The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-01-03

engine was coupled on, careful start
made, and few minutes later they were
laundering through Conway tunnel.
From the black mouth at the other end
to the point known as the Black Ravine
was Just one quarter of a mile. On this
section more accidents had occurred than
on all the rest of the road. This was at
tributed to various causes by the men but
strange enough none of them ever advanced
the true cause-that of fast running.
Your true railroad man delights in the
''time' he can make, aud is never so pleased
as when dashng along at full speed. But
there was a cogeut reason for fast running
at this point. Just beyond the Black Ra
vine was a very heavy grade, and to Obviate
the danger of sticking" on it the engineers
invariably dropped her down few
notches as they emerged from the tunnel,
and opened out for run at the hill, aud
by the time the ravine was reached those
on the train were having lively ride.
Conductor Toms train dashed out Of the
tunnel on the night in question, and the
engineer, as he pulled the throttle, anxious
I ly strove to pierce the gloom beyond the
range Of the headlight, as his presentiment
came to him in full force, and visions of
/ obstructious on the track, or a broken rail
| fitting through his brain.
Louder and louder sounded the roar of
/ the train. 1t rushed from the cut, it echoed
! over the valley among the wooded hills,
/ rolled like muttering thunder around the
crags and peaks.
Suddenly there burst forth one despair
! ing shrek from the engine, then came
/ horrible crash, rush of steam, a thunder
/ ing roar, and down the steep over the cruel
/ Jagged rocks into the dreaded Black Ra-
vine plunged he engine.
On the track above there was rendiug
of wood and grinding of iron as The engine
! nd ed
through the coaches and promiscuously
( heaped with stoves, seats aud baggage as
the train came to a standstill.
/ The conductor, who was unhurt, hur-
/ riedly made an examination of his train
/ and discovered to his infinite relief that
but one passenger had been seriously in
! jured although many we're suffering from
severe cuts and bruises.
Quick, boys, with your lights - ex-
. claimed Tom, land we'll see how 1t fares
with poor Harry aud his fireman. All, me
poor fellow, his may be d true presentiment,
sure enough"
The found the engine lying on the side,
with the tank atop Of her. The fireman
was first discovered mangled and crsushed,
and as willing hands were extended to
rescue the body, deep grOan was heard
from under tie wreck.
Its Harry, and alive - cried Tom.
Leaping over the debris, and disregard
ing the blisteriug iron and scaldng clouds
of steam, they found him, but SO wedged
in between the engine and tank that it Mas
impossible to release him.
The horrible agony that he had suffered
when consciousness first returned was sue
cecded by q uumbness that was the pre-
cursor of swiftly approaching death.
'Harry, my boy, said Conductor Tom,
with choked voice, | fear there Is no hope.
TO rescue you is impossible
"Ay, Tom, know it," weakly replied
Harry. Il feel that have taken my last
run. Do not fear for me, though, old fel
low | can STAND it. and it won't be ful
/ long. But, Tom, do not tell my wife o.
this when you convey 20 her the dreac
news of death. Lei her think, poor LITTLE
woman, that was free from suffering, anC
tell her with my last breath | prayed 70
her and the little ones"
''What threw you of, Harry ?"
\ broken rail, aud within car leEgtl
of where poor WymmeSs left the track
Isn't 1t strange tnat you and | talked o
this very spot to night? How many car
went over?
Not one. The express car whirIet
around. and the others crushed into II
knocking the trucks from under several
t aud smashing the platforms but none LET
the top. And strange enough but ON
; passenger was injured"
( to that cracked link. Had it not broke
3 la two at CUuway's or If we had found
second link after breaking the other, th
whole train would have followed the eI
0 / giue. But Ned, my fireman, what of him ?
y lis dead poor fellow. lie was killed in
Y stauuy. But think of yourself, ,py dea
: boy. can we do nothing for you -
| Nothing. | am past all feeling or de
sire for anything"
/. And the ponr fellow closed his eyes an
4. calmly awaited death.
Y \ few mluu es later he looked up an
+ said, in scarcely audible voice
3 You VIII not think that "A presentimer
t arises from superstition in the future, Ton
How plainly Que can see the hand of GO
o in ali things Had he not prepared me f,
l. this, SO that l might put my affairs to righ
O my dear vile aud babies would have CON
!, To want through the careless way in whIc
r l had conducted my business. Now | d
content.
L These were his last words His vOiC
: bad grown weak and broken, and the ell
d was at hand. The SOhs Of his conn AIDES
i the shadow of death, which dimmed not II
: smile Of peace aud hope, fell on the love
- face ; and then with hands tightly claspe
d in Toms, and the wild wind mourning
{ , solemn requiem, he passed away.