The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-05-25
P~'sinx o. steam

AN railroad engineer Away sloi
IN 1857. daring the panic. was runnii
90 tho y aud c. railroad. The railrol
companies were running 10 all direction
Every day se heard OF new failures, al
quiio often IN quarter pe leas, eipecis
H. Our road was generally looked mp,
as one oi the most substantial in the d
tion; nobody seemed 10 have any fears th
II would fail 10 survive the general smasl
!. up; but ye, | did not fully share in IL
|, general confidence. Wages were cnt dow
. arrearages collected, aud q great man
other little matters seemed TO indicate /
: me that the road had got into deeper wat,
than was agreeable all around.
Among other things, the master mech al
ic had told me in the spring that the comp
any had ordered four hrst-quality Taunton
engines for the fall passenger business
The road was put in the very best condit
ion. and other preparations were made Il
cut down the time and put the train
through quicker than was ever known be
fore when the new engines should come
Well, there was but one ofthe engines
came
| said there was but one engine came
but she was, in my opinion, altogether the
best ever turned out by the Taunton
works, and that is saying as much as car
be said OF any engine.
She was pu. in my charge immediately
with the understanding that she was mine.
II 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 officers OF the road TO meet
some officers OF another road, which cross
es ours there, and arrange some important
business with them. ! had no trouble at
all in making my forty miles an hour go.
ing 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
Drake on, sllppeu ana ieii
As we we're still under good headway lie
was much injured, and carried OF to the
hotel insensible According ito the presi
dents directions, | switched off my train,
turned my engine, and stood ready to
start back to Cat a moments notice.
Aldrich's presence was OF so much i'm
portance that the business could not oe
transacted without him, 50 all those had
brought out except the president and AL
drich, went back to c. o, the. three
o'clock express train.
lit was the last regular tren which was TO
pass over the road up,il next Monday.
Early in the evening eft the machine in
cbarpe ~ MY freman, aud went over to an
sating. house to see il couldnt eper .-o
time more pleasoaeiy than on my engine.
The aours dragged themselves slowly
AVA. l Wis playing game of dominoes
18th the station agent when in came Rob
oerts, the president, in state of excite
nent.
Harry, said he, want you to pnt me t
lown in Cat twelve o'clock
As it was nearly eleven o'clock tLen t
hought he must be joking at first; but :
when we got outside the door he caught y
ne by the arm and hurried me along so g
asst that saw he was in earnest.
Harry. said he, il you don't set me down n
n Cat twelve o'clock / am ruined /
nan, and this road is ruined road. Al
rich is dead; but he told me before he n
e died that he had embezzled from time a
0 time 100000 Of our money and his |
lerk is to start with it on the twelve
clock boat from c. for Canada. II q
re don't have that money on Monday 81
,orning to make some payments with the s.
Dad goes into other hands, and il you put h
le down in c. ut the right time, 80 "
hat save my money, you shall have e
5000. Understand it Harry-iive thous- d
nd dollars. h
OF course | understood il. | saw now r,
be reason why the wages had been cut Il
own. l understood it all, and my blood r'
oiled. felt that 1 would save the road,
lived, aud told Roberts So e
See that you do it, Harry, he replied as I,
g climbed up on the steps of the coach
hich was coupled to my engine. d
Isprang up on to the footboard, got up c'
le switch tender TO help my fireman, OPP
ned the throttle, and just as We commenc- tt
4 moving, looked at my watch; 1t was just II
even o'clock, sosthst had one hour to b
iske MY seventy five miles in. N
From y 10 B. there were few et
nryes on the road, but there were several fe
eayy grades | was perfectly acquainted CT
ith every rod OF it, so that | knew exact
what had TO encounter, and when d.
Nv how the engine moved felt very little tv
ar for the result. st
The road for the first few miles was an in
II line, and so smooth that my engine et
ew along with scarcely perceptible jar. sc
was so busy posting myself up as to b
le amount Of wood and water aboard. etc,
lat we danced by the first station almost "
sfore was aware OF il, having been five oi
inutes on, and having five miles accomp- te
shed. et
You are losing time, yelled q voice from re
lie coach. IN
looked around. and there stood Rob b
ts with his watch in his hand IN
knew very well that We would have TO AZ
crease our speed by some means il We
Irried our plans OF reaching C----by mid