Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-07
NO. 6.
miscellaneous.
A REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.

A correspondent of the Hartford Times
writes:
met Mr. William d. Hilton, of Provi-
dence, the other day. He used to he SUI
perintendent of the Providence and Wor-
cester Railroad, and he told me some
rather odd experiences Of his, which he
gave me permission to publish.
hardly remember how the conversa-
ton drifted from business to spiritualism,
hut so it happened; and with some con-
siderable animation Mr.. Hilton advocated
his personal beliefs and opinions. founded
as he declares. upon the testimony Of his
own ears and eyes. Believing that any
stories Of the phenomena of spiritualism
which are authentic. so far rs the undoubt-
ed veracity of the narrator Is concerned,
will prove interesting to your readers,
give you, as exactly as possible, trans
cript Of this rather extraordinary CONVEX
sation:
Il think the most remarkable instance
of supernatural interference for the bene-
fit OF humanity which l have personal
knowledge of, said Mr.. Hilton. occurred
when was in the freight department of
the Providence and Worcester Railroad.
As the tracks entered the depot here.
some few rods up the road, there was
combination of switches. which, IL covered
by a standing train, could not be rear
ranged. so that down train would, unless
signalled to STOP inevitably rush directly
on to what stood in the way. One night
the freight train. which always arrived in
time to make its changes and get out of
the way before the Shore. line express
should arrive, was late.
There were but twenty y-five minutes to
make all arrangements and clear the track.
This was no unusual occurrence; and as
the signal red hight at the mast head was
up and brightly burning. there was no APP
parent danger or anything to produce the
slightest nervousness. The DELAYS very
frequently occurred and were thus pro-
vided for by the signal. remember very
distinctly, however, that on this occasion
! walked out TO the very end of the depot
platform, and that suddenly heard In my
ear these words. twice repeated, and with
impressive distinctness:
"'Hilton. the hight will go out! Hilton,
the light will go OUT"
The sound was so positive. and struck
me with such strange power, that Instant
ly looked Mt my watch, saw that the Shore
Line express was due in three minutes.
grabbed the red lantern on the last car of
the freight train and ran up the track with
all fhe speed of which l was capable.
Along fairly flew, impclled by some
strange intuition that there was danger,
and never questioning for an instant as l
ran why | was running, or what was to
to do. Arrived at the first end of the
curve near the Corliss Engine Works,
stopped, and for an instant turned and
looked back at the red light 1t was burn
ing, but in a second it futtered little.
and suddenly went out. A world of emo
tions then seemed to rush through my
mind, for the light of the on-coming ex-
press already illuminated the rails. l
swung my lantern round and round,
shouted and danced up and down in my
terrible anxiety. II seemed q thousand
years before heard the whistle for down
brakes The fate of that crowded train,
the horrible telescoping of the cars as they
would inevitably crush into that solid
freight train, seemed to rise like vision
of Hades before me. But at last the en-
gine was stopped. Without indicating to
him his previous danger. informed the
engineer that the signal had gone out, and
that was stationed to warn him, and
started back TO the depot. When got to
| the switch found the switch man running
round and round it, almost mad with ter
ror. for he could not light the treacherous
lantern, and had anticipated a most horri.
BILE disaster. When he saw me, and
heard that all was safe, he put his arms
about my neck and he cried
like child, and believe I offered up q
prayer of praise and thanksgiving. i'm
mediately established series of three
lights as signals. so that nothing of the
kind could possibly occur again.
1--WE examined the light, and could see
no possible reason why it should have
gone out. II was full Of oil, with a per-
feet wick, and there was no wind blowing,
although If there had been it should have
remained burning. as it had before through
many storm. Now, what was it that
spoke in my ear? What was it that forced
me to save that train ? There were ordi-
narily but two passenger cars on the ex.
press. and this night there were seven, all
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