing twenty-five years ago.
Speaking Of accidents J will give
you an account of few Among the
many such familiar to all old railroad
men there was one which most impresses
me, and which happened to the train ON
which was running, at Deposit, in the
winter of 1852, think We were east
ward bound, and while stopping for
dinner at this place the scene occurred.
| had scarcely seated myself at the table
in the dining room before there was
heard great yelling and shouting
among the crowd on the train and at the
station. 1t was useless to ask the cause
of this sudden outburst, as in heat of
excitement nobody seemed to know any
thing. Upon rushing out | soon dis
covered a freight train coming at
frightful speed down the grade from the
summit, and that she must run into u.s.
1t was but the work of q moment; she
couldn't stop; we had no time to get
out. On she crashed, colliding with
terrible force with the rear of our train,
and making complete wreck of every
thing. AS soon az the passengers be-
came aware of the approaching danger
there was general panic in that train,
each one struggling with the other to
reach the door, and, consequently, the
loss of life was large. A party of Nc
hawk Indians were in the rear car, and,
being ignorant of this sudden outburst,
and unable to understand it's meaning,
ran hither and thither, some jumping
off the doomed car, and others rushing
MT hQ rd A he,
was young aquaw-the brightest-look-
ing Indian ever saw-who ran for the
forward platform of the rear car, which
she succeeded in reaching Just as the
train crashed into its rear. So sudden
was the jar that she was thrown upon
the track, directly across the rails, and
her head was severed from her body.
We gathered up the remains, placed
them in box, and gave them in charge
of her friends.
"She was buried In Oswego, where,
through the influence of the late Judge
Q. z. Avery, of that place, large and
elaborate monument of white marble
was erected, with this inscription: 'Sa-
cred to the memory OF Sa-sa-na-oft; by
birth Child of the Forest, by adoption
Child of God. Here her people come
every year and pay respect to the men,
DRY OF their lamented sister. In a quiet
corner of Evergreen Cemetery, at that
place stands the Indian Girls Monu-
ment,' familiar to every one in the
Susquehanna Valley its lone ami SEEM
ingly sad seclusion in its shady reserve
upon the mountain overlooking river
and railroad, and the bit of romance
connected with it, making it attractive
to all visitors at Oswego-once the home
of n. P. Willis, the poet. On the same
train was little girl between twelve
and fifteen years of age, journeying from
Great Bend TO her home in Otisville.
She had been at the Bend to attend the
funeral of her aunt, who was buried on
the preceding day. She, too, was in
the rear car, and in the excitement and
panic was unable to escape. With
terrible crash the engine of the freight
train forced its way into the rear end
Of the car. filling it full of scalding
steam which emanated from the boiler
Of the locomotive. With the sudden
jar the girl must have been thrown to
the floor, and was there scalded to
frightful mass, so intense was the heat
of the steam. AS soon as possible the
car was forced open and the body of the
poor unfortunate, who was still alive
and suffering beyond description, was
removed to more comfortable quarters.
SO terrible was the effect of the hot
vapor that in her removal, though every
possible care and attention was given,
the flesh would peel off her body with
the merest touch.
+" In this painful trial she exhibited
the most wonderful patience, and was
conscious of her condition to the end.
After we had got her in more agree
abba position she gave brief account
of herself, with her name and place of
residence. The fortitude and meekness
she displayed l have never seen equaled.
| Without a murmur, and with a smile
of gentle peace and resignation, calm as
the departing day, she passed away
within an hour after her recovery from
the wreck. have thought of this sad
sight thousand times and as often
have ] fervently thanked God that as
yet no child of mine had ever met such
a fate. 1t is cad to witness the decease
of strong man, or TO assemble at the
death-bed of departing friends; but to
see young and beautiful maiden, lust
verging into happyswomanhood, thus
cut of, is fearful.
One night about eleven o'clock we
left Port Jervis on time, bound west
ward. 1t was in tie spring of the year,
the weather was bad, rain had been
porrinp down incessantlv tho a,hoIa