Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-11-28
FORTY MINUTES LATE.
BY EMORY J. HAYNES, D. d.


ever happens on locomotive?" echoe,
The engineer, looking round at me
The brave man was member of m,
parish, and | was sitting at his tea
able. After moments thought. h,
pushed back his chair, for the fruga
meal was finished, and looked.hard Al
his wife. II was a curious gaze Of hi,
honest eyes, and the lady met hi.
glances with an almost pathetic Ell.
-reaty: "Do not tell it!' written on
her kind face.
"She don't like to think of it," he
resumed laughing; at the same time
he shook back the long hair that fell
IN waves over the left side of his
brow, uncovering bushing scar, and
revealing that he had been dismcm-
bcred of an ear. "Rut | am not so
bad looking fellow after all :" he
said In fact, he was singularly fine
looking
at is one of those memories" his
wife Interrupted, rising, "lhat one
fears TO recall But, thank God, it
will be no more likely 10 occur again
for the telling of it, and he may tell it
while put the boy to bed upstairs"
"It was one of those accidents that
nothing co., -,.-----' -
gineer .sometimcs hides in lis own
against TT. Tie best craak or shaft
ever forged Will sometimes break ON a
steamer in mid-ocean. So of con
necting-rod on pair of drivers.
Now think the thing | am going to
tell you is the most terrific accident
that can happen on locomotive, be-
cause it is the worst ever experienced.
1t worked the most havoc and scared
me more than any other [ ever went
through. / cannot get over the dread
of it even now, and probably never
shall. Still another man might single
out another as the worst"
My friend stills runs, as he did tat
almost fatal day, the fastest train that
speeds between two large cities. AT
one end of its flight, the train is
obliged to traverse a long tunnel
Millions of PEOPLE pass through that
tunnel yearly in perfect safety. But
If they knew the hairbreadth escapes
OF the first few years, and especially
during its construction, even now
they might not always sit so comfoFta-
bly,; but the best of appliances have
somewhat lessened the dangers.
"When we were ready to leave the
depot at -, the new general mana
ger of the division came along down
the platform with the agent, and was
introduced to me. l pulled off my
greasy cap, and was about to get
down, when he said: Never mind >
that he was going to run in with us.
"Of course, offered him his choice
of seats, as you wouldn't to your own
father; tor whoever rides in the cab,
be must make a stand up or the fire
mans box, if the fellow is good-na-
tured enough to offer it. A big officer
like the manager, was different, how
ever, and / gave him anything, TC
tell the truth, was relieved to know
his errand was only to ride; for thi
English gentleman, kinsman of ou
big owner, had been turning up lot
of good men. He seemed to think W.
Americans couldn't make fast time
and he forgot that our machines an'
cars are heavier, our roads not s.
straight as the English.
"sWe are forty minutes Late h
said as he straddled in front of hi
fre-box and consulted his watcl
This occurs about every day, my mar
more or less. and its about time tn
blamed practice was stopped.
o'Traffic is heavy in October, sir
/ said, trying to smile my prettiest.
'"Can you drive this machine in 0
timer? he Kind o growled at ME.
81 gave him a real Yankee stal
- back for a moment, and then my bloc
was up. That was ten years ago, b
fore | had any wife and babies.
is wife. babies, ten years and dit'
or two that takes the daredevil out
locomotive engineer. AT frsta m'
\ knows no fear, but any of the afor
Y mentioned things kind o tempers hl
y down. He can't keep his pluck up as
first, do what he will. My wife,
the way, was expecting me to COZ
round with the minister to be spic
a week from that very day. She h
sent out some wedding cards-ratll