The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-02-20

Since reading "Fatuis'" contribution in a
late issue of The MIRROR l have been
thinking of what great number of people
there are in this world who are more or less
imbued with the idea of Fatalism or Pre-
destination.
OF travelling men. railroad men, and in
fact nearly all men employed in hazardous
callings. venture to say that nine-tenths.
of railroad men especially. are almost un-
consciously strict devotees of the goddess
Fate. Ask any railroad man how it hap
pened that he escaped death in certain
collision or accident he was in. and nine
times out of ten he will say. ''Well. l
don't exactly know, guess my time hadn't
come yet" myself during five years of
railroad life, had several very narrow es-
capes from death. one of which l partic
uiarly recall at present.
was braking on freight and we were
going down what is known as the FOndDu
Lac Hill on the old line of the st. P. & d.
X. r. which wound along the St. Louis
river through what is called the Dalles of
the St Louis one of the widest and most
picturesque spots in this state. abounding
in grand and beautiful scenery. The grade
was very steep and it was in the early
morn ng with the tops IF the cars covered
with frost. In railroad parlance we had
to ''hold 'em down the hill" We had al
lowed the train to get under considerable
headway when the conductor came out on
top and yelled. ''catch 'em up or they'll
get away" / started on a run for the next
brake. and just as l stepped off the running
beard to the brake, my feet slipped flom
utiter ne and started over the side for
the st. Louis river one hundred and fifty
feet below. and If 1 had reached my des-
tnatiOn it would have been certain death.
But as drowning man will clutch at a
| straw. so l nStinctsvely reached for any
thing that might come within my grasp and
just as NV body was nearly over the edge
of the car caught the ladder. or hand hold.
on top of the car with my left hand and
as the railroad mans life depends every
hour on the grip of his hands mine did not
fail me then; my fingers closed around that
iron handle like bands of steel and | was en-
alb ed to draw myself back on top of the car
where J sat down on the running board,
for the moment unable to stir.
When they had the train under control
again. the conductor and brakeman came to
NE aud asked me how | felt That was
a close shave" said the brakeman. Oh"
said the conductor with laugh. Ibis time
hadn't come yet" And it seemed true Tor
there was only one chance in a hundred of
catching and being able to hold to that
ladder as was going over the side.
Outlines railroad man will get killed i'm
place aud under circumstances where
there is seemingly very little danger. His
comrades i'm commenting on his death will
say. It's queer how Jack came to be kill, d
there after being on the road so long. but.
poor fellow. suppose his time had come"
And remember. these men are not un-
kind hard hearted or cold blOOded. My
impressions. from long asst citation with
good number of them. are. that no more
kindly. loving tender hearted class of men
exist. Yet they are seldom very much
moved by death for ground into them. as
might say. is that idea that every mans
It me" is set and when the revolving wheels
of time bring it round he must surely go.
PETRUCHIO.