The Irish standard., 1886-06-19


curve. Had been on the opposite side
of the platform am satisfied that with
that swing | would at once been hurled
into eternity. But as it was it had an
almost directly opposite effect, for I was
at once swung toward the top of the
platform. Like flash realized the ad-
vantage presented, and with desperate
effort planted sufficiency ofmy body upon
the floor to drag my, feet upon the steps.
think I must have tainted after that;
at recovering myself I stood up and en-
tered the car. The conductor eyed me
sharply. My hat and one shoe were gone,
my clothing in wild disorder and my hair
blown in every direction by the wind.
"Been stealing a ride, eh ?" 'Indeed, Sir,
was not'' We're the only words l could
gasp out at the moment. Then RS grew
more composed told him the whole
story. ''Good heavens!' he exclaimed. 81
don't see how your life was saved" When
told him my sad errand his sympathies
were fully aroused. He told me that Cow
pens like Duluth was only flag station,
and that the express could under no cir
cumstances stop at these flag stations.
"But," he concluded, s.in case of this
kind am satisfied the management would
agree to stop. Butt have no order-how-
ever will let you off. My orders are not to
stop. Twill speak to the engineer, and he
may find it convenient to slow up.''
Later On he told me he had seen the
engineer and that it was all right that
when nearing Cowpens he or the brake
man would call out the name Of the sta
tion, and then when felt the train begin
to slacken I must pick my chance and
jump off. He also supplied me with q
hat and shoe.
There were two particularly intoxicated
men behind me, one of them an ex-rail-
road man, as soon learned from his con-
versation. Both were exceedingly merry
and otherwise noisy, often disagreeably So
The time wore on. Suddenly, just as I
was beginning to wonder if we were not
very near the place, some one opened the
door behind me and cried in somewhat
thick voice, "Cowpens ~ AT the same
moment felt the speed of the train slack
ened considerably.
l went out on the platform. could
not make out a single object in the i'm
penetrahle gloom, though I strained my
eyes until they burned and smarted. The
speed of the train was by this time greatly
diminished, SO much SO in fact that
thought then was my chance to lump.
Grasping the rail I swung Off. AS did
SO, and before I had let go, realized with
horror that there was nothing npon which
to place my feet. The next instant felt
them strike against something like the
end Of a cross-tie, drag over it, and then
fall into space again.
With terrible force the conviction came
to me that they were dragging along the
TOP of trestle. Like flash, TOO, re-
s,,o fhof <,f
pens was the bridge over a lower fork of
the Broad River. This bridge was one of
the highest and most ticklish on the
whole line, the track lying fully l4o feet
above the bed of the river. It was one of
the particular bugbears of the rail-
road men, who had frequently de-
clared they never went over it without
saying prayer. I know also that the
trains passing across were required to
slacken their speed considerably.
If this was indeed the bridge, and soon
had little doubt of it, then was my situa-
tion terrible in the extreme My blood
almost froze in my veins as I realized the
horror of 1t. The stream WAS q shallow
one with 81 rocky bed 1t required all my
nerve to retain my grasp upon the railing
OF the platform. every second feeling it
grow weaker and weaker as I was pulled
backward by the force Of my feet striking
against the ties. My feet were growing
bruised and sore, and the pain became
almost intolerable. I erie aloud for help
again and again, myvoice growing weaker
and weaker. AT last the brakeman appear
ed at the door. was soon rescued from
my terrible position. 1t seems that an
Old railroad man who was q passenger on
the train and who was partially intoxicated
called out Cowpens in fun to his COM
panion. The conductor stopped the train
after all, was too thoroughly worn out
and unnerved to make another jump,
I found my mother just alive. It was
ny sad yet precious privilege to look once
more into her loving eyes before death
claimed her, Chicago Inter-Ocean.