The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-01-14

train was due in twenty minutes, and
one of the chief objects of my visit to
the bridge at this time was to note its
condition and if necessary signal No. Z.
Depending upon a signal in case of
danger, the engineer would in its alb
sence be sure to drive ahead at the
usual rate of speed in crossing bridges.
There was, therefore, all the greater
necessity for action on my part.
1T was absolutely necessary that /
stop the approaching train, but how?
Just beyond the bridge was curve in
the track, and just at the curve was a
high embankment, completely hiding
from the engineers vision until he was
upon the bridge itself any signal which
might be made from the spot wherein
l stood. Here was, indeed, singular
circumstance. If the bridge had been
sent to watch were all right, and no
danger signal needed, l could walk
across the stream and give such signal;
but if the bridge were washed away,
and a signal required to save many
lives, it would be impossible for me to
cross and give it. Strange, I reflected,
that nobody had ever thought of that
before; and l remember wondering as
| stood there how many railway disas-
tiers had resulted from failure on some
body's part to foresee conditions quite
as obvious as those which | now had to
! face. But there was no time for such
reflection. 1t was action that was
wanted-action quick and successful.
my first thought was to run back
to the first station and tell the tele-
graph operator to stop the train by
wire; but a glance at my watch showed
me the impossibility of that; the train
was due in eighteen minutes and the
telegraph office was five miles away.
thought of building huge bonfire,
in hopes the engineer would be alarmed
by its light. A hundred plans, some
of them impossible and ridiculous,
chased one another through my brain.
| was soon half dizzy and faint with
fear an excitement. But at last-it
seemed to me l had been standing
there thinking for an hour, but my
watch showed me that l had really
been there less than minute-at last
hit upon the plan os climbing down
upon the timbers to see if there was not
some means, no matter how dangerous,
by which | might cross to that por-
ton of the bridge which could plainly
see some twenty or thirty feet away,
whenever the moon came out from be-
hind the scudding clouds. l did climb
down upon the shaking timbers, with
my lantern hung over my arm, but
there was no connecting link between
the two sections of the shattered struc-
ture, not even an iron brace-rod along
which desperate man might pull HIM
self. Dsmayed at the discovery,
chung to the beams, with the water
smashing along and the ice humping
and pounding at my feet, 1 watched
the huge cakes of ice floating
past. Thay seemed to possess a fas-
cination for me. A moment later |
had decided upon something. The
floating ice-cakes had given me sug-
gestion, an opportunity, Il possibility.
At that point the river runs south; but
few rods below the railroad it turns
to the southeast, and for several miles
the track runs along the river bank,
excepting here and there, where it
darts through tunnel or cuts short
across some bend in the streams
course. Along this track No. z was
at this moment laundering. From an
ice-cake in the river could, with my
lantern, signal the engineer 1t was
upon an ice. cake that l had deter
mined to throw myself.
Clearing from the bridge partially
loosened timber, so heavy that it re-
quires all my strength to handle it, l
get it in such position that when the
favorable moment comes can push it
out and let one end of it fall upon an
ice-f1oe. Soon u large piece comes
floating by; | run out my stick, succeed
in stopping the foe for an instant, and
in the next second l leap from my
perch, alighting safely upon the ice.
seize the timber and endeavor to pull
it up on the foe. Why do this l can
not tell, but do it. After struggle
the thick plank is placed upon the ice
by my side, while the foe rides rapidly
away, sweeping round the bend in the
river Seating myself or the plank, l
put my lantern down on the ice near
by and reach for my watch to see what
time it is My nand has hardly reached
the watch when there is crash and
am nearly thrown into the wateY NV
ice-floe has collided with a tree, and
great God! my lantern mas disappeared!
1t is at the bottom of the river. l am
in darkness and in despair. All seems
lost now, myself as well as the train.
| bury my face in my hands, my heart
rises in my throat, and the blood seems
to have chilled in my veins. Suddenly
| am reused by sound--a faint but
familiar one. 1t is locomotive
whistle several miles up the track.
No. is coming.
"What is to be done? Nothing, it
seems; l feel powerless. l want to
throw myself into the river. / am go
ing crazy. And yet an idea comes to
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