Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-28


and it may be that the writer Of the
] letter may have been in earnest, but
failed TO inclose the notice which he
wanted printed, aud may write again.
During the ride mentioned | asked
Sacks If he had ever seen Ames about
the engines at nights during his lonely
rides.
No" he answered, II don't be-
lieve IN them things. | never
SAW GHOST,
nor anything like one, but | did see
something once which scared me, and
to this hour it has puzzled me. Years
ago, when | wal running a freight
engine, | left indianapolis on the sec
ond section Of a freight. The first
section had pulled out about an hour
before. We hustled along pretty
lively, for ii was a light night in sum
mer, and as we were coming down a
long grade, | saw
THREE WHITE LIGHTS
waving on the track apparently not
more than 300 yards ahead. thought
the freight ahead had broke down and
ave were Just running into her. The
fireman was on his box, talking to the
forward brakeman. | whistled down
breaks twice, and the brakeman looked
ahead and then hustled out on the
train. We a up to within ten feet
of them, when
nun rrauTc UANTcupD
instantly, and there was nothing be-
fore us but the clear track. The FIRE
man and brakeman saw the lights,
and the fireman saw them vanish just
as | did, and that is all | ever knew
about it. Queer, wasn't it?'
This experience reminded meof two
incidents related of Gen. McQuistion,
Of the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and
Lafayette railroad. They happened
years ago, when the general was an
engineer, and long before he showed
his physical courage by leading a gal
liant regiment through the var AT
the time of the incidents, fast trains
were being run between indianapolis
and Cincinnati, their passing point
near Morris. In those days trains did
not run on ~telegraphie orders, but
schedule, and when one was
late it waited thirty minutes at
the passing point and then allowed
five minutes for variation in watches.
night the generals train was a
late when they reached the sta.
ton before the meeting point, but
they still had time to make it within
the thirty minutes. The conductor
gave the signal to go ahead, and the
general started, but as he did so a
voice said to him, take the side
He looked around and saw
no one, but in a moment ,
THE MYSTERIOUS WARNING
was repeated. He at once ordered the I
fireman to get down and open the I
and he backed in and stopped. /
In a minute the conductor came up
md Indignantly inquired why he did I
lot go on2 lie had to give an answer !
md he replied that the other train was '
In a minute the other train !
anne flying around the curve and I
A HORRIBLE COLLISION :
vas ayerted by the mysterious warn !
ng. The other incident occurred {
.hOrtly afterward. He was going to. !
yard Lawreuceburg down that crook +
d canon, around curves and over l
at the rate of forty-fve miles I
IN hour, when
THE SAME WARNING VOICE :
aid stopl" He thought ii was the !
fireman, but he was seated on his box. I
a moment the order was repeated. !
md he Ehistled down brakes and the /
rain came to a stop at the end of a !
The couductor-the veteran :
Bill Smith-came up and asked why i
le had stopped. The general an !
Wered that he thought something was
All hands started in search.
nd 10 a minute discovered a broken Q
Wheel on the front car, nearly one-hhf
f which dropped out when the brake +
Eas taken of. The train was crowded 4
nth passengers. and had it gone on 4
be bridge it would probably have +
zen wrecked with frightful loss Of !
ife. a
Qaeer experiences, were they not? \
JAYHAwKER. =
=