The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-06-05
from New York city, up the line to
Albany. 1t was bitter night, and

more coal to make steam. The
train seems to hang t, the line.
Then too, the cutting wind is
enough to freeze the marrow in a
mans bones.
1t might have been mostly fancy
on my part, but l thought Doc
had an odd look in his face that
night, as he got into the cab. He
was more serious than usual, for we
both knew we had a hard run before
us, and q cold one. Both Of us
were muftied up in fur caps and
old ovel coats.
"Shove in the coal, Nick, and
shake her down smart. We want
! every ounce of steam to night
| says Doc. Fifteen minutes behind
and eleven cars on! Those Sleep
ing coaches are IS h avy as q whole
block, too. I'm glad this is a
double track line, and all clear
| ahead.
We pulled out, and from the way
Doc handled her, | knew that he
meant to pick up the fifteen minutes
if it was in the old machine to do
it. l suppose We made thirty miles
an hour-perhaps forty-on the
level stretches.
On we went, reeling off the dark,
bleak miles, with the sharp wind
cutting into the cab, till near New
Hamburg station, where the line
then crossed Wappingcr creek on
the trestle bridge which had a
"draw" in it. 1t was q comfort to
think that the draw would certainly
be open on such a night, for the
creek was frozen up.
Ah, if it were only permitted to
trainmen 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 driving rain and
snow. ..-.
One of those 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
frieght-trains, running down to
New York. broke an axle and 60
one of it's 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 br,akmen were huddled
in the cabooso behind. But they
found it out after a time, and slow
ed down as the train got on the
bridge.
AS they came to stand-still,
two or three other cars jumped the
track; and one of these, an oil-car,
with a long tank on it, broke its
couplings and VS. shove dover on
to the up-line Of ,ck-our line
where it stood sid rise across the
rails.
The accident male great confus-
ion with the men on the freight;
but they claimed that they got out
their signal-?anterns as soon as
they could, and that it was not a
minute before we came up.
AS we shot along past the dark
station and out toward the bridge
I 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 ! on mine.
Suddenly, right ahead. we saw a
red lantern swinging on our track,
at the head Of the bridge.
God save us, Doc" I shouted,
'the draws open!
Spring the patent brake - he
said to me-that was what we called
the air-brake, then-and in mo-
ment we had shut off, reversed
and whistled for the hand-brakes.
But we were going at a great
speed. In a moment more we had
come alongside 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, Doc?" l cried.
He stood with his back to me,
looking ahead. but turned when !
called out. l shall never forget
that last look he gave me. lie did
not speak, but his look seemed to
say, Yes, you may as we'll jump
but 1 lnu:t stick to my post
He barely looked round to me.
but made no answer, then looked
ahead again.
Then l jumpcd-went heels over
head along the side Of the embank
ment leading to the bridge, rolled
over and over. and landed down on
the ice Of the creek, near the abut-
ment, which l had scarce touched
when l heard the crash, as our en-
gine struck the oil-car.
With the collision came a sudden,
brilliant fash of light! Everything
above me, the whole bridge and the
cars on it seemed wrapped in q
blaze Of fire
At the same instant, too, there
was n dull, long, tearing crash !!