The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-08-21

right, for had seen the Franklin standing in
the depot when we left. That engine was
just as fast as our own. andif it was without
a train attached, as Jake supposed might cas-.
lily gain on us, as it seemed to be doing. AT
any rate, we shall see when we pass Jamaica
Station, whether Jake's theory is correct
thought, and said so to him.
By this time the fireman, acting as engi-
neer had given our engine all the steam she
would take, and we were slashing along at a
lively rate, tell you," said the conductor.
" The good people along the road who were
out of their beds must have thought that a
railroad Gilpin was riding another race ac-
cording to the new style. | was angry enough
to have sent a bullet at the crazy engineer fol-
lowing US, and | determined that my first
business the next day should be to complain
to the Superintendent of his fool-haroiness -
| thought that possibly, being for the moment
his own master and no longer under the inn
mediate orders of conductor, he was indulg-
ing in kind of railroad spree, and for lark
was driving us to the top of our speed, ex-
pecting to end the race and his days work at
VIC o"iiO tiiilt dt
"Well, we tore through that sleeping vii
lage without stopping long for refreshments,
| can assure 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. Not a
whistle was given by our pursuer as signal
that he intended to stop not sign of slack
ening was shown but ON the contrary, he
was gaining upon us when we were doing our
very best. Sometimes a curve in the road
would shut him a moment from our view,
but he would round it in an instant, and ev-
cry new turn brought him more closely upon
us. Jamaica had been left far behind and we
were out on the wide Hampstead plain The
old Constitution " was on her muscle. Our
train was actually swaying and rocking like
yacht on the waves. The telegraph poles,
upon which the light from the windows would
CLINT in the dense darkness, were flying be-
hind us at every second. The sound of our
wheels as they struck the end of the rails was
cautious hum. But do the best that it
might our engine with its heavy train was no
match for the archaeological one behind
That was gaining upon us, and was not the
eighth of a mile off. The glare from its lam
tern shone brightly in our faces | thought
Jaxe's face looked little pale, and perhaps
mine did, too. Now that our pursuer did not
halt at Jamaica, we were entirely off our reek-
onings, and we 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 over
taken and smashed before it could be reach
ed.
That's the Franklin, sure,' broke out
Jake once more. 9 No other engine on the
road could overhaul us as we are going now.
What can that fool of Simpson mean by
driving her at such rate. He must be drunk.
If the boss don't break him tomorrow, he
won't get his deserts. He will be into us in
two minutes"
" You are right, Jake" said I. Go for
ward and see if you can get up a little more
Roadway. Empty few Of these petroleum
cans on the wood and see what can be done"
While Jake was forward on his errand |
thought over the situation. Here | was with
a hundred or two passengers under my care,
all ignorant of the danger which | knew they
were in. If we should be overtaken and
crushed in the rear, the disaster would be o
serious one, and most probably would cause
the death or injury of at least some of the
passengers. If we were not smashed in this
way, there was another and perhaps greater
danger before us. The train of which have
spoken, which left Grecnport when we left
Brooklyn, was on its way to meet us on the
same track. 1t should switch off at Lakeland
in the middle Of the island and allow us to
pass an hour after we started, or at eleven o.
clock 1t was not half-p ten, and we were
close to Lakeland already, and would pass
there long before the arrival of the Greenport
train, which ordinarily got there first. The
result would be that we should meet the train
beyond Lakeland without warning of our APP
proacl, and a collision in front as well as in
our rear would be the consequence.
awe reached and flew through the Lake
land depot nearly half an hour ahead Of time
OF course the Greenport train was not there
yet, but was coming down with the road
Our speed was now little ahead of any that
had been ever made upon the Long Island
road. The telegraph poles fairly danced be-
hind us, and the bushes on either side of the
track seemed a continuous wall of fire as they
were lighted up by the flame which was pour
ing out Of our smoke stack. But it was dan
gerous to slacken speed, and so on we went.
The conductor rolled his quid from one
cheek to the other, raised the window by his
side and expectorated into the outer darkness
and became silent for several moments, as if
burdened by the recollection Of his former
perils. After waiting a reasonable length of
time for him to resume bis story, ] said -:
When the collision occurred, was it with
the train in front or in the rear, or with
both ="
"Oh, the collision F." said the CONDUCTOR
"Well, now you come to the ridiculous part
of the story. The collision did not take place
at ALL" he said, in an Apologize tone, as if
there ought to have been serious accident
after so much preparation. "While was
standing on the platform, thinking whether
had better warn the passengers to hold them
selves ready for shock Jake came from for