Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-01-17

race the food. Steam versus water Which
would conquerY
A whistle we started ''The food the
flood!' shouted the porter. We turned one
glance up the valley A moving brown wall,
capped with snowy ridge was tearing down
to the devoted viaduct. No time to lose
go ahead" cried the station master.
turned on steam, put the lever over another
"notch, " and the race began in earnest.
We few along the metals. A few minutes
would decide it. We must get to the viaduct
and over it first, or the excursion, unwarncd,
would dash to destruction A depression in
the ground ran beside the railroad for short
distance We trusted to this to turn the We
locity OF the approaching water. 1t was m
exciting race, and one never to be forgotten
On rolled the food. We were running meek
to neck" for one terrible minute. Now the
relentless flood bore directly to the bridge
Stones were rolled before it like marbles.
Trunks of trees, hay stacks, debris Of every
description, came headlong down upon the
doomed structure. We fled like lightning
over the rails Our speed told now. Sparks
flew from the chimney. Another notch
the beat of the piston quickened to an almost
inconceivable rapidity. We were on the
bridge IIurrah The curling wave be-
meath seemed to spring forward. 1t broke
across | shut off steam the station master
put down the brakes A tearing, rending
sound that was not the brakes IA crash We
look back. The line dropped behind us like
a stage trap. Then the bridge gave way and
with a roar that was heard two miles of. the
pretty yaduct was swept away by the boiling
furious water
We were truly thankful for our narrow Is.
cape. And now TO save the excursion
Speeding forward again, whistling like a de-
mon, our good engine-Nigilant 10y name
soon came in sight of the excursion train.
BY waving our red flag we avertcd another
danger-a collision. The telegraph posts be-
ing down, trains had to run upon the same
line as far as Handlcigh but our timely ac-
tion set all to rights at last.
We soon gave the bewildered passengers to
understand the narrow escape they had had.
Ferveut and sincere were the thanks received
from all, except one man. He was escaping
from justice and was captured. From the
elevated embankment we could track the
course Of the flood for miles. The train put
down to Handleigh, whence the passengers
were forwarded to another company.
by the time We had arranged matters and
returned to the broken viaduct the water had
subsided The work of destruction was com
plete. but "breakduwu' gang was con
trains stopped at both sides of the stream,
the passengers exchanging from one to the
other
The loss Of cattle and farm produce caused
by that terrible flood WAS very great Had
the catastrophe occurr' during the night the
loss of human life would have been appalling.
As it was some unfortunate people were
drowned but some had the most marvellous
escapes. The aspect Of the country as | re-
traced my steps was deplorahle. I could
scarcely recognize the places | had passed in
the morning.
found MCausland and his staff at the
reservoir awaiting me. He wrung my hand
fervently. and said certain things that shall
not easily forget.
The viaduct was quickly rebuilt, hut the
station master at Ammering does not forget
the race of steam versus water, on the Nigi-
liant locomotive
Nor do L. .-EHghh Paper.