The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-03-08

comfort to think that the draw would
certainly not be open on such night,
for the creek was frozen up, and that
there would be no delay there.
All, if 1t were only permitted to train
men to know just what is ahead on the
tracks on these black, bitter nights !!
But we can only see what the headlight
shows us; and often the signals seem
strangely obscure in fog, or in the driv-
ing rain and snow.
One of these always possible breaks"
which may not occur for years, but are
yet constantly liable to happen, had
occurred that night. One of the South
bound night freight trains, running
down to New York, broke an axle and
got one of its middle cars off the rails,
before reaching the bridge. How far
they dragged the car in that condition
no one knows; for it was so cold that
the conductor and all the brakemen
were huddled in the caboose behind.
But they found it out after time, and
slowed down just as the train got on to
the bridge. As they came to stand
still, two or three other cars jumped
the track; and one of these, an oil-car,
with long tank on it, broke its coup
lings and was showed over on to the up
line Of track-our line-where it stood
sidewise across the rails.
The accident made great confusion
with the men on the freight; but they
claimed that they got out their signal
lanterns as soon as they could, and
that it was not minute before we came
up
As we shot along past the dark sta
ton and out towards the bridge, l saw
the white steam of the freight train.
1--WE shall pass No. 10 right by the
BRIDGE" Doc said.
Both of us were looking, Doc on his
side and l on mine. Suddenly, right
ahead, we saw red lantern swinging
on our track, at the end of the bridge.
''God save us, Docr' l shouted, 1.-The
draws openr'
"Spring the patent brake!" he said
to me-that was what we called the air
brake, then--and in moment we had
shut of, reversed and whistled for the
hand-brakes.
But we were going at great speed.
In moment more we had come along
side the freight engine, and out on the
bridge we saw the oil car right across
our rails! 1t had look of death in it.
l swung out on the step.
.'Shan't you jump, Docp" cried.
He stood with his back to me, look
ing ahead, but turned when l called.
out. never shall forget that last look
he gave me. He did not speak, but his
look seemed to say: Eyes, you may as
well jump, but must stick to my
post"
He barely looked round to me, but
made no answer, then looked ahead
again. Then I jumped-went heels
over head along the side of the en-
bankment leading to the bridge, rolled
over and over, and landed down on the
ice of the creek near the abutmeut,
which l had scarce touched when 1
heard the crash as our engine struck
the oil car.
With the collision came a sudden,
brilliant flash of light! Everything
above me, the whole bridge and the
cars on it, seemed wrapped in blaze
of fire! At the same instant, too, there
was dull, long, tearing crash! The
trestle had given way beneath the
strain.
Down came our engine, the three
baggage cars, a passenger car, and |
don't know how many freight cars of
the other train, on to the ice. The
whole wreck, as it fell down, seemed
enveloped in flames; for the oil had
splashed over everything. and the blaz-
ing Goals from the fire-box exploded it
on the instant.
When the engine struck the ice it
broke through, and with hiss went to
the bottom of the deep water there;
and on top of it came tumbling down
all the other cars. For a moment fol-
lowing the crash there was an almost
complete silence; then agonizing
screams and prayerful cries for help
from the imprisoned passengers.
We who were not disabled did what
we could. The seven rear cars did not
run into the chasm, but two of them
burned on the track, along with num-
Der of freight cars. Twenty-one of the
passengers were killed outright. and a
still greater number were injured.
As we worked there in the noise,
heat, and awful confusion of that night,
l cast many an anxious glance round
for Doc, hoping and half expecting that
he had got clear and would be at work
with us, trying to get out the passen-
gers. But / saw nothing of him, and
by daybreak / felt sure that he had
gone down with his engine
The locomotive was not hauled up
out of the water till the next week.
Then we found his body jammed down
under the engine on the bed of the
creek. His hands, face and clothes had
been scorched; but whether he was
drowned or burned to death, we could
not tell.
He had met death at his post of duty;
gone out of the world with his hand on
the lever; giving his own life that the
lives of others might be saved-a man
OF whom any people may be proud
Youths Companion
Don't Lend Your Cigar.
The Pittsburgh Dispatch says that a
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