Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-05

&" Can that be true?" inquired cool |
gentlemanly man at my elbow. 1t was |
the station m lSter himself
" Truem | echoed " 1t is only too true.
J have ridden to tell you. We must stop
the trains"
The excursion leaves Ilandleigh ut
S:4j," mused the station-master. There
may be time come with me-" lie crossed
the line and entered the shed opposite. |
followed. Just then loud booming rent
the air." The sound came back from the
hills like thunder.
" 1t is the signal" exclaimed. " The
water is out. Heaven help us now!'
The station-master called out. A clean
er appeared. " Is that engine ready?
= Yes, sir, waiting for the excursion"
Run and open the points-Now, sir
get up"
obeyed mechanically and before quite
realized the situation we had crossed 10 the
up line. The station-master stopped 10 get
Il red flag and give few instructions to
his subordinate. now perceived that we
were to race the flood. Steam versus wa
ter. Which would conquerP
a whistle: we started "The food! the
llood!" shouted the porter. We turned one
glance up the valley. \ moving brown
wall. capped with Il snowy ridge,was tear
ing down to the devoted viaduct. No time
to lose. Go ahead" cried the station
master. | turned on steam, put the lever
over another notch, y and the race began
in earnest.
We flew along the metals. A few min
utes would decide it. We must get to the
viaduct and over it first, or the excursion,
unwarned, would dash to destruction. A
depression in the ground ran beside the
railroad for short distance. We trusted
to this TO turn the velocity of the APP.
proaching water. 1t was an exciting race
and one never to be forgotten. On rolled
the flood. We were running neck to
neck " for one terrible minute. Now the
relentless flood bore directly to the bridge
Stones rolled before it like marbles.
Trunks oftrees, hay stacks, debris of every
description, came head-long down upon
the doomed structure. We fled like light
ming over the rails. Our speed told now.
Sparks flew from the chimney. Another
notch the beat of the piston quicken
ed to an almost inconceivable rapidity. We
were on the bridge. Hurrah! The curl
ing wave beneath seemed to spring for
ward. 1t broke against the butteresses.
In q second we were across. | shut off
steam, the station-master put down the
brakes. A tearing, rendering sound that
was not the brakes-a crash We looked
back. The line dropped behind us like a
stage trap. Then the bridge gave way,
and, with u roar that was heard two miles
off the pretty viaduct WAS swept away by
the boiling water.
We were truly thankful for our narrow
escape. And now to save the excursion.
Speeding forward again, whistling like a
demon, our good ngine-Vigilant by name
soon came in sight of the excursion train.
By waving our red flag we averted anoth-
er danger--a collision. The telegraph
poles being down, trains had to run upon
the same line rs far rs Ilandleigh, but our
timely action set all to rights at last.
We soon gave the bewildered passen-
gers to understand the narrow escape they
had had. Fervent and sincere were the
thanks received form all except one man.
lie was escaping from Justice and was
captured. From the elevated cmbank-
ment we could track the course of the
flood for miles. The train put down to
! IandIeigh, whence the passengers were
| forwarded TO another company.
Ry the time we had arranged matters
and returned to the broken viaduct, the
water had subsidized The work of des
truction was complete, but II " breakdown
nano WAS constructed across the mud
DIV river-bed. and trains stopped at both
sides of the stream, the passengers eX-
changing from one to the other
The loss of cattle and farm product
caused by that terrible flood was very
great Had the catastrophe occurred dur
ING the night, the loss of human life would
have been appalling. As it was, some
unfortunate people were drowned, but
some had most marvellous escapes. The
aspect of the country rs retraced my steps
was dcplorable; | could scarcely recog-
nizo the places had passed in the morn
ing.
! / found NJ Causland and his staff at the
reservoir awaiting me. lie wrung my
hand fcrvently, and said certain words
that | shall not easily forget.
The viaduct was quickly rebuilt, but
the staton-master at Ammering. does not
forget that race of Steam versus Water on
the Vigilant locomotive.
Nor do I.-Selected.