The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-10-25
THE ENGINEERS STORY.
A Midnight Experience in the Viii
Mountains.

A Midnight Experience in the White
Mountains.
1t had been showing steadily all day
long, not i'll a boistcrous, tempeStuous
way, but quietly and persiStently, as if
the fcathery flakes which were rapidly
piling themselves one upon the other
on the frozen ground had come for II
long stay. Towards night the wind
began to rise, and when the darkness
settled down moderate winters storm
was raging. We were waiting in the
little station ut l. for the down
train, telegraphed an hour and half
behind time. and were endcavoring To
keep warm around the small air-tight
stove which served aS the only heating
medium in the low-studded apartment.
L is place of little importance en-
ccpt rs Il railroad center, for here two
trunk lines cross each other and it is also
the point where locomotives were
changed on the different trains. With
the exception of the hustle and excite
mcnt incident to junction station,
there was but little to attract a tourist,
and the few natural charms the place
possessed ut this time were hidden be-
meath the soft covering of snow. SO
the weary walters were forced by dcarth
of amusement, as well rs the storm, to
while away the time as best they could
in the dingy depot. The different time
tables were pcrused, the flaming adver-
tisementS scrutinized, all to no purpose,
for the hands of the mOnotonous-tick-
ing clock crept around the dial with
that tardy pace peculiar to railroad
timc-picces when one is waiting for a be-
lated train.
The conductor who was to take
charge of the express came in to warm
his hands by the little stove, and soon
the party was increased by the engi-
neer, whose machine could be dimly
seen far down the track ready for its
expected charge.
bad night, Bob, said the conduct
or. Better come in and warm up. She
won t be here for an hour yet.
The engineer made some reply, and
joined the circle around the stove. He
was Il man of slight build, dropping
shoulders, and perhaps not up to the
average height. Rather etfeminate at
first sight, until one noticed the square
firm chin, the quick, steady eyes, and
the lines about the mouth, which
showed that beneath that cain face and
quiet manner lay the will both to do
and dare. He had been selected es-
pecially to run this night express on ac-
count of the danger of the position, for
the down train was fire Iucntly late, and
the lost time must be made up before
reaching the end of the road in order to
meet connections. Time and again
nothing but the GOODNESS and judgment
of the engineer had brought this train
to its destination in safety, and Bob
Jennings, as he was called, had been
remarkably fortunate, and had never
met with a serious accident. The run
ming of the two trains up to L and
back to the city constituted his days
work. The position was Il responsible
one, the remuneration good, and the
"iob,' as the boys termed if, was
looked upon with envy by Bob'S fellow
engineers.
After some minutes passed in con-
versation between the engineer and
conductor, the latter suddenly re-
marked:
''How was it, Bob, you happened to
get this express? The Sup 'rintendent
of the Portland e. Ogdensburg helped
You to it, didn't he, on account of that
affair up in the mountains? Tell us
about it?"
''Yes, yes spoke up several who
had overheard the conversation. Let
us hear the story. by all Means
"Well, boys" said Bob. as lie bit off
a generous chew, and deposited the
quid lovingly in his check, " it amt
much of a yarn, and it. II make YOU laugh,
for you'll think me spOoky like. How
somever, it's as true as Gospel, and if
Dan was here he d say so, too.
" Twas when | was running 40 on
the P. q o. Road which hadn't been
agoin more'n couple of years. You
may perhaps be acquainted with the
line. She runs through the White
Mountain Notch, and is built right on
the side of the hills. How they ever
had the spunk to start such road beats
me. for at first sight it seems next to
hopeless to get around some of them
short curves, TO say nothing of the big
up-grades. Near Crawford's is that
spider-like Frankenstein trestle, you've
heard SO much about, where the track
spans a chasm eighty feet wide, and one
hundred feet deep. Strong enough, |
suppose, but it makes a man feel skittish
to 60 over it for the first time. Well,
my good luck is all owing to that trestle.
We lived in Portland then, Nell and l.
She is my wife, and we was as happy as
could be. The only drawback was
that every other night had to take the
late express up to Fabyan's and come
back next day on the accommodation.
Nell used to be afraid to have me go,
particularly as the road was new and
accidents would happen spite of all we
could do. / kept telling her it was safe
enough. and the pay was good, so I'd
better stick to my place for awhile any
way, though, to tell the truth, didn't
Ike the route, twas so awful gloomy
like. No big towns to go through, only
now and then little village, and they
would be as dark and quiet as a grave
yard, when we struck 'em at night
Summers it wasn't so bad, but winters
was awful. Well, enc night in January,
when it was my turn 10 stay in Portland,
the Superintendent sent for me and
Said,