Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-11-12

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t' 49, y -
on steam
{ bad made perhaps one fourth
of my run, and everything vas wo'k-
ing in good shape. At he rate we
were then going, calculated We
could ea.ily run into r en-
time"
Suddenly. Oh rounding a curve
at full speed, saw 4 al ahead Of US
a white light swung at light angles
across the track. There was the sig
nal to stop all right, but 10 rcd light
was visible to indicate danger. as
there should have been. | was puz-
zled; what could il mean ? Instinc-
lively, however. shut OF steam
In an instant We we're upon the
light. AT the same instant by mi-
raculeus well-directed throw, it was
sent crashing through the cab win
dow, narrowly missing my head.
This, knew, meant there was i'm
minent danger"
"How quickly the mind viii act
in such cases. A short distance
ahead, the road crossed ravine ov
or an embankment some fifty feet
high. Like fash it occurred to
me that the danger might in some
way be connected with this embank.
ment, though / had never known it
to give any trouble"
: With single jerk pulled back
the reversing lever and opened the
throttle again. With scarcely more
than another movement / had APP
piled the sir-brakes and sanded the
track. All this consumed much less
sime than ] take in telling it to
you.
Nobly did the engine respond
and throw her immense weight
against the momentum gained by
the train assixty miles an hour. She
struggled and quivered all over as
though she realized the danger,
while from both wheels and track
there few a blaze OF sparks
But it seemed as though we
were being forced on by some unseen
power and could not stop. looked
ahead. 1t was enough TO make the
stoutest heart sink, and l confess l
grew faint. Just where the rays OF
the headlight appeared to end in the
darkness, ] could barely discern a
great, black, yawning gulfacross the
roadbed. l knew that 1t was wash
out and that it meant death in the
most horrible way. i can nevar
forget how it looked in the dim
light"
"On we went, and it seemed as
though no power could save us.
'Oh, God = / cried, we must go ov-
err | thought of a loving wife at
home; then / thought OF the two
hundred passengers aboard the train
| ell you it was terrible moment
for me, but / resolved no one should
say I deserted my post in time OF
danger
+" With an agonized and brief pray
er to God, / firmly grasped the
throttle, though nothing remained
to be done. Still on We went, though
at greatly lessened speed. Inyolun-
tarily ! closed my eyes and waited
for the sickening plunge and final
crash"
" In moment ! was aroused by
: slight jerk. We had stopped.
opened my eyes. 1t appeared al
most as though the engine was sus.
pended in mid-air. Shutting of
steam, got down and went ahead. y
"We had stopped bnt not moment
too soon. The pilot was close to O
chasm which l knew was fifty feet
deep. A few feet more would have
carried the most OF the train over
and down."
/ BY this time the conductor and
trainmen came forward to learn
what vas the matter. It was will
blanched faces that they saw how
narrowly they had escaped death in
one of its most terrible forms"
II was scarcely able to stand, but
l managed to get ON the engine and
back the train to . place OF safety.
Then / told them Of the strange sig.
nal / had received, and some Of The
hands went back to ascertain who
had been the means OF saving IA
from destruction
/ " 1t proved to be young man 81
eighteen, the son of poor but re.
spectacle parents, who lived Just
across the ravine. From him W.
learnedrthe particulars.
| "The embankment was entirely
Of dirt, with culyert at the bottom
which was thought Sufficient to ae,
commodate the water of small
stream, usually dry, during the hoi
summer months. 1t seems, however
that this time the mouth OF the cul.
vert was ohoked In some manner
OF course, the water having no ont
let, soon began to form large pond.
After awhile the pressure became SO
great as to force tho embankment,
and the whole vent out with 3 rush
which left behind chasm one hun.
dred feet wide at the top. Over