The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1890-12-05

over in safety there could be, I thought,
but little danger of accident to the lighter
passenger train.
In due time it came laundering along,
and passed safely over the bridge. But
though it might have been owing to my
excited imagination, it seemed to me
that bridge bent and shook beneath the
weight of the tain in a ann highly
suggestive of danger. At all events 1
resolved to wait a while longer and see
if the stream, which was still rising,
would have any apparent effect upon the
bridge. I took. with me a lantern, and
also a thick blanket to protect me from
the damp night air.
Shortly after sunset, as | was sitting a
few rods from the stream, | heard a loud
splash, and hurrying to the bridge I saw
| that a portion of the bank on the oppo-
site side had broken away, and also that
the action of the water, or some other
| cause, had weakened the foundation of
the bridge in such a manner that q por-
ton of the line was bent and lowered
enough to make it impossible for a train
to cross. 1 Immediately crossed the
bridge, resolved to stop the train if pos
sible before it reached the bridge and
certain destruction.
Well, to make a long story short, I
went on in the direction from which the
train was to come, and soon found a
place which commanded a good view of
the line for a considerable distance. I
lit my lantern, wrapped my blanket
closely around me and sat down to my
wearisome vigil of two hours. The
night vas clear, and not very dark,
though no moon was shining. I suf-
fered nothing from cold, as it was re-
markably warm, even for the climate of
Virginia, and l succeeded in keeping
awake, though the task was a difficult
one.
Slowly the moments passed by, but at
last I saw by my watch that the time
had nearly expired, and a few minutes
would decide the fate of the train and
its human freight. Soon L saw a light,
far away and very small at first, but
rapidly growing larger and brighter.
I arose, trembling with excitement, and
commenced swinging the lantern above
my head, and, as the train drew near, I
redoubled my exertions and shouted as
loud as I could.
Onward came the train at a rapid
speed. 1t was a time of terrible sus-
pense to me. Should the engineer fail
to see my signal, or not see it in time to
stop the train before going a few rods
past me, I knew that no human power
could save it. On it came, and, oh, joy
unspeakable! just as 1 gave up my exer-
tions and stepped from the line my
frantic signals were observed. The en-
| gineer whistled for brakes, arousing the
sleepy brakemen like an electric shock,
who flew quickly to their stations.
The train was quickly stopped, and 1
then informed the engineer and con-
ductor of the danger ahead, while the
frightened passengers left the carriages
and gathered around me. Many a brave
man grew pale when he learned what a
| fearful death he had so narrowly es-
capped.
Among the passengers I found my
wife, not mangled and l~ifeless, but alive
and well, though somewhat frightened,
and a good deal surprised at seeing me.
The conductor gave me a seatnext to my
wife, and then had the train backed to
the station it had just left, from which
kilograms were sent to warn all other
trains of the danger.
In the morning my wife and I took the
train for home. I have but little more
to add, except that the company insisted
upon making me a handsome present,
and also gave me a free pass over the
road. I do not pretend to be able to ex-
plain the dream, which was certainly a
remarkable one, though doubtless nc
more so than others could relate; but l
am satisfied that this dream was the
means of saving many human lives from
a sudden and most terrible death.-Balti-
more. World.