The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-02-09
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One Saturday afternoon my brother
and drove over to Crossfeld station to
meet our father, but found that there
had been change OF time on the rail.
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 bit, to pass
away the time.
We had gone but short distance,
when We came to a place where the rails
crossed the highway, and there we saw
an old man, evidently cripple, sitting
in a 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, "if that
isn't stupid to sit between the rails!
Suppose the train should come along2"
Then he drew still nearer; he adj
dressed the stranger:
"Don't you think, sir, that 1t is rather
dangerous to sit there on the track in
that way2"
The old man looked up from his paper,
little surprised at first, and then appar.
emily much amused.
"No, young man." he answered, at
length III don't think it rather danger.
Gus" I've been tlagman on this road
great many years, and / have nevergot
run over yet"
"0hW 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 little red flag rolled up
beside him.
"And, BESIDES" continued the flag.
man, "l've got in the habit Of sitting
here when no train is due. People feel
perfectly safe to drive over the street
when they sec me between the rails"
~ should think they would" said
Harry. And then-quito willing to
change the subject, he asked II there
was anything worth seeing further down
the track.
EYES," was the reply. There's q new
bridge q quarter OF mile beyond that's
worth seeing, particularly as It was there
we came near having serious accident
two years ago, when one OF the piers
was carried away"
We thanked him and were moving on,
when he added: perhaps you would
like to hear the story before you 60
down. 1t won't take long to tell II and
it's well 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 We give as
nearly as possible In the flagman's own
words:
"If you should go down on the track"
he began, "you would come to stone
bride, a new one, because two years ago
this April, on q dark, rainy night, the
river rose and carried away the old one,
which was partly wooden. There Is a
train-an cxpress-that goes through
here every night in the year, except
Sunday nights, at 0:35. 1t does not stop
at the station, but comes straight on
down here, and over the bridge, and
away TO Boston. Two years ago II was
part OF my business to 80 up and down
the track every night, 10 see II the track
was In condition for that train 10 60
through. My boy has to do 1t for me
now.
ION this particular night l took my
lantern-I always took red one, so as
10 have II in case should need to signal
a train-and calling my dog, started off
down the track about half an hour be.
fore the train was due. TWAS very dark,
II Is about as easy To walk on the track
at one time as another, and / went on a
pretty rapid gate. All Of sudden felt
the ground givingaway beneath me, and
knew was going down.
~ dropped my lantern and tried to
save myself, but there was nothing To get
hold OF, and in an instant felt myself
going faster and faster. And then ]
seemed TO lose breath, and strike with
great violence against something solid,
after which l must have become insen.
sible.
ut was hours after that awoke To
find myself In my own bed at home. II
seems that the first pier Of the bridge
had been carried away, and had walked
of the embankment on this side. II
was BY one OF Gods wonderful merciea
that Ia some way l had been caught
among the fallen timbers below In such
O way as 10 save me from drowning,
though, az 1t was, IL cost Inc dear. MY
spine was 90 injured by the fall that ]
have never walked step since.
zone OF the first things asked, when
I was able 10 talk OF the matter, was
about the train. Joe Varnish, the en-.
Rineer OF the express locomotive, who
was of duty while tho bridge was down,
was by me 1t the time and told me the
story.
"fiow comes II that you are here, Joe
instead OF at the bottom oil the river
you and the whole train ?" l asked.
He looked at me with a queer look {
moment, and then he stopped over, and
took up from the floor 4 red lantern.
knew II the moment ! saw H. az the ont
| / had carried that night, and ] temetn
berel dropping II as began 70 fall,
l'tpA that that saved Us |" said lle,
was puzzled both AZ his tnannerand
what heBall, but was more nuSAed-
and startled, too-when hO went on Il
ave were coming down the road a lt
Tic late, full drive, al fotty.aye miles at
hour" said he, land l had Just passet
the station, and ] had whlStled for Thu
crossing, when I caught sight ahead o
: us aud not d great way. Of either Of
danger signal, the rod light II va
right In Che middle Of tho track, ant
evidently. approaching, moving up APT
down Quickly, aB though tue man VIII
carried II was running With al his might
'Oi course, reversed and whistler
down tho brakes IN an Instant aud
was not half . minute, may be before v