Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-12-15
TEMPERANCE NOTES.
cRAzED BY DRINK.
The Terrible Results of AN Engineer
First Drunk.

The Terrible Results of AN Engineer.
First Drunk.
20, there's plenty OF excitement il
the life, said the engineer of engine
No. 10. What with the chance of a
wreck every mile or so. general
smashup at the sidngs. the giving way
| of bridges, and the forgetfulness of the
dispatcher all of which is likely to
happen, may say there is no com
! plant of monotony in running an en-
| gine. But the worst snap ever struck
in the business was a trip | took one
time with mailman. Yes, sir, as wild
lunatic as you'd find chained and
strait jacketed in any asylum in the
country. Want the story? Well,
here's to it, and a straight one it is. IL
| was in 1880 that | was serving as fire.
man under a man named Grady. He
was a fine engineer; could do more
with an engine than anyone ! ever
saw, and knew his road like book.
I'd been with him about year,
and we got pretty thick, and he was
always showing me his little gals
picture and talking about her His
wife was dead and his sister had the
child.
'TIe was just the lovingest father /
ever did see. Never got drunk like
other men but this one time | am GO
ing to tell you about. We were to go
ont that night when | met him on the
street just before dark and saw he had
been drinking. but was in a mighty
good humor. IN be there in time. he
said to me. I'm just going up to the
house to kiss my baby good-by.'
We'll, we parted and | come on
down to the depot. II was mighty
near time to start, and had steam ali
up, when here comes Grady. The mo
ment / saw him ! knew there was
something mighty wrong with him.
Stead OF saying Hello, or something
like that, he just climbed into the ca
boose without looking at me, but kind
of staring straight ahead OF him with
his eyes hot and dry and his lips as
white rs my shirt off duty. thought
To myself. Well, If this is a drunk. it,
the queerest one ever saw and, not
wishing to rile him. kept quiet, We
pulled ont steady enough, Grady still
saving nothing, but staring straight
ahead as If he saw something in front
81 him. Pretty soon we become to get
faster and faster. till the old engine
lust rocked and ! could feel the carr
behind fairly jump over the rails.
did not like TO say anything. for he
was boss Of the engine. bnt when we
went whizzing past station where wo
were to stop without paying any mor
attention 20 it than il it had not been
there began to think there was some
thing mighty wrong and ! stepped for
ward and, etending to look at the
dial plate said: 'Hain't we rather go
ing it, boss?' But he didn't answer
and | went on: Amt sick are YOU
Grady, old man9 II you are lie down 6
bi, and III run her awhile
lint still he paid no attention, but
would look ont at the headlight ant
kind of mutter to himself 50 ] went |
back To shoyeling in the coal. but keep /
ing an eve on him. for by this time J
was sure that there was something .
very much wrong with him, and be T
gan 10 think that what he had taker .
had crazed his brain. and yet his lool' .
weren't those OF drunken man and hi .
hand seemed as steady as usual Blu
presently. whizl we went past the .
lighted lamps of a small station where .
WE were due to wait fifteen minutes foi .
thu up train Good Lordr thought .
'vc'll meet that train on the mair
track and then look out'
"With this in mind called out
Hello. Grady, forgot about the up
bound, amt you?' But he stood just a,
before. mumbling to himself in thai
strange fashion, and just caught hin
by the arm, storming at him. Where
are YOU going to, man?' and then he
looked back over his shoulder az me
grinning and gnashing his teeth like
dog TO hellr he shouted, and all OF
you with me. I've killed my baby and
I've got to go to hell, but you'll have to
20 with me When he said that
waited no longer, but grabbed him
about the waist / did not want e
hurt him, but TO save the train-no
both trains. But he fought me like
devil, clutching me about the throat
while ! slipped my hand up to has. ano
there. swaying from side TO side. Will
our breath hot in each others face, we
struggled for what seemed TO be an
age, with the train all the time thun
dering on, on to destruction. had no
thought for my own life. but ] could not
get the idea of the unconscious people
behind and coming out of my head. so
hung on like grim death until a happy
thought struck me, and ! yelled out
Look out, Grady, there's your baby
just behind you. and, as he turned &c
look. brought my fist down on his head
with all the strength had left, aud he
f. Senseless
Then began a race between time
and me. had to run the train back to
the station, where we were to pass the
up-bonnd, SO away went The con-
ductor rang to know what the matter
was. but | had no time to answer.
,,-a. ,,-a went hack hack with me I ,