The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-06
A DOCTORS STORY.

railroad but few rods in front of my door
ana station and considerable village about
mile TO the west. The nearest station to
The east was about ten miles distant. /
moved to the place with my young wife
late in the autumn. and about the first of
the following March l was attacked with
typhoid fever and was i'll for about month.
But thanks 10 a naturally strong constitu-
ton and the careful nursing of a loving and
intellig ent wife, | slowly recovered.
a S soon as got strong enough TO sit up
and wal a little told my wife she had bet
ter take the cars and go and visit her
brother, who lived about fifty miles east of
us. She had beep taking care of me so
faithfully through my illness, both by day
and night. that | feared her health and
strength would fail her if she did not rest
awhile. / knew she had been very anxious
to so, an l felt sure that her brother and
his family would be very glad 10 see her,
and wo ulG try to make her visit pleasant
one. She hesitated about leaving me, fear.
ing nj ght need her care; but after waiting
a few days, and seeing that | continued to
gain my health and strength, she decided to
follow my advice. Accordingly, one pleas
ant morning ABOUT the middle of April, after
doing everything she could for my comfort,
and bidding me 10 be careful abont taking
cold or walking TO far, she started, intending
10 be gone fortnight.
One day l exercised a little beyond my
strength and felt quite tired at night and lay
awake for long time. AT last fell into an
uneasy slumber and dreamed 4 very curious
and startling dream. / seemed to have gone
forward into the future couple of days,
and instead Of Wednesday, the oath, it seemed
TO te Friday, the 10Th. 1t seemed in my
dream that heavy rain had been falling
most OF the day ami all the day before, but
he evening was clear and pleasant and not
very DARK, though the moon was not shining.
| seemed to be walking along the railroad
coward the cast. l first passed through a
wood about half mile wide; then for about
a mile through fields, containing couple of
faTm-h0uses. one inhabited ana the other de-
serted. | then entered another wood and
after walking about mile and hail.
came to stream greatly swollen by the rain,
which had weakened the railroad bridge so
much that the passenger train, in attempting
10 cross, had broken Ii down, and the bridge
and carriages, completely wrecked, were
lying on botn sides of the stream, except
portions that were floating down. Some Of
the passengers lay dead or dying among the
ruins; some were floating in the water and
ii few were cllDging TO trees and bushes on
the bank. 1t was fearful and heartrend-
ing sight, too fearful for description, and
such as may never see in reality.
The next day. early in the morning, it
=
through the Gay and following night l
ielt very lonely and uneasy all day, which
feeling was increased by receiving a letter
from my wife, saying that she intended to
come home On Friday night by the express
train. ] retired late, feeling much worried
on account of my fearful dream. And to
add to this fear, presentiment OF whatever
you may call 1t, the dream was repeated,
and even more distinct and vivid than the
inst time.
When arose in the morning the rain was
still falling This was Friday and there
fore was the day on which my wife was to
start for home. There were two passenger
trains from the east each day, one at 9
O'Clock IN the forenoon and the other at
in the evening. This last was the express
train and the one on which my wife was
coming.
Toward the middle Of the afternoon the
rain ceaStd falling and the clouds slowly
cleared away. Tie dream had made such
an impression on my mind that | resolved
10 attempt to find the stream | had seen so
plainly IN my dreams and il 1t appeared at
all dangerous to attempt to stop the train
before reaching it. Accordingly, soon alter
the rain was over, got ready and started.
l had never before had occasion to visit the
station in this direction and was therefore
entirely unacquainted with this part of the
country. But | found everything just as it
had appeared in my dream.
Immediately after starting I passed
through the wood [ had seen in my dream
and then entered the open field and found
the two iarm-houSeS, one inhabited and the
other deserted. In fact everything seemed
as natural as if had really been this way
before. walked slowly, and late in the
afternoon Icame to the stream, which flowed
rapidly aDd seemed much swollen. But the
bridge, instead of being broken down and
mingled with the broken carriages and
mangled passengers, was still standing;
and though its timber looked quite old and
weather-1eaten, there seemed to be little
danger OF It's breaking down beneath the
weight OF passing train. There was a
heaVy goods train due from the West about
6 o'clock, and l resolved to wait at least
until it came, and if it passed over in safety
there could be- thought, but little danger
OF accident 10 the lighter passenger train.
III due time 1t came laundering along and
passed safely over tine bridge. But though
1t might have been owing to my excited i'm
aglnatIoD, Ii seemed to Inc that the bridge
beat and shook beneath the weight OF the
Train in manner highly. suggestive of
danger. At all events, l resolved to wait
while longer and see if the stream, which
was still rising, would have any apparent
effect upon The bridge. | took with me a
lantern and also thick blanket to protect
me from the damp night air.
Shortly alter sunset, as was sitting few
rods from the stream, heard a loud splash,
and hurrying to the bridge l saw that a por-
ton OF the bank on the opposite side had
broken away, and also that the action of the
water, or some other cause, had weakened
The foundations of the bridge in such q man
ner that portion of the line was bent and
lowered enough to make it impossible for
train to cross l Immediately crossed the
bridge, resolved TO stop the train if possible
before 1t reached the bridge and certain de-
strucli0n.
Well, to make a long story short, went
on III the direction from which the train was
10 come, and found a OnQd flona
commanded good view of the line for a
considerable distance. l lit my lantern,
Wrapped my blanket closely around me and
sat down to my wearisome vigil of two
. hours. The night was clear, but not very
dark, though no moon was shining | suf-
Tered nothing from cold, as it was remark
ABLY warm, even Tor the climate of Vir-
glnia, and L succeeded in keeping awake,
. though the task was a difficult one.
Slowly the moments passed by; but at
last saw by my watch that the time had
nearly expired, aud few moments would
decide the tate OF the train and its human
freight. Soon | saw light, far away and
very small at first, but rapidly growing
larger and brighter. Iarose, trembling with
excitement, and commenced swinging the
lantern above my head. and, as the train
drew near, l doubled my exertion. and
shouted loud as could.
onward came the train at rapid speed.
II was time OF terrible suspense to me.
Aaii W seq NY signal, or
not see it in time to stop the train before
going few rods past me, 1 knew that no
human power could save it. On it came.
and, OH, Joy unspeakabei just as gave up
my exertions and stepped from the line my
frantic signals were observed, arousing the
SLEEPY brakemen like an electric shock, who
flew quickly to their stations.
The train was quickly stopped, and I
then informed the engineer and conductor
OF the danger ahead. while the frightened
passengers lett the carriages and gathered
aIodnd me. Many brave man grew pale
when he learned what fearful death he
. had SO narrowly escaped.
among the passengers l found my wife.
not mapged and lifelcss. but alive and we'll
though somewhat frightened, and good
deal surprised at seeing me. The conductor
gave me seat next my wife. and then had
me tram backed to the station it had lust
. left, from which kilograms were sent to
warn all other trains of the danger.
In the morning my wife and | took the
stage for home. have but little more to
add except that the company insisted unon