Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-22
4 rBRrLLING EXPERIENCE.
s.,.sspse 20 Keen Awase when SLEEP mesrs
nessraetben.
lsan Francisco Can.

~s,ussl,sc 20 keep Awate When stefp Nesnt
pessrses,es.
gsan Francisco CALI
"Yes, we operators sometimes have
strange experiences. said the young
,ooline. white-haircd telegrapher, re-
plyinc 10 an intcrrogatory Of the Cal
nnresen,atiye. =" BY all odds the most
thrilling incident that ever came within
INV own experience. he continued, mu-
sinely. occurred ono night about twelve
wears ago. was then a young ope-
,a,or on the Northern Pacific railroad.
At small station in eastern Minnesota
called Kimberly. | was doing the
night work--from Z r. NJ. to a. NJ,
and being Of social disposition, used
10 sleep only when there was nothing
Of interest going on. Kimberly was
quite resort for pic-nicS, beng
situated on the edge OF one OF
those beautiful lakes for which
Minnesota is famed. and on the day re-
f,rred 10 had been out with a party OF
Young folks, and by night was tho
roughly tired out. There wasno possl-
bic escape from work, though, and !
had to report for duty as usual. Well,
struggled along until about 3 o'clock,
when | was aroused from light doze
by the ticking Of my instrument. |
dragged myself over to where 1t stood
and received the following dispatch
"To Operator, Kimberly Hold all
west-bound trains. Bridge No. is
washed away
Bridge No. 6 was several miles
west of nv station. and spanned asmall
stream in which logs were iioated down
from the pineries. | had heard that
ssy of big jam near there, and
now realized that it had broken and
swept the bridge away. The section
men had reported it TO the next station
west of me and my order was the re-
suit. Still. | was in that somnolent
state when nothing seems of immediate
importance, and after mechanically
lighting my signal-lsntern' laid down
again on The table from which !
had risen, neglecting to hang the
lantern out. don't know how long
I had slept. when was suddenly
conscious that train was nearing the
station. at the same time being unable
TO move or awaken myself. ! knew
that | was asleep, realized the necessity
Of stopping the train, and that 1t would
not stop at Kimberly if no signal was
displavcd. Yet was powcrless to
save them from the inevitable destruc-
ton which awaited them if they were
not warned of the carrying away oil
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 it with the action OF a
watch-spring which has been drawn to
lis utmost tension and then let 90. Nou
know how it will buzz for few mo-
mcnts as it unwinds itself. That is eX-
actly the way my brain whirled as |
sank back exhausted after each effort.
| felt the train draw nearer and nearer.
1t was like the approach of fate. If 1t
passed | was a murderer. Again and
again | struggled, with the same result ;
| could not wake. II must have been
but few moments. yet endured what
seemed hours of torture. ! think the
lar and rumble of the train as il sped 10y
must have awakened me. 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 oil
the platform. screamed, and in my
frenzy rushed after the departing train.
The noise and speed Knocked me. Re
collecting myself, ! swung my lantern
across the track-thc usual signal OF
danger. There was no one IN sight.
Just as the train swept around curve
brakeman appeared on the rear plat
form. A moment later heard what
have always considered the most wei
come sound that ever reached my ears
a shrek FROM the engine and the rattle
Of the air-brakes. As realized thai
the train was saved a reaction OvcrcamC
me and | fell on the track unconscious
1T was six weeks before recovered
from the brain-feycr which followed
Fortunately, the train-men were old
friends Of mine, and the true cause o
my illness never reached headquarters
Upon recovery ] resigned my position
at Kimberly and came West being
haunted with such a dread of a'rcpeti
tion of the experience of that night thai
dared not resume work in that place
Since then have had many remarkable
experiences, but none which produced
so startling or lasting an impression
upon me. The boys often laugh at my
snow-white hair, knowing me to be
scarcely above thirty years of age l't
lie imagining what caused it.