Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-20

glimmering far below us. In the uncertain
light it seemed from the rear as though oul
massive vehicles were launching out upon
cautious flight in air, but the loud groan'
ing and creaking of the timbers showed
that we had entered upon the trestle. To
traveller accustomed only to the more en-.
during railroad construction OF Europe
there is nothing more striking-snj to the
timid more territying-than the manner in
which, on the Western lines, the slim-look.
ing structures are thrown across lake, river
and valley. A mere open scafolding OF
timber, just wide enough at the top to carry
the rails, seems sufficient in the eyes OF the
American engineer for any emergency. So
long as he can find sound foundation into
which to fix or drive his piles, it seems to
matter not to him to what height, or for
what distance he may have to carry the
superstructure, and he rapidly raises an
intricate network of beams which mu-
tually prop and support each other
like a puzzle. OF such construc-
tion was the edifce upon which we
had now entered. The long and shallow
Lake Kalipaw lay right athwart the track,
and the trestle crossed from shore to shore at
its narrowest part. Its length might be
about half mile, and its height above the
water fully 60 feet. The track was, of
course, single, and the timbers on which it
rested did not project more than two feet on
either side, so that as we passed along the
broad cars seemed quite to overhang the
water.
1t was indeed a magnificent spectacle
which opened be ore US from the bridge. As
we moved slowly on, range of SNOWY peaks
marched into view. one by one, at the further
end of the lake, and shone ghostly over the
dark forests below. NY eyes wandered over
the placid waters and those distant peaks;
for the moment, forgot everything. But
my rapture was quickly broken by Dicks
excited tones. Turning quickly, 1 found
him leaning with outstretched neck over the
hand rail, with his eyes riveted upon the
water.
''See l' he cried. ''There he goes-there
he goes Where's nv shooter ?''
"What is it ?" asked, looking in vain
for the cause of his excitement.
''Don't you see it? Don't you see the
wapiti? % he shouted. There, man. there
right below US, swimming the lake /"
I grew as excited as he was, and hung
from the platform beside him, vainly striv-
ing to catch sight of the elk.
''See He's heading straight for the
bridge" he cried. "Here, man, stand right
here on the step! Quick, or you'll lose
him Gimme your hand, and then YOU
can lean we'll forward No, your other
hand. You needn't grab the rail. I'll hold
you fast enough %
Confused and hurried, I leaned forward
as he directed, but still held fast to the
rail-
'See him now ?" he screamed, and at that
instant felt his fingers nervously tearing
1t mine, and before could realize what he
r Annor IL
ell headlong from the car
Fortunately, when 1 felt his hand on
nine my fingers had instinctively frightened
heir grip of the rail, and it was this alone
which saved me from instant destruction.
As it was my whole weight fell on my arm
With jar that nearly dislocated it, but I
vas instantly aware that my life was at
take, and hung dangling with grip like
leath. A second later / mad twisted N.Y.
elf about and seized with my other hand
he edge of the platform, and not till then
lad l time to look up.
In confused way thought it must have
'een some sudden oscillation of the car
which had thrown ME from my teet, and I
.asped to my companion for help. But
ven as 1 did so, L saw with horror that I
vas doomed. The glaring eyes and dis
nrted face of maniac hung'over me, and
e was even then striving with convulsive
ury to crush my clenched fingers with his
eavy boot, while in his free hand his re-
oliver was waving close over my head
hat one glance was enough-I saw it all
ow! Fool that was not to have seen it
eorel Those unequal eyes-the sinister
Ook l had shrunk from-the capriciousness
nd excitement-were they not tokens clear
S MONDAY? The most unobservant might
ave recognized them, and yet /, whose
raining should at least have guarded me,
ad needed them not, and had placed my
fe in the hands of a deliberate and cum
ing homicidal maniac.
l screamed for help, but 1 knew it could
OF come. My voice was lost amid the creak- |
lg of the trestle and the rumb BILE of the train;
I'D even had it reached the occupants of the |
earest car, what chance had 1? The bolted |
DOR OF the dining car divided us, and nv |
tie was question of seconds! Igroaned in |
tier helplessness. and then the madman's |
ot crushed down upon nv fingers and |
roke them from their hold, and fell.
Yet again was brief respite vouchsafed |
e. In falling 1 had struck heavily upon |
Importing beam, and the motion of the
ain threw me forward across it, leaving me |
recariously balanced. One leg hung loose
etween the sleepers, but the other rested |
cross the rail, and sustained me as I lay
aimed and dazed.
But still was not to escape. The ping of /
pistol shot and sudden sharp pain in my
BOULDER aroused ME, and l saw nv enemy
lew yards away, hanging over the rail of
lie slowly retreatlng train, revolver in
ind, deliberately taking aim at me as lay
alpless. Again came the ping and a puff
white smoke from the platform, and bull
t rang out on the metals close to nv head.
gain, and I shrieked, the bullet mad
tered nv thigh. Then consciousness must
i've left me; for when 1 looked up the train
I'd gone, and even the reverbation of the
ills had ceased. 1 was alone, and, still
lnging from the trestle, with the full moon
,ove me and the restless waters below.
Slowly the events of the night came back
me and 1 began to realize my position.
very moment gave me exquisite pain, but
seemed to have no broken bones and man.
led to drag myself into more secure posi-
on. Then l lay quiet awhile thinking.
be awful strain L had passed throl gh
used momentarv feeling OF positive hap
ness and security to float over me- But
asi it was soon faded. What could do?
founded and fainting, on a narrow bench
rely wide enough for me to balance upon,
ith an open network OF cross-beams and the
lrgling water below. To lose my hold was
be dashed to death among the tlmbers,
I'd to fall, lifeiess corpse, into the lake.
D lie where was meant certain death from
e next string ofcars which passed. Yet how
escape? To cross the long interval which
parated me from either shore was feat I
Iould have hesitated to attempt even in
Dad day, with all my vigor-to do so in
y present state was utterly impossible. 1
louted till nv voice grew weak, but 1
new it was hopeless. The steep clif-like
ores were untenanted, and probably the
'arest houses were in Whaycom, full
lie beyond the trestle. And in the hurry