The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-11-13
AN ENGINEERS STORY.
EY 6. T. BURDICK.

I was running the "Old Black Hand"
on the NJ. c. & l.. Railroad, Let me
see! 1t was just sixteen years ago. II
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 c;ght-whcelcd driver, aud
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 800 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 rs
was stepping on the foot board-I ran
the night cxpress--the Superintendent
came to me and told me in few hurried
tf1at he wanted tc place au Old
man ard young girl on my engine, and
he wished me to make some pretcxt to
stop at the E. Creek trcstle 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 mau about fifty years of age,
and we'll known rs thorough business
man, and one of unspotted integrity, and
by far the largest stockholder 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 employc 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 cut into the darkness.
After trying the gauges, aud arranging
things about the engine, I sat down op-
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 aud an in-
describable sad expression of counten-
ancc that bespoke deep sorrow. HIS
form VS. slight, vet we'll proportioIed,
and his movement was quick and
nervous.
The girl was perhaps seventeen years
of age, with eyes as black as night and a
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-
sumed 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 l
knew VIC 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 a sharp glance at me and then at the
girl, adjusted his cloak, and peered out
into the darkness.
then shut of the steam with one shove
of the lever, whistled "down brakes, "
and then commenced a series of short,
sharp toots as though to frighten some
animal off the crack.
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 4
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 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 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 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 make