Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-01-04
f'SIG .


there had been a change of time on
the railroad, and the train would not
arrive for nearly an hour. After loi-
tering about for few moments, Har-
ry proposed that we walk down the
track a 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 Il Grip
pie. sitting in a wheel-chair. He
seemed TO have purposely planted
himself in the middle of the track,
and he now sat uncOncernedly read
ing his newspaper, apparently un-
conscious of our approach.
Il declare" exclaimed Harrg, If
that isn't stupid TO sit between the
rails! Suppose the train should come
along?'
Then as we drew still nearer, he ad-
dressed the stranger:
Don't you think. sir, that it is rath-
er dangerous TO sit there on the track
in that way
The old man looked up from his pa
per, little surprised at first, and then
apparently much amused.
No, young man" he answered, at
length: Il don't think it rather dan
gerous' I've been fiagman on this
road a great many years, and | have
never got run over yet,
'Oh - 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, I've got in the habit of sitting
here when 10 train is due. People
feel perfectly safe to drive over the
street when they see he between the
rails.
Il should think they would, said
Harry. And then, quite willing to
change the subject, he asked if 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 particularly as it
was there we came near having a Sc
rious 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 10 hear the story before
YOU go down. 1t won't take long 10
tell il 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 10 the follow
ing interesting narrative, which we
give a. nearly "a possible in the flag
mans own words:
IF you should go down on the
track, " he began, you would come TO
a stone bridge, a new-one. because two
years ago this April, on a dark, rainy
night, the river rose and carried away
the old one, which was partly wood
ell. There is a train-an express
that goes through here every night in
the year. except Sunday nights, at
9.35. 1t does not stop at the station,
but comes straight on down here. and
over the bridge, and away for Boston.
Two years ago it was part OF my bus
mess to go up and down the track ev-
cry night, TO see il the track was in
condition for that train 70 go through.
Ny boy has to do it for Inc now.
ION this particular night took my
lantern-I always took red one, so
as To have it in case | should need 10
signal the train-and, calling my dog.
started of down the track about half
an hour before the train was due. 1t
was very dark, but it is about as easy
TO walk on the track at one time "a
another, and | went on at pretty
rapid gait All OF IA sudden | felt the
ground giving way beneath me, and
knew was going down.
Il 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 | must
have become insensible.
1T was hours after that ] awoke,
10 find myself lying in my own bed at
home. 1t seems that the first pier OF
the bridge had been carried away,
and had walked OF the embanknent
on this side Ii was by one Of God :
wonderful mercies that in some way
| had been caught among the fallen
timbers below in such a way a. 10
save me from drowning. though, a il
was, Il cost me dear. Ny spine was
so injured by the fall that | have new
er walked step since.
"One of the first things / asked,
when / was able TO talk OF the mat
ter. was about the train Joe Var
nish. the engineer of the express loco
motive, who was of duty while the
bridge was down, was by me at the
time and told me the story.