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

4 last express train running ov-
WlEH er one of the great railroad
40 systems which traverse the
entire Empire State. The train was
b,th The fastest and the handsomest
one on the road being designed
more part cularly 10 accommodate
through travel.
Fifty miles an hour is . pretty
good rate at which to seni one
through the void. yet all my plans
for The next two days and the keep
ing Of an important business trans
action depended upon it
But that old Scotch saying. "the
best laid plans Of mice and men gang
aft aglee, " was to find an illustra'
ton in this case. A sudden appli-
cation of the airbrakes brought us
to an abrupt stop. Upon looking
out Of the car window I soon dis
covered that We had been tagged at
q small country station.
After waiting some little time, it
was reported that there had been
small freight wreck between US and
the next station, and that it would
in all probability, be three or four
hours before we could proceed.
This was anything but pleasant
news to me. / had travelled enough
however, to know there was no use
in grumbling about the matter.
Railroad delays are as memorable 40
the so-cslled decree OF fate. There
was nothing to do but to uss the
telegraph and then wait.
Accordingly, got up, stretched
myself and stepped out on the De
pot platform. After ascertaining
as fully as possible how matters
stood, / sent my despatch. Many
Of the passengers had already left
the cars and were seeking some
method of passing away the time
while we we're detained, and / Joined
the number.
Now, from boyhood / have pos
sessed mechanical turn OF mind,
and this caused me to turn my steps
toward the engine. 1t was the finest
one had ever seen, and as nearly
perfect in construction as human in
genui,y could make it.
As I walked around it, ]. could
not help thinking of the mighty
power it must possess to enable it
to draw the heavy train with such
ease. Though l am six feet and one
inch, the ponderous drivers seemed
to tower above me, and with the
throbbing Of the airbrake pump, one
| might easily imagine 1t to be some
huge monster endowed with life.
The engineer, a pleasant appear
| ing and powerfully built man Of
some forty 1--we years, was engaged
| in oiling his engine, Of which he was
as proud as though it had been the
best thoroughbred horse in the
world, instead Of an iron horse
After exchanging few sentences
he discovered that we had mutual
tastes to certain extent. ard in
short time we we're chatting togeth-
err very pleasantly.
Having finished the oiling, he in
vited me to seat in the cab, which
Was not slow to accept. He in
formed me that his engine was con-
sidered as being one Of the best and
fastest on the road, and that he oc-
casionally made flying trips with it
when attached to the presidents car
and on other special occasions. He
had come to regard it as some faith
ful animal.
| "Did you ever meet with an acci-
dent 2" was the natural question |
finally asked.
| "No, not Of q very serious ma
ture,'' he replied; " though ] have
been on the road for over twenty
four years, and three-forths Of that
time have driven an engine. ! did
come uncomfortably near it once,
though; so near. in fact, thatI never
pass the spot now withouta peculiar
feeling coming oyer me-"
| intimated to him that ! would
like to hear the story.
"Well, there isn't much to tell,
though it certainly was as narrow
an escape a. any one would care to
risk. Still, IS We are likely to stay
here some time, it you care to hear
about Il, I will tell your
| I give the story as nearly as may
be in bis own words.
It was in the spring of '87, dur
ing the breaking up season. which
occurred during the latter part Of
March. The run hadthe is what
ID mostly termed a might run. :"
son account Of vet track and
the added weight of two extra coach
e., the train had on this occasion
been steadily loosing time. When
It reached my division it was thirty
I'VE minutes late. Full well ] knew
that, despite adverse circumstances
I would be expected to make up the
lost Time. was provd Of the con-
fideuce placed in me and my engine,
! and determined at all hazards not
TO fall
g 10 / took my seat in the cab,
called out to John my fireman, that
-