The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-10-21
SEVENTY-F FIVE MILES IN
HOUR.

HOURs
am railroad engineer. Away along
in '57, during the great panic, I was
running On the F. & G. railroad. The
railroad companies were going under in
all directions. Every day we heard of
new failures, and quite often in quarter
where we least expected it. Our road
was generally looked upon as one of tho
most substantial in the nation nobody
seemed to have any fears that it would
fail to survive the general smash-up;
but yet I did not fully share in the gen
eral confidence. Wages were cut down,
arrearges collected, and a great many
other matters seemed to indicate to me
that the road had got into rather deeper
water than was agreeable all round.
Among other things, the master me-
chanio had told me in the spring that
the company had ordered four first
quality Taunton engines for the fall
passenger business. The road was put
in the very best condition and other
preparations were made to cut down the
time and put the trains through quicker
than was ever known before, when the
new engines should come. Well, there
was but one Of the engines came.
] said there was but one engine came;
but she was, in my opinion, altogether
the best ever turned out at the Taunton
works and that is saying as much as
can be said in praise of any engine.
She was put in my charge Immediately,
with the understanding that she was
mine.
1t was Saturday when she came out of
the shop, and was to take special
train up to Y. The train was to
carry up the President and several Off
GERS OF the road to meet some officers OF
another road, which crossed ours there.
and arrange some important business
with them.
had no trouble at all in making nv
forty miles an hour in going out. The
engine handled herself most beautifully.
We were just holding up at y, when
Aldrich, the Treasurer, who had come
out on the platform to put the brake on,
slipped and fell. AS we were still under
good headway, he was much injured
and was carried off to the hotel insensi-
BILE.
According to the Presidents direction
1 had switched off my train, turned my
engine, and stood ready to start back to
G. at moments notice.
Aldrich's presence was of SO much i'm
portance that the business of the road
could not be transacted without him so
all those I had brought out, except the
President and Aldrich. went back to
c. on the 8 o'clock express train.
This was the last regular train which
was to pass over the road until next
Monday.
early in the evening I left the ma
chine In charge of my fireman and went
over to an eating-house to see if T could
not spend the time more pleasantly than
on my engine: The hours dragged
themselves away slowly. was playing
game of dominoes with the station
agent when in came Roberts, the Presi-
dent. in great state Of excitement.
Harry" said he to me, "I want you
TO put me down in Ga at IL o'clock"
AS it was nearly II o'clock then, and
the distance was seventy-fve miles, I
thought ho was joking at first; but,
when we got outside the door, he caught
me by the arm and hurried me along so
last that saw he was in earnest.
Harry," said he, "if you don't set
me down IN by 12 o'clock am a
ruined. man, and. this road is a ruined
road. Aldrich is dead; but he told me,
before he died, that he had embezz'ed
from time to time $500, 900 Of our money.
and his clerk is to start with it CD the l2
O'Clock boat from O. for Canada. H
We dOnt have that money on Monday