Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-11-01
AN ENGINEERS STORY.
BY s. t BURDIcK.

was running the sold Black Hand"
on the NJ. G. 6 L. Railroad. Let me
seel 1t was just sixteen years ago. Ii
YOU ever Travelled on that road in those
days, 40 doubt you remember the "Old
Black Hand"
She was fine engine-an NJ Baldwin
patent--an eight wheeled driver, and
loved her as the seaman loved his craft,
or turfman his horse that wins him the
race. had run on the road for three
years and was perfectly familiar with the
line from one end to the other
About six months previous to the time
of which write, an accident had oc-
cured 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 appearances, when found next
morning, had been Instantly killed.
The next night after the accident as
was stepping on the foot board ran
the night express-the Superintendent
came to me and told me in few hurried
words that he wanted to place an old
man and a young girl on my engine, and
he wished me to make some pretcxt to
stop at the E. 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 positively forbade ME asking
any question whatever.
This strange proceeding on the part of
the superintendent puzzled me greatly.
He was man about fifty 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 these parties on
my engine and desire to keep it secret
from the conductor, who, like myself,
was only an employe of the company, l
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 OPP
posite my two passengers and took sur
vey of their persons.
The man was perhaps sixty years old,
hair and beard as white as snow, sharp
gray eyes filled with energy and an in
describable sad expression of counten-
snce that bespoke deep sorrow. His
form was slight, yet well proportioIed,
and his movement was quick and
nervous.
The girl was perhaps seventeen 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 general
contour of form and feature, and no
doubt they stood in the relation of parent
and child, and aa her. face partook of the
same sad expression, it was to be pre-
sulned she was sharer of his sorrows,
whatever they might have been.
As ten miles on an express train, run
ming at full speed, is short ride, and
knew we were nearing the E. Creek tres
tie, rose to my feet and placed my hand
on the lever of the throttle valve.
My companion seemed to understand
the movement perfectly. The old man
cast 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,
a.2rp toots as though to brighten some
ANAL off the track.
The train slowed up, and in moment
more stood still.
The conductor jumped off at one side
of the train, and came forward with his
lantern, and my passengers got off at the
other.
assisted the girl to alight, and as her
warm hand rested one moment in mine
thrill like that caused by an electric ma
chine ran through my veins.
She pressed my hands and left in my
grasp small card, which l hastily thrust
into my pocket
The old man wrung my hand and then
the two hurried out into theTlarkness.
| 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 l saw something on the
track, but that all seemed right.
This satisfied him, and in moment
more the train was on its way.
We passed slowly over the trestle;
then | let on steam and brought the train
under such speed that we could maze
the time at L., thirty miles ahead; then
took the card from my pocket, and on it
was penciled in small, delicate hand !:
"Mention this to no one, and | viii be
your friend. y
| turned the card over and over, bat
that was all, and | could do nothing but
wonder 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, inquir-
ing manner | knew his meaning and
nodded that all was well and passed into
The office.
The next week was surprised at re-
ceiving almost double pay, which wages
continued as long as l remained on the
road.
Time went on for about six months,