Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-01
An ENGINEERS STORY.

was just sixteen years ago. If you ever
travelled on that road in those days no
doubt you remember the "Old Black
Hand"
She was fine engine-an NJ, Baldwin
patent-an eight wheeled driver, and !
loved her as a seaman loves his craft, or a
turfInan his horse that wins the race,
and was perfectly familiar with the line
from one end to the other.
About six months previous to the time
of which l write an accident had occurred
on the E. creek trestle, ten miles east Of
c. The trestle was 600 feet in length, and
the greatest depth was near the west bank,
sixty-two feet.
The station man had fallen from the
trestle after the night train had passed,
and from appearance, when found next
morning, had been instantly killed. The
next night after the accident as I was
stepping on the footboard-I ran the night
expreSs-the Superintendent of the road
came to me and told me in few hurried
words that he wanted to place an old man
and young girl on my engine, and he
wished me to make some pretext to stop
at the Z. creek trestle and let them off
without letting the conductor know they
had been on the train, and at the same
time he enjoined on me perfect secrecy
and forbade me asking any question what
ever.
This strange proceeding on the part of
the Superintendent puzzled me greatly.
He was man about so years of age, and
well known as a thorough business man,
and one of unspotted integrity, and by far
the largest stakeholder in the road.
Why he should place those parties on
my engine and desire to keep it a secret
from the conductor, who, like myself was
only an employee of the company, | could
not for my life imagine.
There was large crowd in the depot at
the time, as is usually the case in large
cities, and he passed the parties up to me
without being observed.
Time was up; the bell rang, and the train
moved out into the darkness.
After trying the gauges and arranging
things about the engine, sat down oppo
site my two passengers and took survey
of their persons.
The man was perhaps 60 years old, hair
and beard as white as snow, broad, square
forehead, sharp gray eyes filed with energy,
and an indescribably sad expression of
countenance that bespoke deep sorrow.
His form was light, yet well proper
toned, and his movements quick and
nervous.
The girl was perhaps 16 or II years of
age, with eyes as black as night, and
well-poised head, covered with shining
coils of hair of the same sable hue.
She resembled the old man in the gen.
eraI contour of form and feature, and no
doubt they stood in the relation of parent
and child, and as her face partook of the
same sad expression, 1t was to bepresumed
she was a sharer of his sorrows, whatever
they might have been.
As ten miles on an express train, running
at full speed, is a short ride, and knew
we were nearing the Z. creek trestle, rose
tony feet and placed my hand on the lever
of the throttle-valve.
NV companion seemed to understand the
movement perfectly. The old man cast a
sharp glance at me and then at the girl,
adjusted his cloak and peered out into the
darkness.
| then shut off the steam with one shove
of the lever, whistled "down brakes" and
then commenced series of short, sharp
toots as though to brighten some animals
off the track.
The train slowed up and in a moment
more stood still. The conductor jumped
out at one side of the train, and came for
ward with his lantern, and my passengers
got off at the other.
l assisted the girl to alight, and as her
warm hand rested one moment in mine a
thrill like that caused by an electric ma
chine ran through my veins. She pressed
my hand and leftin my grasp small card,
which hastily thrust into my pocket.
The old man wrung my hand and then
the two hurried out into the darkness.
/ ran forward on the track; in a mo-
ment turned and came back; met the con-
ductor Just ahead of the engine, told him
/ thought saw something on the track,
but that all then seemed right.
This satisfied him, and in a moment
more the train was on its way.
We passed slowly over the trestle; then
l let on steam and brought the train under
such speed that we would make time at
l., thirty miles ahead; then took the
card from my pocket, and on it was pen
ciled in small, delicate hand; "Mention
this to no one and / will be your friend"
| turned the card over and over, but this
was all, and | could do nothing but Won
der and surmise with regard to the matter
pictured in my mind all sorts of stories
and trains of circumstances that could
have brought such an event about, but all
to no purpose.
On returning to c. the next night
met the Superintendent on the platform.
He looked at me in an anxious, inquiring
manner. l knew his meaning and nodded
that all was well, and passed into the
Office
The next week l was much surprised
at receiving almost double pay, which
wages continued as long as | remained
ON the road.
Time. went on for about six months and
| could get no clew to the mystery, but [
invariably kept sharp lookout as | neared
the z. creek trestle-for what reason
could not tell, as | certainly would not ex-
pect to see my two former passengers at
that point again, but still some unknown
attraction compelled me TO look.
1t was now in the early part of the win
ter of 1857. The night was exceedingly
dark and stormy, and it had been sleeting
all dsy, and everything was covered with
ice. We left c. five minutes late,
being delayed by the dreadful storm,
and were running unusually fast to gain
time.
For once 1 didnot think of the E. creek
trestle until the headlight flashed on the
icy roof of the small station house, situated
about 800 yards from the creek.
In a moment was on my feet looking
ahead. had unconsciously shut of the
steam, and had my hand on the whistle
cord.
Did 1 see something on the track, or was
it imaaination? In a moment | had
whistled "down brakes" and not moment
too soon, for the glare Of the headlight