Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-19
DEAD MANS CROSSING.
WHAT THE FLAGMAN OF NUMBER
SEVENTY-NINE BEtiELD.

whiried the flakes in every direction. The
snow melted in the warm cab and wet
everything. In front the headlight only
made the snow storm visible. In such
weather ordinary lamp signals are useless,
as they cannot be seen until close at hand.
The only method available to warn APP
preaching trains of danger is by torpedo.
Suddenly the shrill call for brakes rang
out from the engine, and the men out
along the train knew from the manner in
which the cars were humping together the
engineer had put on the steam brakes hard,
and that no time must be lost in stopping
the train. The one man of the crew who
most of all dislikes to hear the call for
brakes is the rear fagman, who must at
once bestir himself from the comfortable
caboose and travel backward to signal fol
lowing trains Tom Baline, the fagman
of 49, felt particularly Disguised when he
heard the warning from the engine that
night, but being too well trained and too
conscientious to even think of violating
the rules, he at once put on his rubber
overcoat, felt to make sure there were tor
pedoes in his pocket and grasping his
lantern dropped from the rear step rs the
train came to standstill.
He dragged himself through the closely
packed snow, pressed firm by the engine.
while the wind blew fakes in his face and
chilled him to the bone When he had
gone back several hundred feet he turned
and looked for his train. 1t was invisible.
He concluded he had gone far enough, and
he therefore clamped a torpedo to the rail
ana peered around to see whether any
shelter was possible. For few moments
he could not recollect the spot, but as his
lanterns rays fell upon broken pine by
the railroad he started. He was at Dead
Mans crossing.
Rumor said the road was haunted, and
the country folk avoided it after nightfall.
A TRYING EXPERIENCE.
He concluded that he might go back
toward the train short distance and still
be able to protect it while being away
from the crossing. When retracing his
steps he saw sheltered spot by huge
rock near the track, and at once took refuge
there Not sign of life could be seen any
where, and the driving snow had already
nearly obliterated his footprints. As was
natural, Toms gaze gradually centered on
the haunted road few rods away, which
was plainly visible on account of the neigh
boring forest bringing the open space into
relief.
Even as he gazed figure seemed to re-
solve itself from the shadows and moved
across the tracks. Another followed, and
then came little knot carrying what
seemed to be a bier, upon which rested a
shrouded form. Without a word and
without a sound the strange procession
moved across the rails and disappeared in
the gloom. The fagman stood petrifed
with establishment and fear, and it was
only when the four mufded blasts of the
distant engine summoned him he found
his senses, and grasping his lantern ran
down the track toward the caboose with
the speed of a deer.
A few days after Tom was relating his
adventure with much gusto to u crowd OF
listeners in the Tompkinsville tavern
Some Of the audience were clearly i'm
pressed by the tale. Others Insisted the
fagman was the victim of an optical delu
sion, or that he had been dreaming. One
small, wiry man, a stranger. made no com
ment, but after the crowd had dispersed
followed Tom and began conversation
with him, and evidently told the trainmaI
something which caused that worthy t6
gasp with establishment. A passer heard
the stranger remark, well, we will SET
the trainmaster and get you a leave of alb
sence, and then we will investigate"
THE GHOSTS EXPLAINED.
The following night two men got off the
late express at the station nearest to DeaG
Mans crossing, and at once started ou1
along the track. They were Tom and The
stranger. Coming to theoverhanging rocl
| they sat down and waited. Hour aftel
| hour passed, heavy trains rumbled by. but
nothing rewarded their vigil. The mex
night the same thing occurred, and agar
the third evening their watch was in vain
The fourth night the sky was clouded, ant
as the midnight hour drew near the pair O
| watchers felt in their bones something I'm
usual was about to occur. Long they sal
| in the gloom, and finally, when both wer,
nearly mapping, they heard noise in tn
direction of the crossing. A moment late
shadowy figure emerged from the wood!
T. and stood motionless upon the track. I
| then beckoned and started on. Anothe
figure appeared, and then the mysteriou
burden was seen by the watchers.
"Now," whispered the stranger, and a
the same moment two revolvers rang out
| and almost instantly Tom ignited a rail
road fusee and started on a run for thu
crossing. The shadows dropped their bur
den and fled, leaving the object on tn
! track. Ere the assailants reached TIN
crossing No. came dashing around tht
curve, and striking the bundle with hol
| low punk" tossed it to one side, Ton
meanwhile waving his fusee like mad
aha, so thought" laughed the stranger
i IL cc.,o's precious lot of whisky wasted
that time" Ana, ilia indeed the fumes o
liquor were almost overpowering.
| Tom and the detective both left on tn
express to return the next day with
large force of men. The still was located
without much difficulty, although no ar
rests could be made Tom was well re
warded for the assistance he furnished
and as the ghosts and "spirits" had BEEF
| effectually laid, the road soon lost its i'll
oinened name.-Philadelph Times.