Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-06-26
BILL, THE ENGINEER
How Forrest, tie Actor. Escaped a Sud-
den and Terrible Death.

gray stone, which looks like a castle
the other standing in the background
an oblong and red brick structure
The former was Edwin Forests Gas
tie, the latter is Mount st. Nincent'i
Seminary. 1t was to these building,
that the old conductor called the at.
t%ention of the group assembled on
deck. You will remember" he
said, that it was in this castle thai
Forrest sought rest and relaxation il
his own peculiar way. 1t was hi
abode in the summer months, and hi.
favorite exercise while at the castle
was horseback riding. He was aceus.
toned, so he informed me, to rise al
six o'clock in the morning, from late
spring till early in the fall. to battle in
the Hudson, which he aid in this
curious manner He would divest
himself of all his clothing save a pair
of tights, and mounting one of his
most powerful horses, plunge into the
river, ride up and down, sometimes
going nearly across the river, and
would continue the feat until the horse
became exhausted
MANY a chilly morning, in OctO-
Der, when / was in charge Of an early
train, the attention of my passengers
would be attracted by tnis novel
sight
1t was in the fall OF 80 he con-
tinued, after a pause, when Forrest
nearly met his death. He was then to
attempt a new role in the Old Bowery
Theater. | have forgotten the role
and the name of the play, but he told
me that he had spent much time in its
study. During the earlier hours Of
the day it was his habit to stroll over
the castle grounds absorbed in the
study of this new character. At IL
O'Clock he would board my train and
go to the city for rehearsal. He
would frequently ride on the engine
with Bill Jennings, a tall, stalwart
fellow, who had seen much life on the
plains, Forrest exhibited consider
able interest in the workings of the
engine, which pleased Bill greatly.
AT last came the day on which
Forrest was announced to appear at
| the Bowery TheateF. | had intended
to see him hat night ~ his new role,
Our train had been delayed some time
up the river, waiting for the express
/ going north to pass. We wore fifteen
minutes behind time at Riverdale.
Forrest, who always waited on the
platform, was nowhere to be seen. |
was impatient 10 be off, and asked Bill
to blow the whistle and ring the bell
fereely. lie did 50, Still forrest did
not show up. lie may have remained
in the city last night, or gone down on
az earlier train, | thought. However.
[ became uneasy, but the train must
go ahead, and at lRst | shouted, All
aboard We were obliged to make
up lost time in going down to the
depot, and we had gone qlnng probably
halt a mile when a furious signal of
down breaks was given. | went to the
forward car aud saw the brakemen put
on tbs brakes. | looked down the
track for the cause, and, with a thrill
of horror, saw a man on it. With
head bowed down and hands claspsd
behind his back, he was plunged in
deep thought. | was sure it was
Forrest, he was walking down the
track unconscious of danger. The
signal did not arouse him. lhe train
would surely reach him, and Americas
great actor would be a mangled mass
in a twinkling. The thoughts O. sor-
row that. would be expressed by the
people and the actors rushed through
my now quiekened brain.
f" II was then | saw Bill, the enLi
neer, eiStch a huge billet of wood in
his right hand and go out UPON the
fender of the engine. He threw it
with all his force straight at FORESTS
head. 1t struck him full on the right
side, knocking him down and off the
track just as the train rushed BY. |
thought he was struck BY the train,
which stopped about a hundred yards
below where Forrest stood at the time
when he was struck by the billet Of
wood. The late Moses II. Grinnell.
who had witnessed a part OF the above
scene from the rear car, was one of the
first to jump of. We all expected to
find Forests manglai body on the
track where he was struck by the bill
let.of wood. Instead. the great TRACE.
dian was sitting with his back against
Il telegraph pole, cOOlly Juggling away
at a damaged boot"
Are you hurt much. Ned ?" Mr..
Grinnell ~anxiously inquired
Not as much as this boot is he
answered, withan effort at a smile
The ~cow-catcher hal torn the sole
OF his boot and injured his foot
slightly.
What were you doing on the track.
and such a distance from the depot q
| asked.
II became impatient over the
trains delay he replied, and
thought Of sauntering down the track.
1t is better walking ON the track thar
the side road. by Impotence made
me nervous, and ! thought to work il
of by walking | fell into a deer
thought, and uncopsciously walked
along. Had been left alone | would
& have walked ipt0 the city. did no.
hear any signals. nor know Of III
danger until / found myself rolling OF
5 the ground. | could not comedy,
Y even then what was the matter
When | found that Forrest was no
seriously injured | again shouted, al
aboard, aud the train started on il
way to the city. Aftor reaching th,
? depot Forrest found out Bill, tn,
/ engineer, and thanked hun kindly 70
e saving his life. He rewembered Bill
u