The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-08-13

1 saw the dear fellow wanted to say
something, now that / was in my sobei
senses, and was hesitating for fear of of
Tending me. So ! told him to speak out
what he was thinking.
"sHm W said he, there's no use of telling
any one about how the accident occurred
II mean the cause of it. We can patch up
something that will fit, and when you are
able for duty again, which / think will be
within two or three weeks, you will be o.
X. at headquarters
"An right, Phil, old boy said 1 "and
from to-day / date n new chapter in my
life. Drink came near being the death OF
me, and / Will never touch a drop again rs
long as l live. And, as you are perfectly
capable OF running n tram, l shall ask, as
soon as I get IN, for permission for you to
-un our crew until ! ann able for duty.
Good for you, Harry n replied Phil
gratefully. Its an i'll wind that blows
nobody any good, now, isn't it2 We're
going up Republic grade now, and, by the
way we're Stacking up, I'm afraid our
Baldwin's going to stick and the extra is
ouly about n mile behind us. Guess I'll
go out and sec If all the bral:es are off,
And Phil. picked up his lamp and went
out. 1t seemed to me as If he had been
gone but a minute, when all at once the
caboose stopped.
Stuck, by Jupiter! = thought 1. But
90; now we go again
Wondering ut our increased speed, I cast
my eyes toward the window opposite, and,
by the dim light, saw the trees lifting by,
and then, with q thrill of terror, saw that
we were going backward.
What could it be? / wondered. 1 shout
ed TO Phil, but received no answer. Then
il flashed over me like lightning that we
prsF. brnLan in tNvn ard that I Vyaq alana
on the rear car. Great God! what would
not have given for power to mOve-to be
able to get out and set the brakes to stop
u.s. The extra was close / knew, and, If
our speed was not checked and the extra
tagged, the cars would run into them, and
the consequences would be terrible.
Then it was that 1 realized more than
ever the curse of drink. But for il L
should not have been in such a situation
but for it l would not now be going to al
most certain death, incapable of action.
In my agony of mind, ] rolled OF the seat
and endeavored to crawl to the door to
reach the brake. At that moment | heard
the shrill scream of the extra close TO me-.
1 heard the noise of escaping steam and
swiftly revolving wheels then came a hor-
rible crash, and | knew no more.
When | came TO myself l was under the
wreck, and the boys were working to get
me out, thinking me dead, ash discovered
by their talk.
The caboose had been telescoped into
the car next TO it, and others had been riy-
en- to splinters and piled above me in IN
intricate mass.
1 felt that 1 WINS pinned fast by a timber
on my legs, but by a miracle my body and
head had escaped fresh injuries. My roll
ing from the scat had saved my life, for
that side was smashed to atoms. l man.
age to make myself heard, and the boys
worked with better heart and expedition.
After an hour of terrible agony, / was
released and carried tenderly to the engine
of my train, and Immediately conveyed
Tifin, where l was put in the hands of
the doctor, and Phil. telegraphed for you.
Oh, Nellie, had 1 but given you tho
promise you asked for, that night, / would
not now be lying with crushed, broken
Limbs, out of heart, as well as situation
for, of course they will never employ me
again, even if 1 do recover the use of my
limbs, which is doubtful to say the least
But he did recover the use of his limbs
again, after many weary months, and the
did employ him again, despite his gloomy
f~orbodings. The superintendent called to
sec him, and Harry made a full confession
of the cause of the doublea accident to him
self, and all the mishaps oil the night, N
begged that, MS they would no longer need
his services, they would give Phil. Cotter n
train, as he was capable and deserved it.
This the superintendent promised to do,
but he showed his good sense in not dis
charging Harry, well knowing that the
lesson he had received would last him II
lifetime.
And when you next ride over the Valley
Road, and see n tall, fine looking fellow,
with a genial smile and a courteous word
for every passenger on the train, and note
that he is lame, you may know that he is
Harry Rowland, and that the su%perintend-
ent was right.
The lesson of that terrible night was
never forgotton and when he makes his
reports, and hastens home to meet his now
happy wife and children, it is with mind
unclouded and breath free from the faint
of the poison hat ''biteth like a serpent
and stingeth like an adder"