The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-29
From the June Lippincotrs. ]
Chased by an Engine.
z. P. BUFFET.

ton on a mission as newspaper cOrrespOn-
dent. We had passed Baltimore, and with
in an hours time would be at our place OF
destination. The conductor had finished
collecting the fares, and seeing vacant seat
by my side had dropped into it as if for lit
tie rest at the end of a tiresome days work.
He made an entry in his notebook, closed it,
placed it In his breast-pocket, buttoned his
coat, folded his arms and turned to me with
friendly remark as if now he felt at liberty
to lay aside all official dignity and be sociable.
/ was glad to while away the time as the
train was rushing along in a darkness which
concealed all objects of interest without, and
so encouraged the conversation.
"You must have met with some interest
ing experiences in the course of your lite,'
said /, the conductors grizzly beard showing
that he might have seen long service.
"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" said he, looking out into the darkness.
"Chased by an engine p SAID 1 getting in
terested. Show did that happen?'
SWELL" said the conductor settling down
In the cushion and bracing his knees against
the back or the seat in front, "many years
ago was running the night express on Long
Island from Brooklyn to Greenport, dis
lance of ninety miles, the entire length of the
road. The Long Island road was then one
horse affair, having only single track, with
switches at the different stations to allow
trains to meet and pass. On the evening to
which l now refer started from BROOKLYN at
ten O'Clock with the old Constitution, long
since broken up, but then the crack engine Of
the road, with baggage or freight car and
threespassenger cars. The night was as dark
as pocket, or if anything perhaps a little
darker" be added, just as if he had accurate.
ly tested the obscurity of that useful portion
of the dress.
sit must have been very dark" said I.
We were the only regular train upon the
road that night, with the exception of the
start at ten O'Clock and meet us at Lakeland
Station, in the middle of the island, switch
Ing OF there to allow US to pass.
"WeL. we were perhaps six or eight miles
on our way when stepped out on the back
platform of the rear car to see if it we're grow
ing any lighter. We were then going over a
part OF the road which was as straight as an
arrow for distace of four or five miles. AS
l was looking back over this stretch saw be-
hind us, at the distance of three miles or SO,
what knew was the headlight of an engine,
as it was too bright for anything else; for OF
course did not suppose the government had
been putting up any lighthouses along the
road"
Probably not" said I.
you may be sure / was little surprised"
said the conductor, "for these wasn't an extra
train once week upon that road, and !
knew that there was none going out from
Brooklyn that night anyhow. l waited for a
few minutes until saw it was really an en-
CINE coming, and what was more was gain
ing rapidly on us, although we were going at
eur usual rate of sphed. When 1 was salts
fed of this fact hurried forward and said to
the engineer Jake, there is a train close be-
hind u.s..
Jake dropped his oil-can and his lower Jaw
at about the same moment. and looked to see
whether was crazy or joking.
We'll, let the fireman attend to matters
here, and come back and see, 'said L.
we hurried to the rear, and in moment
Jake saw as well as myself that if there was
any joke In the matter we were the victims
OF one; and of rather serious one too, tor
the train in the rear had gained on us full
mile while I had been forward The red
cinders were pouring out of the smokestack
as it from blast-furnace; the headlight
threw glare along the road, Furnishing the
iron rails to our very wheels. Close as he
was upon us, the engineer of the advancing
train had not given the slightest signal to
warn us OF his approach, and made no re-
Spouse to our repeated whistles of alarm,
He was violating all rules, and if he had de.
termined to secretly run us down he would
act just as he was then doing. Jake at first
seemed to be struck dumb-not so much he
cause he then thought of danger as at the
cool impudence of the engineer behind. He
looked as if he would like to throttle him.
His tongue after while got in working or
der, and he broke out: what does that
crazy fool mean?'
The engineer must be either crazy or
drunk, said l. If he keeps on in that way
ten minutes longer he will surely be into us >
and signalled to the fireman to put on more
steam. What business the train has upon
the road at all tonight is what puzzles me-
wonder ii 1t isn't an engine the old man
Is sending down to Jamaica to the shops for
repairs said Jake. I saw the Ben Franklin
standing on the side track with steam up
just as we started. From the way she over
hauls us there can't be much of train be-
hind her.
=! did not know but that Jake might be
right, for had seen the Franklin standing
In the depot when we left. That engine was
just as fast as our own, and if it was without
train attached, as Jake supposed, might
easily gain on us, as it seemed to be doing.
AT auy rate, we shall see when we pass ia
maica station whether Jake's theory is cor
rect thought and said to him.
By this time the fireman, acting as en-
gineer, had given our engine all the steam
she would take, and we were slashing along
at lively rate, tell you," said the conduc-
tor. 1.-THE good people along the road who
were out of their beds must have thought
that railroad Gilpin was riding another
race according to the new style. I was an
CRY enough to have sent bullet at the crazy
engineer following us, and determined that
my first business the next day should be to
complain to the superintendent of his fool
hardness. thought that possibly, being
for the moment his own master and no
longer under the immediate orders OF a con-
ductor, he was INDUCING in kind of rail-
road spree. and for lark was driving US to
the top of our speed, expecting to end the
race and bis days work at the same time at
Jamaica.
swell, we tore through that sleeping vii
lage without stopping long for refreshments,
can tell you, and then Jake and looked to
see our comical friend in the rear pull up at
the station and take lodgings for the night.
But we were mistaken in our guess. NotIa
whistle was given as signal that he intended
10 stop; not signal ofslackening was shown,
put on tne contrary he was gaining upon us,
even wnen we were trying to do our very
pest' sometimes curve in the road would
smut MIN moment from oursview, but every
new turn brought him more CLOSELY mon no
Jamaica had been left far behind, and we were
OUT on Inc VIDE Hampstead plain. The old
Constitution was on her muscle, Onr train
was actually swaying and rocking with speed
like yacht on the waves. The telegrsnh
poles, upon which the light from our win
dows would CLINT in the dense darkness, were
flying behind us at every second. The sound
OF our wheels as they struck the end of the
rails was continuous hum. But, do the
best that it might. our engine with its heavy
train was no match for the light weighted
one behind. That was gaining upon us, and
was not an eighth of a mile off. The glare
from its lantern shown brightly in our faces
l thought Jake's face looked a little pale. and
perhaps mine did too. Now that our pursuer
did not halt at Jamaica we were entirely off
our reckonings and could make no guess as TO
the cause of our chase nor when it would
end. The prospect seemed that we might be
driven to the end of the road if we were not
overtaken and smashed before it could be
reached.
THAT'S the Franklin, sure,' broke out Jake
once more. mo other engine on the road