Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-10-27
would fall to the track, and should train

would fall to the track, and should train
collide with it in the night, the chances were
in favor of a wholesale slaughter.
From Lackawaana to Hancock we were
pretty near down to the low water mark, and
with slight freshet our track was subject to
being washed out for long distance, nus re-
curing great deal of watching and repairs;
and in each case of such washout l have
known trains to be blocked for day or two.
Ills not the most agreeable thing in the world
to be thus delayed, and not house within
ten miles of the spot. Perhaps more accidents
have occurred on this division than any other
two divisions combined, and it is a wonder to
me that we have not all been hurled into
eternity. From Deposit to suquhanna it is
up and down hill, the grade running for eight
miles on each side of the summit at slope of
90 feet to the mile. Along the section was
the old Cascade Bridge, familiar to tourists as
the highest structure of this kind in the State,
and which being washed out was subsequent
ly filed in with gravel, over stone culvert,
making yawning ravine on either side fully
100 feet deep. Along the Susquhanna and
Chemung Valleys the road is good, the
scenery through this section is not surpassed
for plcturesqueness throughout the State, and
hundreds of dwellings and farms dot the
hillside and valley, " tn here and there a
neat little village. The principal stations on
NA'AoASAA oAS LII SnVSO uHu
ElmirA. In those early days Owego was the
largest and most thriving of any, and was con-
nected by horse railroad with Ithaca; but
times changes have more favored Elmira and
Binghampton, until in fact they have far ad-
vanced beyond their sister-village, The road
was In fair condition the remainder of the way
to Dunkirk.
Our cars were rather poor affair COM
pared with the palace drawing room and ho-
tel coaches, but people were just as comforta-
BILE then seated in an old box car with six
windows on side as those on the improved
plan. The engines were of a smaller pattern
than the heavy coal-burners at present in use,
and though not as strong, were 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 now
spacious new Saratoga or an ornamented can
vased- covered russell is necessity an old
painted wooden chest, with iron handles, was
usual, while a hair-trunk and carpet-bag
seemed a luxury. There were no baggage
smashers' then; they came with modern i'm
provements. Our taggage-cars were simply
ordinary box-cars, painted yellow with door
on each end, and window and door on The
sides; the platforms were without ratings.
But very few OF these cars had even q stove in
them, and were decidedly uncomfortable, be-
ing too hoti summer 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 a cheeeful thought?
But such was our business, and such was rail
reading twenty-ti years ago
Speaking OF accidents, | VIII give you an
account of few. Among the many such ia.
miliar to al: cd railroad men there was one
which most impresses me, ane when hap
.'ene. IT, the tram on which was rnnning,
at Deposit, in the wi.ter of 1852, think. We
were eastward bound, and VIII lie stopping for
dinner at this place, the scene occurred.
had scarcely seated myself at the table in the
dinning-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 ex:.itment NOBODY seemed to
know anything. Upon rushing out soon
discovered freight train coming at fright
full speed down the grade from the summit,
and that she must run into US. 1t was but the
work of a moment; she couldn't stop; we
had no time To get out. On she crashed, co.
liding with terrible force with the rear Of our
train, and making a complete wreck of Cv-
erything. AS soon as the passengers became
aware Of the approaching danger there was a
general panic in that train; each one strug.
Cling with the other to reach the door, and
consequently the loss OF life was large
party of Mohawk Indians were in the rear
car, and being ignorant of this sudden out
burst and unable 20 understand its meaning
ran hither and thi!her, some Jumping off
the doomed car and others rrshing into the
forward cars. Among them was young
squaw-the Notwithstanding Indian I ever
rear car, which she succeeded in reaching
just as the train crashed into its rear. SO
sudden was the n 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 q box and gave them in charge of her
friends, She was buried in Owego, where
through the influence of the late Judge G. 2.
Avery of that place. large and elaborate
monument Of white marble was erected, with
this inscription: SACRED 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 mem
DRY of their lamented sister. In quiet cor
ner of Evergreen Cemetery, at that place,
stands the "Indian Girls Monument familiar
to every one in the Susquehanna Valley; its
lone and seemingly sad seclusion in its shady
reserve upon the mountain overlooking river
and railroad, and the bit of romance connect
ed with it, making it attractive to all visitors
at Owego-once the home of N. P. Willis, the
poet. On the same train was little girl he
tween IL and Is years Of age, journeying
from Great Bend to her home in Otisville.
She had been at the bend to attend the funcr-
al of her aunt, who was buried on the preced-
ing day. She too, was in the rear car, and in
the excitement and panic was unable to es-
cape With q terrible crash the engine of the
freight train forced its way into the rear end
of the car, filing it full of scalding steam
which emanated from the boiler of the loco
motive. With the sudden jar the girl must
have been thrown to the floor, and was there
scalded to a frightful mass, so intense was the
heat OF the steam. AS soon as possible the
Cal 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 agreeable position she gave brief
account of herself, with her name and place
of residence. The fortitude and meekncss
she displayed have never seen equaled. With
out murmur, and with smile of gentle
peace and resignation, calm IS 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