Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-08-24
A Fearful HaIfHour.

srset, occurred an event the recollec-
ton OF which even to this day serves
to bring cut goose hesh on those who
at the time were cognizant Of the inn
pending disaster.
Within few days after passenger
travel began the officers ofthe Southern
sent invitations for a trip over the road
to all of Cincmnaii's wealthlest men
and heaviest Taxpayers, and on the
morning OF the excursion dozens of car
riages left the Burnet house, the place
of meeting and conveyed them across
the river to Ludlow, where the
special headed by No. l, the crack
engine, with Mat. Coombs at the lever,
was in waiting. Miles n, Beatty, now
superin tendent efthe southern division,
was conductor. When all the sxcur-
sionists were on beard the engineer
aud conductor went into Train Dis.
pateber Cooledge's Office, where they
read and signed the following order,
and placed copies IN their pockets:
Meet and pass No. 2, north-bsund
passenger train, at Willianstown.'
To Williamstown for delivery to the
north-bound passenger train on arrival,
was sent the following order:
'-Conductor
Meet and pass south.bound SPECIAL
al Willlanstown.'
So that the situation stood thus -
either train reaching the place indicated
Grst was was to 60 on the siding and
wait there until the one coming from
from the opposite direction had arrived
and gone ahead on the cleared track.
Of the wealthy passenger load some
we're seated chatting, Others weres tand-
Ing on the platforms, and still others
on the summer car, when, glanelng up
and down his train, the conductor, fnd-
ing everything in good order and readi-
ness, waved his hand to the watching
engineer, and the special pulled out,
slowly at first, but as 1t moved on the
speed increased until it went cut OF
sight around the curve a-6ying, and a
little later a rumbling sound told OF its
crossing the trestle, and that 1t was well
and fairly started on the way south. 1t
was understood that extra fast time
was to be made, and to efer no obstacle
the track had bssn cleared OF every
thing save the passenger train referred
to.
One half hour after the start frem
Ludlow, No. 2, fifteen minutes behind
time, reached Williamsteuu, at which
place the standing rule was imperative
that conductors should at all times atop
and inquire for orders. Stepping snlI
long enough to unload a passenger in
the mud, the conductor, thinking only
Of efmaking up lost time, signaIed the
engineer, and the train went on.
The hsrri6ed operator from his WIN
dow saw No. 2 flashing northward to
what seemed inevitable destruction, as
the telegraph line between his room and
Ludlow was unbroken By single in-
strument, and at that moment two
trains At high rates Of speed were rapid
ly lessening the distance between each
ether on the single track. He telegra-
phed at suce to Ludlow that No. 2
had passed without stopping for ordsrs.'
All color left the face of train dis
patcher Coolidge as he received the
message and as he communicated the
dire intelligence to Jack Redmond, mas
ter of transportation, that individuals
countenance assumed a similar hue.
With him to think was to act. Step
ping to the station door he quietly
b.ckoned several men to him and COM
posedly gave instructions to each.
One half dos.n Of them went on the
double-quick in different directions for
physicians. The store-keepers went
inte the warehouse and gathered toge-
ther sponges, baskets, materials for
spllnts and soft muslin for bandages.
Meanwhile other employees had run up
to the englne-house, and starting a FIRE
under an idle locomotive had hitched on |
to a caboose and backed down in front |
of the STATEN where the car was trans
formed at once into hospital coach.
To all save Redmond and Coolidge |
these preparations were mysterious.
The relief train was sson In readiness,
but did not start. Redmsnd, seated at
the desk and estimating the rate OF
speed at which the trains were moving,
calculated about where the collision |
would take place. Some OF the pass
engsrs would escape unhurt, and one
OF them would hasten at once On horse
back to Willamstown, the nearest
point for medical aid. Here the opera
tor would learn the exact locality OF the
accident and send dispatch to Ludlow.
Possessed IF this information Redmond
could send his waiting engine and car,
with its corps Of physicians and nurses,
to the apo at the rate OF nearly mile
a minute. The other and slower plap
sould be 10 let the relief stsrt out
and cautiously lnd lts way around tie
many curves. lie chose the wiser
course. The scene in tue train di.-
patcher's Office WAS painful. Coolidge,
leaning over the silent lnslrumon..
watched It with fevsrish eyes as II to
read Its secret before transmission.
On another chair was Redmond, with
big globes Of perspTation coming from
the pores Of his face and rolling down