The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-24
A STARTLING DREAM.

Virginia. There was rallTcau Dub lew
rods IN front of my door. and stat on ana
considerable village about mile to the
west. The nearest station to the east was
sbout 10 miles distant l moved TO the
place With my young wife late In the
autumn. and about the first Of the following
March | was attacked with typhoid fever
and was i'll for about month; but thanks
to naturally strong constitution and the
careful nursing of q loving and intelligent
wife slowly recovered.
As soon As / got strong eno7gh to SIT up
md walk little l tod my wife she had
better take the cars and 60 and visit her
brother, who lived about 20 miles east OF us.
She had been taking care Of me so faithfully
through my illness, both by day and night
that I feared her health and strength would
fail her if she did not TEST a while. knew
she had been very anxious 70 60. ana L ieIt
sure that her brother aud his family Woulu
be very g ad to see her and would ITy 10
make her visit a pleasant one. She hesl-
tated about leaving me, fearing ! might
need her care; but after waiting lew days,
ana seeing that | continued to gain my
health and strength, she decided TO I0to~
my advice. Accordingly, one pleasant morn
ing about tie middle of April, after doing
everything she could for my comfort, ana
OF walking too far, she rtarted, intending 10
be gone q fortnight.
One dav | exercised a little beyond my
strength, and felt quite tired al night, ana
ay awake fer a long time AT last Ieli
ntO an uneasy slumbeT, and dreamed
very curious and startling dream. seemed
to have gone forward into The future
couple II DAYS, and ms cad Of Wednesday,
the 24.h 10 seemed 20 be Friday the 2btn.
It seemed IN NY dream that heavy rain
mad been falling most OF the DAY ana all the
day before, but the evening was clear ana
pleasant and not very dark, though the
moon was not shining. / seemed % De Walk
ing the railroad toward the east / hTst
passed through q wood about half nile
wide: then for about a nile through uel1s
containing couple If faTmbnusPs enc III
habited and the other deserted. then en-
tered another W0Od land after waking about
mile and a half | came TO a stream greatly
Swollen by Tie rain. which had weakened
the railroad bridge so much that the paSsen-
ger train, in attempting TO cross, had broken
Il down, and the b idge and ears, completely
wrecked, were lying 90 both sides oil the
stream, except portions that we're Il alng
down Some Of the PASSENGERS lay dead or
dying among the rains, some were floating 10
the water, an / few were clinglng 10 trees
and bushes on the bank. Ii was fearful
and heaTtTending sight.
The next day early In the morning 1t
commenced raining. and continued 10 rain
through the day and following night. 1
felt very lonely and uneasy all day, which
feeling was increased BY receiving q letter
from NY wife, sayil that she intended 20
come home on Friday night by the express
train. retired laie, feeling much worried
on account of my fearful dream Aud 10
add TO this fear, pTeSen tIment, or whatever
you may call il, the dream was repeated,
and even more distinct and vivid than the
first time.
" hen l arose in the morning the rain
was still FILLING This was Friday, and
therefore was the day on which my wife
was TO star, for home There we're two
passenger trains from the East each day
ole al O'Clock In the forenoon and tie
other at in the evening. This last was
the express train and the one on which my
vile was coming.
Toward the middle Of the afternoon the
rain ceased falling and the clouds slowly
cleared away. The dream had made such
an IMPRESSION on my mind that | resolved 10
attempt TO find the stream ! had seen so
plainly in my dreams, and If it appeared at
all dangerous TO attempt TO stop the train
before reaching it. Accordingly soon alter
the rain was over. / got ready and started
l had never before had occasion t. visit the
station IN this direction, and was therefore
entirely unaCGuaIntpd with this part Of the
country. But L found everything just as ii
had appeared In my dream.
Immediately after starting l passed
through the wood l had seen in my dream,
and then entered the open field and found
the two farm houses, one inhabited and the
other deserted. In fact everything was as
natural as If l had really been this way
before. 1 walked slowly, and late IN the
afternoon | came to the stream, which
flowed rapidly and seemed much swollen.
But the bridge. Instead OF being broken
down ard mingled with the broken cars
lid
and though its timber looked quite old and
weather beaten there seemed TO be little
danger OF It's breaking down beneath the
weight OF a passing train. There was
heavy freight train due from the West
about o'clock, and ! resolved to wait at
least until it came, and If it passed over in
safety there could be, thought, but little
danger CT accident to the lighter passenger
train.
In due lime it came laundering along, and
passed safely over the bridge. But, though
Il might ave been owing TO my excl led
Imagination, II seemed to me that the bridge
bent and shook beneath the weight OF the
train In manner highly suggestive of danger.
AT all. events, l resolved to wait a while
longer and see if the stream, which was still
rising, W0nld have any effect upon the
bridge. / took with me a lantern and also
thick blanket to protect me from The damp
night air.
Shortly after sunset, as l was sitting a
few reds from the stream, | heard a loud
splash, and hurTying 10 the bridge, ! saw
that portion Of the bank on the opposite
Side had broken away, and also that the
action Of the water, or some other cause,
had weakened the foundations OF the bridge
In such manner that portion Of the line
was bent aud lowered enough y make it
impossible for train 10 cross | immedi-
ateiy crossed the bridge, resolved 10 stop
the train II possible before it reached the
bridge and certain destruction.
l went Oh in the direction from which the
train was to come, and soon found a good
place which commanded a view Of the line
for considerable distance. Hit my lantern,
wrapped my blanket closely around me and
sat down to my Wearisome watch of two
hours Tie night was clear, but not very
dark, though no moon was shining / suf-
feTed nothing from cold as il was remark
aOiy warm, even for the climate of Virginia,
and succeeded in keeping awake, though
the task was difficult one
Slowly the moments passed by; but at
last l saw by my watch that the time had
nearly expired. and a few moments would
decide The tate OF the train and its human
weight Soon l saw a light far away and
very small at first, but rapidly growing
larger and brighter. | arose, trembling
with excitement, and commenced swinging
the lantern above my head, and as the train
drew near / doubled nay exertiOn and shouted
as loudly as / could.
Onward came the train at a rapid speed.
II was time of terrible suspense to me-
Should the engineer fail to see my signal or
not see 1t in time to stop the train before
going few rods past me / knew that no
human power could save it. On it came,
and just as l gave up my exertions and
stepped from the line my frantic signals
were observed, arousing the sleepy brake
men ike an electric shock, who few to their
stations.
The train was quickly stopped, and then
Informed the engineer and conductor OF the
danger ahead, while the frightened passen-
gers left The carriages and gathered around
me. Many brave man grew pale when he
learned what fearful death he had so mar
rOwly escaped.
Among the passengers found my wife,
not mangled and liieless, but alive and well,
though somewhat frightened, and a good
zeal surprised at seeing me. The con-
ductOr gave me seat next my wife. and
no hoo yo1 RI he 4.