West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-09-27

meet our father, but found that there
had been change Of time on the mil
road, and the train would not arrive for
nearly an hour. After lettering about
for few moments, Harry proposed that
we walk down the track a bit, to pass
away the time.
We had gone but short distance.
when we came to place where the rails
crossed the highway, and there we saw
an old man, evidently cripple, sitting
IN wheel-chair. He seemed to have
purposely planted himself in the middle
OF the track, and he now sat unconcern-
eddy reading his newspaper. apparently
unconscious of our approach.
declare" exclaimed Harry, IL that
isn't stupid to sit right between the
rails Suppose the train should come
along Z"
Then as we drew still nearer, he adj
dressed the stranger:
Don't you think, sir, that it is rather
dangerous to sit there on the track in
that wayi"
The old man looked up from his
pager, little surprised at first, and then
apparently much amused.
No, young man." he answered, at
length; II don't think it rather danger
ous.' I've been flagman on this road
q great many years, aud never got run
over yet"
"0hp said Harry, altering his tone
considerably at discovering that the old
man was an employee OF the road. and
noticing for the first time that the
stranger had a little red flag rolled up
beside him.
"And besides. 7" continued the flagman.
I've got into the habit of sitting here
when no train is due. People feel per
tectly safe to drive over the street when
they see me between the rails"
should think they would" said
harry. And then, quito willing to
change the subject, he asked il there
was anything worth seeing farther down
the track.
Yes" was the reply. "There's a
new bridge quarter Of mile beyond
that's worth seeing, part cularly as it
was tnere we came near having a dread
ful accident two years ago, when one of
the piers was carried away"
We thanked him, and were moving on.
when he added: 'Perhaps you'd like to
hear the story before you go down. 1t
won't take long to tell it. and it's we'll
worth telling, too"
We were not so old yet that we were
not always ready for story, and we
gladly sat down on the grass beside the
track, and listened to the following in
teresting narrative, which l give as
nearly as possible in the flagman's own
words:
eff you should go down on the truck y
he began, you would come to a stone
oridge, new one, because, two years
ago tins April, on dark, rainy night,
the rver rose and carried away the old
one, which was partly wooden. There
is train-an express-that goes through
here every night in the year except SIM.
day nights, at :35. 1t does not ston at
the station, but comes straight on down
here, and over the bridge, and away for
Boston. Two years ago it was a part of
my business to go up and down the
track every night, to see If the track
was in condition for that train to 90
through. Ny boy has to do it for me
now.
ION this particular night I took nv
lantern-I always took red one, so as
70 have il in case ] should need to signal
the train-and, calling my dog, started
on down the track about haf an hour
before the train was due. 1t was erv
dark, but it's about as easy to walk on
the track at one time as another. and |
went on at a pretty rapid gait. An Of a
sudden felt the ground giving way be.
meath me, and knew / was going
down.
81 dropped my lantern, and tried TO
save myself, but there was nothing 10
get hold Of, and in an instant felt nv
sell going faster aud faster. And then
seemed to lose breath, and strike with
great violence against 'ometh ng solid,
alter which must have become in
sensible.
cit was hours after that awoke N
ind myself lying in my own bed athome
II seems thit the first pier OF the bridge
had been carried away, and had walked
on the embankment on this side. It was
BY one Of Gods wonderful mercies that
N some way had being caught among
The fallen timJers below ia such 4 waV
ss 70 save me from drowning. though. AZ
u was, II cost me dear. Ny spine was
30 injured by the fall that 7 ha g never
walked a step since.
cone Of the FIRST things asked. when
was able 20 talk Of tho matter. was
about the train. Joe Narnish. the
engineer Of the express locomotive. who
was of duty while the bridge was down
was BY me at the time and told me the
story.
How comes il that you are here
Joe, instead Of AZ the bottom Of the river.
you and the whole trainP ] asked.
he looked 81 me with a queer look a
moment, and then he stopped over, and
took up from he 6oor a red lantern.
know 10 the moment saw 81, a. the one
bad carried that night. and I remem.
bered dropping 10 as began 10 fall
IT'S that that saved us y said he.
~ was puzzled both at his manner
and AZ what be said but was more puz-
lied and startled, too when he went
on % explain
We were coming down the road
little late, full drive, at fofty-fvb miles
an hours, said he. and ha just passed
the station. and I had whistled for the
crossing when ! caught sight ahead Of
us, and not a great way on either. Of a
danger-siRnnl the red light 10 was rieht
% ihe middle Of The track and evidently