The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-24
PRESENTATIONS OF DANGER.
A Railroad Engineer Gives His E.ps.l,ocs

A fortnight or so ago l was on my way to
| the far West, travelling on fast through T.
and O. express. On bright Sunday morn
| ing awoke in my birth and realized that
the train was standing still Iraised the cur
! tain and peeped out. The sun was we'll up
in the heavens. and the train stood in a
dense wood, away from any living creature,
1t did not move for some time and | arose;
made my toilet and went outside. The train
stood partially on long trestle work or open
bridge, and could see the smoke rising from
the end OF the strucs'Tre furthest from us.
walked out past the locomotive and on the
bridge. where met a number of gentlemen
talking.
What's the matter?'' inquired OF one.
'Oh. a section of the bridge has burned, -
replied the gentleman.
Its lucky that the engineer saw the fire
in time TO save us" l remarked gazing dow II
into the water below. and shuddering at the
thought OF being piled up in Sleeping car
in the chasm that yawnett For me.
But the engineer says he didn't see any
fire when he stopped" exclaimed one
No" said the engineer who stood hard
by, Il saw no fire. l hada presentiment as
approached the bridge. Something seemed
towarn me that il was not safe to- cross the
bridge, and IL came upon me 30 strongly that
] Just stopped the train and got Out OF the
cab. and l hadn't walked twenty step
before l saw that the act had saved
have gone down that hole,
although i. is but the Lengths OF two rails.
The fire didn't show up much above the ties
as it was confined mostly to the tiRlbers be-
low. Right there in that little shed watch
man sleeps said the engineer pointing to q
diminutive dwelling half dozen rods away
and it was his duty and it has been for
years, to be out here, and to pass over the
bridge Just before aud after Us; bat some
how felt that he was not faithful, that he
might be asleep, and could see in my mind,
as approached the bridge. the whole train
going down TO death. and ceUld hear the
cries of the dying, and so | just stepped, as
i said. The watchman. sure enough, was
asleep. Oh, you needn't laugh. for this is
not the first time presentimensS have saved
lives when my hand was at the shrottle. No.
sir. I've been in Just this situssion before.
said he blushing TO the tips OF his fingers, as
two or three gentleman smiled and whistled
bit.
mo said he, L had a forbosiing of dang
er stronger than this a,few years ago. | was
running then on a division of the Sandusky.
| There is littls station on that road where
the passenger trains seldom stop. 1t has a
siding for freights. however, and there was
nearly always a freight si6e-traeked as
passed through on the fast express That
little place is OH long stretch OF splendid
/ track. and for years the engineers had that
| n racing ground, and L tell you some
| mighty good time has been made there Al
the time | had this presentiment the rivalry
| among the engineers on that stretch of track
was at its heighth. 1t was a.sharp winter
night that approached the station on thu
| down trip 1t foggy. and. \ fierce W inc
| blew. 1 hadn't stopped there for thres
months. and as went into that good 'tracs
with dash, and approached the village at 8
| terrible speed, L never Thought OF stopping
NV locomotive was the fieetest on the road
and was congratulating. myself, as-the hire
| man drew his watch, that l. wa
making the best time record
and was thinking TO myself bow | would, ap
pal the tranmen side tracked as | dashe'
| through. When quarter OF a. mile from tn
station something whispered To. me TO. stop
| didn't want TO stop: and rejecting hos
I chagrined would be il wOald- have to.sto
1 when in the heat of asuccesStui race, L toSse
my head. opened the throttle little. NOR
and Oh how we few Seems to. me. l. neve
saw train come so near flying au
VET she lust lay as close and smoothly on til
track as could be. Quick as thought | WI
commanded by an inner being to- STOP or
would make run TO. death, and. withor
effort, my hands reversed the engine aud a
piled the air. There was no signal. no whi
tie nor bell sounded, and the fireman was q
| founded to see my frantic movements. III
train Law still lew feet past the depot, an
as jumped from my engine felt 20. eriba
| raised that almost burned l could NAL
no explanation to the conductor or the. trai
/ men whe came about nae. looked all ov
the engine. Everything was all right
cast my ewes along the train. Nothing a
peared. Then / walked down the track
: front of the engine When had gone le
than hundred feet. and beyond the rays
the headlight ran against box car,
stood right ont in front OF the engine, full
y the track. The switch had been left op
y and the wind had skewed it out 1t "
s loaded with carbon oil. Had not seen
s scores of persons would have beeii killed q
a burned.
:. 81 am positive that there is such thing
= being forwarned," continued the old en-
e neer. THAT warning which stopped me
J. on the Sandusky came only few months
d fore that. The country was open aud !
r train was the fast express. | had no reas
to suspect any trouble, and didn't; but sou
K thing told me, as was approaching CIR
ing that should stop: and that desire
Ie stop the train fastened upon me until fou
!" myself, minute later. standing beside !
engine. IL was so dark could scarcely
INV hand before me. / found the culv
V. flied with cross ties. wedged down so clos
m that they would have thrown fiat
a backs. and the work was doue so well thai
err would not have seen them had not stop
e. and walked right up on them with iaute
~ Did ever see another engineer who was
/. believer in prcsenliments' lots OF them