Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-11-18


on to the train. set the brakes and
found everything in good order.
by and by the little gong above
my head changed sharply, and with a
puff and hiss of escaping steam we
were off into the night and storm, rat
tling over switches, past signal lights
and between long lines of cars, till,
with a roar and rumble, we rushed
over the long iron bridge and away
through the hills, waking their slum-
bering echoes with our shriil whistle.
Then l pulled the throttle wide
open, and the clank and roar soon
settled into hum, for old 449 was do
ing her best, and we were making fif-
ty miles an hour.
The darkness was intense save
where the headlight, an electrical de-
vice, cast its funnel of light into the
gloom. Jim had hot fire, and kept
steam up to high pressure, so that
we fairly flew on past sleeping ham
lets and still farm-houses.
"At our first watering station l
made sure that all was working
smoothly, while Jim inspected the
headlight The operator handed out
the orders, which showed that the
road was clear as far as our next stop
ping place. On we went.
THE darkness grew more intense,
if possible, while the wind shrieked
! by. The rain became more binding,
till nothing could be distinguished in
the gray murk which enveloped us.
Suddenly, through the mist and
rain, saw, looming right before us,
the gigantic figure of woman wrap
ped in long, black mantle, which
seemed to hutter in the wind. She
waved great spectral arms about in
swift, twisting movements. As | sat,
looking in horror, the figure vanished
with final wave OF her arms.
Il was too much astonished and
stupefied to make a move of my hand
| toward the throttle. At that mo
ment Jim had been bending over the
fire. As he looked up he exclaimed:
Hullo, Frank, what's up? You
look as if you had seen a ghostr
Il did not answer. Ny mind was
too full of that strange figure had
seen.
I'VE were now nearing Rock creek,
where there is trestle over deep
stream. | felt more nervous than
ever.
I'VE dashed around the curve and
whizzed by Rock Creek station,
which is only mile from the trestle.
As we passed | glanced at the steam
gauge for an instant.
"A cry from jim caused me to turn
quickly toward him. He sat rigid, his
eyes large and staring, his jaw drop
ped, the very picture of terror.
"He pointed with shaking finger
out into the darkness. | turned and
looked, and then began to shake my
self.
There, on the track, was that
same hideous figure of IA woman, out
lined on the background Of light
from the engine, now motionless.
now whirling in witch dance, but
all the time motioning us back.
Frank, gasped Jim, but scarcely
above a whisper, don't go over that
trestle Don't go, for heavens sake
Don't go till you're sure its safer
Il suppose l was pretty badly
scared. at any rate, [ put on the air
brake for all | was worth. Icouldn't
have resisted the impulse to stop the
train.
"As We came to stop, could hear
the roar of the water in Rock creek
right ahead. l stepped out of the
cab, and met the conductor coming
up.
:" What's the matterH What's the
matterT he asked. impatiently.
Il felt decidedly foolish. There
was no gigantic woman to be seen
now. Nothing could be made out
more than few feet away in the
binding storm.
We'll, said l, we've seen some
thing, l don't know What it is-seemed
like it was great black ghost-that
was waving its arm and warning us
not to go forward
The conductor looked at me
curiously. Are you crazy, FrankY
he said. I should think you were.
But we're so near the trestle we'll
take a look at it,.
I'VE took our lanterns and went
ahead, leaving Jim with the engine.
He looked scared all over. But tell
you We had not gone five rods be
fore we stopped in horror.
There at our feet lay a black
chasm, filled with the roar Of the
river, as swollen with the spring
rains it dashed down toward the lake.
/ The bridge was washed away
"Only few splinters OF wood and
twisted iron chung to the abutment,
| while now, far out over the black
ness, that awful black figure OF a
woman danced again on the thin air,
relieved against the shaft OF light
/ that the headlight threw.
ut was flinging its arms about as
/ if in wild glee.
The conductor stared at the
/ chasm and then at ME.
WAS that the thing you saw
when you stopped the trainT he
asked.
Yes
well, it's something more than
Z ,,e 20 EranE