The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-02-17


ling yard looks in a winter night! Il is
special Providence that men are not all
crushed to atoms. and all my life have
wondered that l have not heard every
other morning of some ones being kill
ed. And when anything happens, high
and mighty gentlemen get round green
table in q warm room, and take the Book
Of Rules out of their pockets! Well, SO
it goes, and it will; but if they would
just once iu their lives 60 outside and
look on, they might learn something.
$50 it was bad night then, and per-
haps some of the boys were anxious to
get to their N " Years punch, for the
drilling was done in terrible hurry.
| The cars flew back and forth. and the
lights flew by like lightning, and every
where was the creaking and rsltling OF
the buffers as they came together, and
the men crept under and between the
tears-ae II the whceis-were- giagar cakes
land the buffers feather pillows. Promi.
nent among them vas little, ugly, drill.
masters helper-I never could bear tie
fellow for be once cut me ont when
was courting-but | had to wonder al
his activity when l saw his signal Lam
terms every where, swinging round, across,
up, down, onward and back, and heard
his sharp voice calling through the
storm.
81 had just called to this mar when
saw him dodge between two cars again.
told him he ought not to be 80 outta-
geouslv reckless in such westher, when
he could hear nothing aud see nothing,
and moreover might slip down any time
But he laughed in my face and shouted
hack: you mind your Hn busines,
z mmcrmann, and not me. We must get
through before midnisht-go ahead, and
away he went. go 10 the DEVIL I shout
ed after him, aud these words shall not
forget as long as l live, and shall repent
them on my dying bed"
"Here the old engineer paused, wiped
his forehead, took drausht from his
punch elass and then continued:
81 heard him again call out. 'K.se
ahead TO my comrade,' heard the safety
chains rafting, and then a sound. like
what2 Did you ever hesr butcher cut
through big bone with an axp Then
heard stifed scream, and then again
the cla,ter and rattle of the buffers COM
ing together A cold chill ran through
my bones. Then ! got the signal to run
forward, and there was no delay. l was
8 ,on far from that place at the other end
of the yard, where no one could know
what had happened
"But now did my work as if I were
dreaming, and when, half an hour later,
we we're through, aud | ran back into
the engiue.house, the foreman said to
me: "Do you know, D mmermann, that
the drillmaster's helper Porges has been
ki,led-crushed between the buffers 2'-
| did not ask many q ,estions-my hear,
sunk in me, and how took care OF the
engine and got started for home don't
know. As passed the station platform
I saw crowd standing with lanterns
and something lying on the snow, COW
cred with cloak. had no questions
to ask about it; trembled like leaf,
and | can tell you, boys, / don't know
what would not have given il l had
not called to him half so hour before to
90 TO the devil 1t was hard task to
drive that out OF my head, though 1t vas
not so i'll meant-a way OF talking that
we rough fellows got into The habit OF. |
with you young fellows it is still
worse. and it would cure you IL you had
felt the remorse that l felt then. We'll,
finally / succeeded in getting nv mind
on the bright, warm rooc' at home, with
the felt slippers and Louise and the baby
and the cat and the tea-keltle singing on
the stove, and the hottie of srrack aud
the sugar bowl and the lemoas on the
table, and gradually could see it all
plainly.
"7ou may imagine that did not pay
much attention to wind or weather or|
road with all this thinking, and I onlv
noticed that the wind was still whirline
and blowing, as I walked into the cut.
ting near the old oil mill, through which
could have seen the window in nv
house if | could have seen ANYTHING ten
PAGES off that night was walking on
The right-hand track, because it was clear
Of snow. and because l could see my
house from it 0rst.
81 went along quite conf iently, for
was coming from the station. and you
know was walking on the track for the
trains coming in, so no train could run
on me from behind, and 10 front none
vas to be expected; moreover, would
have heard it coming.
"When Twas about halfway through
the cutting. which, as You know, is on
a curve. and in which ! couldn't see a
cars length that night, heard whist
ling behind me, ord Immediately after.
ward the click, clack OF the wheels of
slowly approaching train, as they struck
the rail joints. l knew by the SQUAD
that the engine was pushing the train
ahead OF it, for the sound of the exhaust
was much further back than the sound
of the wheels. Thinks |. that must be
the reserve train Of about ten cars which
vas standing on the track IN front OF the
station, aud which they are now pushing
over to the freight depot. All this pass
ed through nv mind dimIy. Just as a
nan always thinks mechanically of his
work, even when his head and heart are !.
'ull OF other things. l said to myself,
{ is nothing to me anv wsv. for the train
must pass by me on the left hand track.
But as the ping, pang OF the wheels on
he hard frozen track had come close to
ne and could hear the rsttling of the
'afety-chain on the front bag2age-csr,
ind saw how the light OF the signal
amp slipped toward me on the snow,
armed nv head to call ont Happy New
Year ! to the boys on the engine.
"But there was no train on the track
,n that eide, and at that very moment |
'elt mighty push against nv hack. My
eyes saw stars; lay fat on my face on
The track, aud and-ping-pang--the cars
began to 90 over me-"
Here the old engineer pansed again.
1t was still as death In the engineer'sl
room; with eyes wide open, bent for
ward. pale, the strong faces OF the youne
enginemen surrounded the table. Again
he filed the glasses, pushed down the