Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-02

been standing thus for an hour and a
half, while I had been sleeping the
sleep Of the just.
"Freight train done wopsed up on de
track ahead" said the porter" al
reckon we don get out O. here under
anudder hour or twc,"
l dressed and peeped out, AMI saw we
were alongside the platform of country
station. l took a good breakfast in the
dining car, aud chen went out to stroll
up and down the platform.
Presently | went to the locomotive
and stopped to admire it. There is moth
ing much better to look at, for that
matter, than the locomotive Of one Of
these through express trains on the great
trunk liues. How it throbs as it stands,
strainiug with pentup power, as if i'm
patient to leap away at fearful speed!
This one was kissing fercely, while
the measured thud of the air pump
sounded as If it might be thc regular
breathing of sleeping giant.
In the cab sat the engineer alone,
waiting. 1 stopped and gossiped with
him a moment about the engine. Then
offered him a cigar, which he took
with thanks and asked me to come in.
swung myself into his cab.
The engineer bright, pleasant faced
man about forty years old-explained to
me the uses Of the numerous valves aad
levers about him. They were all as
bright and shining as polish could make
them, for ap engineer is as proud Of his
engine as any housewife is of the neat
ness Of her dwelling. Iglanced at the
two shining steam-gages with the clock
between them, and then l noticed what
seemed to be an ordinary white moth,
mounted in a gilt frame, hanging against
the wall of the cab.
"Is that for ornamentl' asked,
pointing at the moth.
The engineer smiled. "Well, partly
for ornament" he said, "but a good
deal more for sentiment. l put that
moth there because it saved my life, and
the lives Of two hundred and fifty people
as WELL"
"How in the world could an insect
save human livesl7 asked.
"well, I'll tell you, If you want to
hear the story. l reckon there's time
enough before we're able to get out OF
this"
/ Isettled myself in the absent fremau's
seat, and prepared to listen.
"lt wasn't such long time ago." said
the engineer; "only year ago last
spring. was running this very train,
and this very engine-old 449. My fire.
man was Jim Meade-same fellow I've
got now. You can sec him over there,
leaning up against the telegraph office.
"Jim's a good boy, but he is very
superstitious; believes in ghosts, dreams
and warnings. used to laugh at his
fancics, but don't make as much fun OF
him as did-not since we saw the Wo-
man in Black.
I'VE were scheduled to leave NJ
about ono o'clock in the morning, and
TO arrive In s. at about six. On the
night when this thing took place a fear
ful storm of wind and rain had been
raging since early evening, and was at
the height Of its fury when started for
the round-house. -
'It was about midnight, and the wind
seemed to sweep clear around and
through the building. It was terribly
dismal. Jim was there. and the engine
was all ready, SO after getting my work.
ing clothes on, ran the machine down
to the station. Our train, the Vestibule
Limtel, was an hour late. I gave tho
engine thorough oiling, and made sure
that sll vas n ssdeF. 4