The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-25
ArHRILLrNe FxPERrEsoE.
struggling to Keep awake When Sleep
Meant Destruction.


Meant DestructioB.
lSsn Francisco Call
Eyes, we operators sometimes have stran
experiences, said the young looking white
haired telegraphsr, replying to an interrozs.
tory of the Call representative. "By oil odds
the most thrilling incident that ever came
within my own experience" he continued
musiDgly, occurred one night about twelve
wears ago. / VAS then yOang operator on
the Northern Pacific Railroad, at a small sta
ton In Eastern Minnesots called Kimberlv
/ was doing the night work-from : o m TO
~, bDd beng Of social disposition, used
10 sleep only when there was nothing Of in.
teTest going on. Kimberly IVES quite a re.
sort for picnics, being situated on the edge
Of one of those beautiful lakes for which
minnesota Is famed, and on the day referred
TO had been out with party OF yo1ng
FOLKS, and by night vas thoroughly tired
out There was no possible escape from
work though, aud l had ~ report for duty
a. usual. Well, | struggled along until ABOUT
) O'Clock, when was aroused from Z light
dCzs by the ticki: OF my instrument 7
dTsgPed myself over TO where il stood and re-
ceived the following Dispatch
q" To Operator Kimberly. Hold all St
bound trains. Bridge No washed way
bridge No. 6 was sevefa miles wet OF nv
station, and spsnned small stream in which
ltkh MSle ubhteu GOWN rom the DlDerles. i
bad heard that day OF q big Jam near there.
and BOW | realized that il had broken snd
swept tho bridge away. The section men
had reported II to the next station west of
ne and my order was the result. Still, was
n that somnOlent state when nothing seems
CT Immediate importance, ana after me-
chemically Lighting my signal lantern, laid
down sgain on the table from which
/ bad risen, neglecting 10 hang the
anieIn out don't know how long
! had slept, when I wss suddenly
conscious that train YVES nearing tn sra.
tion; ST the same time being unable to move
or awaken myself. l knew that | was s,leep,
realized the necessity Of stopping the train
and hat ii would not stop at Kimberly if
n sigma was displayed. Yet / was power
less 10 save them FROM the inevitable de
structiOn which awaited them if they we're
rot warned OF the carrying away Of the
hIidB ] shall never forget the agony those
thoughts brought me. I struggled to break
the chains OF sleep which held me. The effort
was accompanied by q most peculiar sensa-
on. / can only com pare Il with the action
OF watch spring which has been drawn TO
It's Utmost tension and then let 20. You
know how it viii buzz for 2 few uOueuts as
II unwinds itself, That is exactly the way
my brain whirled as | sank back exhausted
after each effort. l felt the train dra
nearer and nearer. 1t was like the approach
OF tate. If il passed 1 was murderer.
AGAIN and agaln struggled, with the same
result; / could not wake. 1t must have been
but lew moments. yet l endured what
seemed hours OF torture. / think the Jar
and rumble of the train rs il sped By must
have awakened me. I jumped to my feet,
seized the lantern, which was still burning
beside my chair. and dashed out through
the open window. The rear coach
was just passing the west end of the plat
form 1 screamed and in my frenzy rushed
after the departing train. The noise aad
81 eed Knocked ms. RecOllecting myself, |
swung my lantern across the traok-the
usual signal ofsdanger. There was no one in
sight. Just as the train swept around curve
brakeman Rppeared.on the rear platform. A
II Oment later / heard what ! have always
considered the most Welcome sound that
ever reached my cara shrek fro n the en-.
elne and the rattle OF air brakes. as [ real.
lied that the train was saveds resctiOn over
came me AID ! fell on the track uncon.
SC OQs.
ct was six weeks before recovered from
he brain fever which followed. Fortunate
iy, the train men were ola friends OF mine,
and the true cause Of my illness never
reached headquarters. Upon recovery 7 re-
signed my position at Kimberly and came
West, being haunted with such a dread of a
repetition Of tbs experience of that night
that dared not resume work In ths~ place.
Since then I have had many rsmersY bie tx.
peTienCes, but none which produced 70 start
ling or ting an impression upOn me. TIE
boys often laugh at my snow white hair,
knowing me 70 be scarcely above thirty
years Of age, little imagining what caused
il"