Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1884-12-05


was Just then Cue, and the rumble of
which, not so very far away, could be dis
tinctly heard ut the station. All would
have been we'll if only the engineer of the
Saltwater train had been on the alert;
but he, knowing that he had the right OF
way, had not been paying much attention
to the road in front. He was, therefore,
so frightened when he saw the Sherburne
train blocking the path that he reversed
his engine and applied the air-brakes so
suddenly that he broke the connections Of
the latter, and the heavy train went
rushing on, in spite OF the reversed engine
wheels, with tremendous force to meet,
apparently, an awful doom.
Edward st. John was one of perhaps Il
half-dozcn at the station who recognized
the condition of things, and he sprang to-
ward his switch, thinking that he might
possibly avert the terrible calamity by
turning the approaching tram on to the
siding. But his heart almost stopped
beating when he saw that the engine of
the standing train was 4 half-length over
the switch.
"Back. back! back" lie cried, grasp
ing the switch with one hand, and way
inc wildly with the other. "For heavens
sake, back.'
There was little puff OF steam rs the
engineer grasped the boys meaning, and
the great engine began TO move slowly
backward. But the coming train was al
most there. \ dozen men rushed forward
to pull the boy away.
"Get off! get off, they cried. ''Yon'll
be Killed."
But he did not move, and there was no
time to speak. One thought, though,
flashed through his almost distracted
mind, rs he felt the hot breath Of the en-
CINE against his check. ats either or
a hundred others-perhaps both. But it
had better be than hundred"
Oh, so slowly the engine moved off the
switch The boy could have touched
both engines when at last 1t was free.
Then, like lightning stroke, he made
one mighty effort. The front wheels of
the on-coming engine just caught the
switch, and the whole great train went
crashing safely past tile horrible danger,
on to the side track.
Then everything turned black before
the eyes of the brave boy, who had so
nearly given up his life for "a hundred
others" and he fell, u little unconscious
hcap, with his head resting on the iron
bar which, in obedience to his frantic
grasp, had moved those stubborn rails,
and sent the on-coming train forward into
safety.
A score of men rushed forward to lift
him up and bear him into the station,
where all was in state of the widest
confusion, and into which men came
pouring from the ncwly-arriyed train,
crying, "What was itt-what's the mat
ter?"
"Matter" sang out sturdy brakeman,
who had seen the whole thing, and whose
voice broke dozen times us he made his
brief reply.
"Nothin', only that this yer boy saved
lot o. you fellows from bcin' jammed
ter pieces"
"IIow? Wlat'd lie do? What's his
name? Tell us about it,"
a universal shuddcr ran through the
listening throng as the tale was told.
they surged around tho only just rcviving
boy, every one anxious " get a glimpse
of the young hero. Then, As there began
to DC talk of the trains moving on, and
no step had been taken to reward him for
his bravery, some one proposed that a
subscription paper should be sent around.
1t was done, and within few minutes a
purse of five hundred dollars had been
made up and handed to the bewildered
boy.
1t was scarcely fifteen minutes after
that horrible moment of suspense, when
it had seemed Is though eternity ant time
were brought face TO face, before the
trains had both moved on, and the usual
dullness and silence fell over the Linvile
station.
Then Edward got up, looking very pale
and weak.
"Mr. Barton" lie said, to the station
agent, "can you get somebody else to tend
switch the res: of the day? There didn't
anything hit me, but feel awfuIly queer.
I'll be around or send somebody io-mor-
row."
"Go home, my boy" said the station
agent. "YCu've earned rest If ybody
has. Glad they Paid you SO well. They'd
oughtcr. Lots o. passengers - bein'
Thanksgivin' time, luckily for you-but
all the same, it would a. been bad If you
hadn't been n tending to that switch"
And the station agent shook the boys
hand as he passed slowly through the
door and out upon the platform.
There were two burly fellows standing
there, apparently waiting for him. lie
knew them. They were trackmen, and
rough but kindly fellows.
"We seen We, b'y-we seen ye," said
one Of them, IAN we hadn't no fault to
tind with what sou done, an now-ketch
Ola there, Jack-we're a-goin 10 see ye
safe home. You amt strong enough to
git over them stubble fields to-day" AnG
before the astOnished boy could tell what
they were doing lie men had joined
hands, hoisted him in the air, and were
carrying him bodily throughthe cheering
crowd toward his grandfather's cottage,
attended by large crowd Of small boys.
One of these, ambitious to DC the first to