The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-03-07
The CLARION.
-. Engineers GhOstly COmpan-
brase ions.
- Commercial Gazette.

:.nst; Commercial Gazette.]
IM Miller, the brave engineer
- Iost his life in the railroad COLLISION
sho e., Sidney. Ohio, on last Monday, was
peal 5'N an Thursday, the funeral being
bufls,u attended especially by the Ma
largsiy 1rder and the railroad men of this
ponlc V .he latter having orders from the
Plsc:s a. - ouit work for the purpose of
Olncla.s rasnect to the memory of one of
ssnmber. who, for twenty years, had
nell lShrnnk from any duty, and who
1 .sI, with his hands on the throttle of his
als me 10 save the lives Of the passengers
sns1 X train. Since his tragic death and
al al many stories are told Of his &c
puss l~ and superstition, among
a:ah are. that he had for years per-
~. IA in telling his family and intimate
1870 that an old fireman, who was
i III several wears ago and in the same
.srident in which he himself was Grip
-lsd would get on his engine every
;gIt he passed the fatal spot, and tax
h;s accustomed seat, would ride with
ne 10 - the end Of the trip. 1t is also
l - that he would talk to the phantom
..st d he used to do when the fireman
' 10y alive and well, and he would never
M, ~ any one else to occupy the seat, al
, ..ays reserving it for his ghostly COM
nanion. A few years ago Miller lost by
seath a bright little girl, towhom he was
really attached, and ever afterward she
IN would nightly and daily get on his
mine D at a certain place on the road,
snd ride and talk with him until his
.rain neared Dayton, and then disap-
ooor AS in the former case, her seat
was kept for her inlthe cab, and no one
allowed to occupy it.
At his home chair was always SCI
~ to the table, the crib in which the
cb;ld had been rocked, drawn near, and
Mate and food placed on the table
;rst rs when the little girl lived anG
ryattled. tits even said that the father
would look at the chair and talk to it
supposed occupant Just as he used to dc
dursng its lifetime, and what seems
strange now il, that the wife and mother
m intelligent and highly-resPected lady
entertained, and does, now, the same s9
perstitious views in regard TO the enid
and had the utmost faith in all that ne
Husband ever told her about the ghostl'
visitations on the road. The dead eng
neer was d man Of more than ordlnar
intelligence, read much, and was conslt
ered ~ his friends and companions
high-minded, honorable man, and on
whose word was ais good as his bond.
Il certainly true that the railroad Oh
Gals. for whom he worked 50 long IN
faithfully, had the most implicit COM
Sence ii him, and looked upon him
ore of their safest and best engineer
Yef among those with whom Miller ";
II most constant companionshlp, IT
said that. entertaining the views he Oh
and being d professed Spiritualist, II Il
coll;a;on n which he lost his life h;
occurred through any negligence or tau
&c his the, officials of the road wou
have had to shoulder" the blame
cause Of having kept SO long man WI
snch known superstitious notions a.
ideas. and IN one Of the NEST dangero
ana hazardous positions on the roa
The facts. however, that the brave en-
nepr was in nowise to blame for the
+ i
c;dent. but to the contrary, he did
II lis power to prevent the awful Gala
ity and save as many lives as possib
even ~ Il The sacrifice Of his own, prov
hat the officers Of the road appreciait
he worth and knew 50 well "of WI
lind az stuff he was made, that I'll
could trust Id him at all times and UNI
al circumstances notwithstanding
aneer ideas and unexplainable eccenti
tiles and belief. But the strangcss 2
Of the story remains to be told; and Z
Is that his sudden and terrible de'
should have taken place at almost
exact spot where the old fireman losV
life. and where his disembodled spl
with that Of Miller's child, atterward.
ularly boarded hisengine for their nis
" ride.