The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-02-23
AraalLlING ExeEs,gso,.
Struggling to Keep Awake When sleep
Meant Dastrnctinn

Meant Destruction.
ayes, we operators sometimes have
stradge experiences" said young look
ing, whiLe-haired telegrapher, replying
to an interrogatory of the Call repre-
sentative. "By all odds the most thrill
ing incident that ever came within my
own experience" he continued, mus
ingly, occurred one night about 10 years
ago. | was then young operator on
the Northern Pacific railroad, at
small station in eastern Min
nesota called Kimberly. l was doing
the night work-from 7 p. m. to 7
a. M, aud being of social disposition,
| used to sleep only when there was
nothing of interest going on. Kimberly
was quite resort tor 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 young folks,
and by night was thoroughly tired out.
There was no possible escape from work
! though, and had to report for duty as
usual. Well, | struggled along until
| about O'Clock, when | was aroused
from light dOze by the ticking of my
instrument. | dragged myself over to
| whore /. stood and received the follow
ing dispatch:
"ro Operator Kimberly: Hold all
west-bound trains. Bridge No. 6 is
| washed away"
bridge No. 6" was several miles west
OF my station, aud sp nuad small
stream in which logs were iloated down
from the pineries. | had heard that day
Of a biz jam near there, and now real.
lied that it had broken and swept the
bridge away. The section men had 70
ported 1t to tho next station west of me,
and my order was the result. Still, |
was IN That sOmnOlent state when moth
ing seems Of immediate importance, and
after mechanically lighting my signal
lantern, laid down again on tho table
rom which | had risen, neglecting to
hang the lantern out. l don't know how
long had slept, when was suddenly
conscious that train was near
ing the station, At the sama time
being unable to move or awaken
myself. ! knew that [ was asleep,
realized the necessity of stopping the
train and that il would not stop at Kim
berry limo signal was displayed. Yet 1
was pOWeress to save them from the in-
oYtable destruction which awaited them
II they were not warned of the carrying
away OF the bridge ] shall never forget
the agony those thoughts brought me.
/ struggled to break the chains of sleep
which held me. The effort was accom-
panied by most peculiar sensation.
! / can only compare il with
the action Of watch spring
which has been drawn to ia utmost ten
sion and then let go. You know how it
Will buzz for few moments as it I'M
/ winds Itself That is exactly tho way
my brain Whrled as | sank back eX
! hauSted after each effort. | felt the
! train draw nearer and nearer.
10 was like the approach
Of fate. If it passed l WAS a muir
derer. Again and again / strug-
! Bied with the same re-
SUIT; | could not wake. 1t must have
| been hut few moments. yet | endured
what seemed huurs OF torture. I think
the jar and rumble OF tho train as it
| sped by must have awakened me. |
| jumped to my feet, seized the lantern,
which was stll burning beside my
| chair, and dashed out through the open
| window. The rear coach was Just pass
| ing the west end of the platform. |
screamed aud in my frenzy rushed af-
ter the departing train. The nOisj aud
speed Knocked mo. ReCpliucling nv
lA0lt, swung my lantern across the
track-the usual signal OF danger
There was no one in sight. Just as the
| train swept around the curve brake.
man appeared on the rear platform. A
momont later ! heard what | have al
ways considered the most welcome
sound thai over reached NY cara
shr. sk nom tho engine aud tho rafvle
1.-THE air brakes. AS I realized tho5
the train was saved a reaction overcome
me and ldll on tho track unconscious.
"lt WAS six weeks before | recovered
| nom tho brain fever which followed,
! Fortunately the train men were old
friends of mine, aud tho true cause OF
my illness never reached Headquarters.
upon recovery | resigned my position
A. kimborly aud came west, being
haunted with such dread of repeti-
tion OF tho experience Of that night that
| saIod not resume work In that place.
since then | hayo had many remarka-
pc experiences, but none which pro-
duced 50 startling or lasting An impress
sion upon me. The Boys often laugh al
my snow-white hair, knowing me To be
scarcely above 80 years of age, little inn
aglning what caused t.n-lSan Fran
cisco Call.