Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-02-16
A Railway story.

along in 1857, during the recent panic.
I was running on the F. and G, railroad.
The railroad companies were gong un-
der in all directions. Every day we
heard of new failures, and quite often
in a uuirter where we least expected II.
Our road was generally looked upon as
one Of the most substantial in the ma
ton nobody seemed to have any fears
that il would fail to survive the general
smash h.up; but yet did not fully share
in the general confidence. Wages were
cut down, arrearages collected, and a
great many other little matters seemed
to indicate to me that the road had got
into deeper water than was agreeable
all around. Among other things, the
master mechanic 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 ever was known before
when the new engines should COME
We'll, there was but one of the engines
came.
I said there was but one engine came;
but she was, in my opinion, altogether
the best ever turned out OF the Taunton
works, and that is saying as much as
can be said 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 1 was to take special train
up TO Y. The train was 10 carry
up the president and several officers OF
the road to meet some officers OF anoth.
er road, which crosses cur there and
arrange some important business with
them. had no trouble at all 10 max
ing my forty miles an hour going out.
The engine handled herself most beautl-
fully. 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. An
we were still under good Roadway, he
was much injured and CARED off to the
hotel insenslble. According to the
presidents direction, switched of my
train, turned my engine, and stood
ready to start back to C-at a mo-
ment's notice.
Aldiicl's presence was Of so much i'm
portance that the business could not be
transacted without bim, so all those
had brought out, except the president
and Adrich, went back to c. on
the O'Clock express train. This
was the last regular train which was TO
pass over the road until next Monday.
Early in the evening, l left the machine
in charge of my fireman and went over
to an ealing-house TO see if could not
spend the time more pleasantly than
on the engine. The hours dragged d
themselves away slowly. 1 was play
ing a game of domlnoes with the station
agent when in came Roberts, the presi-
dent, in a state of great excitement.
Harry, said he, 4 want you to put
me down in Cat II O'clock
AS it was nearly IL O'Clock then, and
the distance was seventy-fve miles, l
thought he was joking at 6rst; but when
we got outside the door he caught me
by the arm aud hurried along so fast
that l saw he was IN earnest.
Harry said he, if you don't set me
down in c. by IL O'Clock 1 am a
ruined man, and this road is a
ruined road. Aldrich is dead !;
but he told me before he died that
he had embezzled from tims 10
time s500,000 Of our money, and
his clerk is to start with it on the IL
O'Clock boat from c. for Canada. II
we don't have that money on Monday
morning to make some payments with
the road goes ito other hands and 1t
you put me down in c. at the right
time, 80 that 1 save my money, you
shall have $1,000. Understand it
Harry-s5 .000.'
Of course l understood it. L saw now
the reason why The wages had been cut
down. 1 understood it all aud my
blood boiled. l felt that would save
tie road ifI Lived and told Roberts so.
See that you do it, Harry he re-
Piled, as he climbed up ou the steps Of
the coach which was coupled to my
engine.
sprang up into the footboard, got UP
the swilch-lender to help my fireman,
opened the throttle aud just as she
commenced moving, looked at my
watch; 1t was just / | O'Clock, so that
had one hour to make my seventy-fv {
miles in. From Y 10 c. there
we're few curves on the road, but there
we're several heavy grades. | was per-
fectly acquainted with every rod OF it,
so that | knew exactly what had tC
encounter. that when l saw how the
engine moved l felt very little fear fol
the result. The road for the first five
miles was an AIRLINE, and so smooth
that my engine few along win scarce
ly a perceptible jar. was so busy
posting myself up us 10 the amour. o.
wood and water aboard, etc., that We
o danced by the first station almost before
[ was aware Of 1t, having been five
minutes out aud having nve miles &C
compIished.
You are losing tine,' yelled a voice