The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-03-10
4 RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
BY S. LEDNUM MYERS.

"An engineer on the W rail- way, whose train has yet to meet with it's first accident, attributes his good fortune to cat that has been his con- stant companion for year."
 On one of those extreme sultry nights in the month of June which so oppress one with the idea of a ter rible storm, Bill Watson's engine was backed into the depot at N to take out the night express at 9:30.
 In neat little yard in the suburbs of the city stood cottage where Bill passed his lay.off days and nights with his charming wife and two bright-eyed children; also, large Maltese cat, Tamo by name-the pet of the household and the constant companion of Bill on his runs, but just now devoting his affectionate purring to one of the little girls who was very low with the dreaded scarlet fever lying constantly by the child, and re- fusing to be moved except for little milk.
 What we call instinct in our domes- tic animals, for want of better name, or definition, often exhibits itself in ways that are beyond human ken; at least, it is very difficult to define the boundary line between their reason and ours.
 Long, weary nights of watching, and as many days of careful nursing were spent by this loving father and mother with their precious child and now they were comforted by signs oi a wasting in the disease and of slowly returning health-a brighter smile was on the mothers face, and cheer full word fell more frequently from Bills lips-even Tamo jumped to the floor and purred more loudly.
 "Will, won't the company expect you to be ready to take the train out tonight" asked his wife at supper.
 "No, indeed" was his reply. "Su- perintendent M very kindly told me on yesterday that one of the 'ex- tra mem would report for duty un- til Lottie was we'll"
 "Very kind and thoughtful of him to remember us in our affliction. Do you know, Will, that long before our marriage I used to hear people talk about the hard hearts of railroad men? But, truly, have never seen anything of it, and do not believe it is so."
 "My dear wife, you will find those in our profession who have but little heart or sympathy, yet there are scores of our members who are in con- stant contact with the grim messen- ger, Death, while in discharge of du- ties. No sincere, earnest engineer ever pulls the throttle and moves out of a depot without first thinking of the precious lives entrusted to his keep ing"
 "Will, do you ever think of acci- dents while on your engine?"
 "Ah! Aimee, often-often. In fact, never start out on the road but the thought comes to my mind, Shall l come back alive?'
 "It is impossible for you to imagine the sense of responsibility that weighs down upon the mind of an engineer, when he is aware of the many ways in which serious accidents may come to him and his precious load of lives. Take, for instance, such night as this promises to be. Do you see those heavy, dark clouds looming up in the western sky? How still everything appears-the close sultry air-that suppressed sensation every one feels before the bursting of storm cloud At length the rain pours in torrents the small streams are swollen to over flow, and the mad rush of waters through the smaller culverts, ss well as the larger bridges. How easily s wall may be torn away, and the raili and the ties ready to break down al the first heavy pressure upon them How easily one may forget, or ever misunderstood, running orders,' and instead of meeting delayed train at 8 station, it takes place when both en zines are under full head of steam But, Aimee, accidents are liable to oc. cur at any time, in any place, and in , thousand different ways. have offer thought, and verify believe, that ther' is wise Providence looking into th' affairs of this world that no darl