Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1886-10-27
SAVED BY A MIRACLE.
A Train -Dispatchers Thrilling and
Bewildering Story.

How Great ID SISTER Was Averted by the
Mysterious Appearance ef a Dy-
ing Man Who Directed the Move
ments of Two Special Trains.
detroit Free PressI
Several years ago was employed as
train dispatcher on a Sou hwesteg n
American railroad. IA usual there were
thres of u' in the offics. had what is
called the ''se sonl tick" my hours of
duty being from p. m. 10 12 p. m.
The third man, Charles Burns, who came
on ct midnirhs and worked till a.
M, was particular friend of mine. He
was young man of high character, fine
di i'patcher and very popular; and when,
during the burning days of July, it be-
cams known among the men that he was
confined to his room by a severe attack of
malignant fever, many were the express
sions of TeCre. and hope of Lis speedy re-
oovery.
During the trying days of Charles ILL
ness l spent all the time / could spare by
his sile, but on account of his absence
fr ON the flee il was necessary for {, e re-
naming two of US to double up" that is,
work twelve hours ea h, my watch being
from p. m. to s q. 10.
came en- duty one evening feeling very
bad. The weather was so warm / coul
not sleep well in the day time; hes 'des 7
had spent considerable part OF the day
with Charlie, whose illness had now
reached q cri icll stage and seemed to
show little prospect OF Improvement
Hence, as you may imagine, was not
at all pleased to find that was likely ia
have tusy night of il. wreck on tie
road durin- the day had thrown oil the
regular trains off time, and besides the
usual numter of special freights there
was special passenger train to leave
LinwoJd, the eastern terminus of cur di-
vision, at II p. m. with a large party of
excursioniSt5 returning from a picnic.
Fo several hours had my hands full
There was a speci,l train of livestock
bound east which had TO be kept moving,
hut was being delayed by hot journals;
nevertheless, 1 hoped 10 get them into
Linwood Lefore :he excursion train start
ed west.
as usually happens in such cases. the
excursion train did not get re sdy 10 leave
on time, and il WAS lao p. m. when they
reported for OF doris at Linwood. 1 fixed
up their or lers, got the rep rt cf their de-
pariure from Linwood at 1l:45 and en-
tired 1t on the tefin sheet. Then having
for the first time that night a few min
utes' breathing time rose from the table
and went over and seated myself by the
window, where it was cooler than under
the heated gas jets over the table. / was
alone in the offico, and as 1 sat there en-
wing the cool breeZs which came in
through the open window a nciChbor:ng q
chus ca clock rang out the hour o, twelve.
F ON fosce of hahit 1 glanced at the door,
almost expecting TO hear Charles lisht
fooistop on the stair, and see the door
open 10 admit him as of old.
"Pcor fellow" l thought, at will be a
long time bc ore he enters that door again.
If he over does" just at the last stroke
of twelve, and while my eyes were stll
fixed on the door, it opened and Charlie
Barns en.cred. Ny astonishmens may 10
imacined better th1n / can describe it.
My first thou hit was that in the delirium
OF fear h had escaped from his nurses
an1 made his way to the Off -e. but v hen /
left him few hours be ore / could not
have believed that he had SIREN 9Th to get
out cf bed. l sat and watched him in
speechless surprise, which was increased
by his strange manner.
Instead of his usual he riy greeting he
to no notice of me at al, hut walked
directly to the table and sat down.
Pacing bis han upon the key ho becan
calling 90" which was the signal for Elm
CIR, W, the first Station, six miles west of
Linwood. 81, /, O." came the re ponse.
Put cut isnll for special passenger west
and lpy." "Ro" 'R -" "Ds," rang ont
the sounder with Charles nimb!e fingers
upon the key. "Ro" was thu call for
Rosedale, the second s: :ation from LIN
wood, eiSht IN les west of Elm Grove. 81,
l, Ro," came back the answer.
''Is special east coming? Ds"
Then as 1 sat by the window ns one
paralyz,d the awful truth flashed across
my mind. / had overlooked the stock
train, laundering eastward twonty miles
an hour and m tde no provision for it F,
meeting the excursion train. Ny blood
seemed turned to ice as heard the reply:
"They are at the switch. Ro."
Another minute and it would have been
too la,e.
Still apparently oblivious cf my pre-
sence, Charlie reache fof the order book
with his left hand, while his right con-
time / to man p IL ate the key and heard
the sounder click:
"Oat signal and copy Ds.
"0rier No. 7sI.
To &. and L. Eng. 81 20.
&. an +. Eng. 10 o.:
asp" eial East eng - VII take siding and
NEE; special West eny. - ut Rosed ale"
"lsJ. WIN
Quick as a flash came back the respon Sc
from each station, and in less time than II
takes me to write it, the order had heen re-
peated ana signed by the conductor and
engineer OF each train, while Chail, e
copied il into the order book and returned
his 90 X"
Then as / roolized that was saved. and
a great disaster aver;ed, the revulsion of
feeling was too mu IN formy over restrained
nerves, and lost consciousness.
An hour after / was awakened by n
familiar voice and looked mp to find Frank
Dwyer, one of cur condu tors, who bad
volunteered to watch that night with
Ch arlie, standing over me. "Wake up,
old man." said lie, 81 have TAD news for
you. Charlie del just as the clock was
striking twelve"
reused my self and went to the table.
There on the order book was the order iu st
as had heard it clicked out by the sound :
er, and "R ," was calling me TO report the
two trains safely by. Had been dream
ing and sent the order in my sleep, or had
my friend redeemed his promise.
The writing in the order book was in bis
hand and i never have been able TO &C.
count for it.