The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-15
Sslsrf Story.
THE EXPRESS TRAIN.

Two or three of us had lounged ou
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
Stanley was editor of the Courier. He
was scribling away at driving speed, his
hat on, an unlighted cigar in his mouth
Your at it late, Benz"
Accident ona Western road. Sixty
lives lost" without looking up.
We seized the long white slips which
lay coiled over the table and read the
dispatch.
"Iut, tut"
"Infamousl"
Nobody to blame, of coursel'
81 tell you the officers of a road where
such an accident is possible should be
tried for murder" cried Ferrers.
Stanley showed his copy to the boy
and lighted his cigar. II think you're
wrong, Ferrers. Instead of being startled
at such casualties, / never travel on a
railway that l 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 be.
tween safety and destruction, the safety
of these depending on conductors, tele-
graph clerks, brakemen, men of every
grade ofintellect, their brains subject to
every kind of moods and diseases and
tempers. The engineer takes glass of
liquor, the conductor sets his watch half
a minute too fast; the hagman falls
asleep, and the train is dashed to ruinl
1t is not the accident that is to be won
dered at; it is the escape that is miracu-
lous."
We all had dropped into seats by this
time. The night was young, and one
after another told some storv of adven-
ture or danger. Presently Stanley said:
There was an incident which occurred
on the Philadelphia & Erie Road a few
years ago which made me feel as l do in
the matter. 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 proofs come in, any
how
mo. Well, to make you understand,
about five years had bad break down
-night-work, 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 ofmedicine,
absolute rest and change of scene. 1
would have swallowed all the nostrums
in a drug shop rather than have left the
Office for week.
".I'll 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
"Well, 1 obeyed. 1 started on a Pc
destrian tour through Pennsylvania;
studied oil stock in Allegheny County.
and ate sauerkraut in Berks. Finally
brought up-footsore and bored beyond
bearing-in Williamsport. While there
1 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 witt
whom always fraternize most readily
is the skilled mechanic. He has ia degret
of common sense-a store Of certain fact
which your young doctor or politician
is apt to lack. Besides, he is absolutely
sure of his social standing ground, ant
has a grave self-respect which teaehe
) him to respect you. The professional
lad just started on his career is uneasy
not sure of his position; he tries to climl
perpetually. tell you this to explain
my intimacy with many of the official
on the road, especially with an enginee
2 named Blakeley.
! "This man attracted me first by hi
ability to give the information 1 wante