The Worthington advance., 1878-12-26
SEVENTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR

Where to wish and TO have are one
SEVENTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR.
AN ENGINEERS 3 STORY.
l had spent the night in stage, day
in the saddle, a night in the sleeping car,
half 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
I was rather sleepy-and I guess it was
little Of both-so that soon neglected
it, to watch the fantastic curling of the
smoke from my fine favored cigar. l
didn't feel much like talking, and felt
still less like reading; but I did feel as
if I would like exceedingly we'll to hear
good story.
[ had barely come to this conclusion,
and commenced wishing for some one OF
my acquaintances to amuse me till the
time was up for the train which was to
take me to indianapolis, when I recog-
n,zed, in the p5rson who sat next to me, a
ellow-traveler IN the sleeping car Of the
night before.
He, too, had laid aside his paper, ard
was apparently, like me, watching the
smoke Of his cigar, and wishing for ab-
sent friends to keep him company.
He was very agreeable-looking little
man, with a 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 thought Dame Fortune
had smiled upon me, when he recognized
NC with geaial: "How dye do, strang-
err
I returned his salu:atiop, 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 tast 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 pleasant but know
ing smile, that he had travelled consider.
ably faster than that, and, IN fact, faster
than he hal ever heard of, besides. OF
course was anxious to know where, how,
AID when he had done it; and, after the
modest assurance that he feared his tale
would not be interesting, my friend re-
lieved my anxiety by relating the follow
ing story:
Il am a railroad engineer. Away along
in fifty seven, during the great panic, l
was running on the F. s. 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
set I 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 in 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 very
best condition, and other preparations
were made, to cut down the
time and put trains through quicker than
was ever known before, when the Few
engines should come. Well, there was
but one of the engines came.
II 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
caA be said IN praise of any engine She
was put in my charge Immediately, with
the understanding that she was mine.
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 o. the
other officers of the road, to meet some
officers of another road, which crossed
ours there, and arrange some important
business with them.
II had no trouble at all in making nv
forty miles an hour going out. The en-
CINE handled herself most beautifully
We werc just holding up at y, when
Aldrich, the treasurer, who had come
ou: on the platform to put the break on
slipped and fell. As we we're yet under
good headway, he was muct injured,
! and was carried off to the hotel insen.
sible.
according to the Presidents instruct.
ions, ! switched off my train, turned my
engine, and stood read J to start back to
| Ca anv moments notice.
."Aldrich's presence was of 80 much i'm.
portance that the business could not be.
transacted without him; so all those
had brought out except the president
and. Alerich, went back to c. on the
three o'clock express train. This was the
last regular train which was to pass owe,
the road until the next Monday.
'Early in the evening lett the ma
chine in charge Of my fireman and went
over to an eating house to nee ifI could
not spend the time more pleasantly thar
on my engine. The hours dragged them.
selves away slowly. I was playing q
game of dominoes with the station agent
when in como Roberts,. the president, in
a state Of great excitement. s.t
"'Harry,' said he 70 me. 4 want you
TO put me down in c. at twelve
o'clock. .st u;
Ae ~ was AenIly eaoVcN y ClOCA tuen,
and the distance was then seventy five
miles, thought he was joking at first;
but when we got outside the door. he
caught me blythe arm and hurried me
along 10 fast that I saw he was in earnest
"'Harry.' said he, If you don't set me
down in c. by twelve o'clock, / am q
ruined man, and this road is : ruined
road. Aldricn is dead, but he tola me
before he died, that he had embezzlea
from time to r,me,s 1--WE hundred thousand
of our money; and his clerk is to start
with Il on the twelve O'Clock boat from
c. for Canada. If we don't have thai
money on Monday morning. to make
some paymepts With, the road goes Int
other hands; and If you put me down il
- ct the right time, 10 that I save ths