Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1892-11-16
THE WOMAN In BLACK.
A RAILWAY ENGINEERS STORY.

lQe euSlueeT-6 UTbSuG, plcaoaAV
faced man about forty years old-ex-
planned to me the uses of the numer-
GUS valves and levers about him.
They were all as bright and shining as
polish could make them, for an engin-
eer is as proud of his engine as any
housewife is of the neatness of her
dwelling. I glanced ut the two shin
ing steam gauges with the clock be-
tween them, and then I noticed what
seemed to be an ordinary white moth,
mounted in a gilt frame, hanging
against the wall of the cab.
Ills that for ornament?" l asked,
pointing at the moth.
The engineer smiled. "Well, partly
for ornament" he said, "but good
deal more for sentiment. I put that
moth there because it saved my life,
and the lives of $50 people as WE'LL"
Chow in the world could an insect
save human lives ?" 1 asked.
swell, I'll tell you, if you want to
hear the story. I recon there's time
enough before we're able to get out of
this"
I settled myself in the absent fire.
mans seat, and prepared to listen.
"It wasn't such long time ago."
said the engineer; "only year ago
last spring. I was running this very
train, and had this very engine-old
449. My fireman was Jim Meade
same fellow I've got now. You can
see him over there, leaning up against
the telegraph office.
"Jim's a good boy, but he is very su-
perstitious believes in ghosts, dreams
and warnings. I used to laugh at his
fancies, but I don't make so much fun
of him as did-not since we saw the
Woman in Black.
ave were scheduled to leave NJ.
about one o'clock in the morning, and
to arrive in s. at about six. On the
night when this thing took place a
fearful storm of wind and rain had
been raging since early evening, and
was at the height of its fury when l
started for the roundhouse.
"It was about midnight, and the
wind seemed to sweep clear around
and through the building. 1t was ter
ribly dismal. Jim was there, and the
engine was all ready, so after getting
my working clothes on I ran the en-
CINE down to the station. Our train,
the Vcstibule Limited, was an hour
late. Igave the engine thorough OIL
ing, and made sure that all was in
order.
GAS we sat in the cab we could hear
the storm raging outside, while the
rain, driven by the gusts of wind, beat
fearfully against the windows.
"It's going to be bad run, Frank,
Jim said. Il wish we were in S. safe
and sound
81 laughed. what makes you so
terribly glum, Jim p I asked.
"sOh,' said he, Il just feel creepy
somehow. Seems like there's some
thing terrible going to happen. can
feel it in my bones
81 laughed again. you got little
wet coming over, 1 guess, Jim,' said l..
'And the sound of the wind isn't very
encouraging, that's fact
ITO tell the truth, I was little ner-
vous myself, Notwithstanding my easy
way of treating Jlm's notions.
"Presently our train came in long
and heavy, consisting mainly of Sleep
ers. It used to make me nervous to
know that the lives of hundreds of my
fellow-men were in my keeping, but
now think nothing of it. That night
was nervous. What if the frightful
storm had made switchman careless,
or if rail had been loosened by the
settling of the track somewhere? On
these fast trains a man must rely on
the vigilance of the employees; for in
order to make schedule time he must
run at such speed that often he can
not see signal before he is upon it.
"But I laughed at myself for my
fears as I backed down and coupled
on to the train. I set the brakes, and
found everything in good order.
"By-and-by the little gong above
my head changed sharply, and with o
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 roar and rumble, we rushed
over the long iron bridge and away
through the hills, waking their slum-
bcring echoes with our shrill whistle.
"Then 1 pulled the throttle wide
open, and the clank and roar soon set
tied into hum, for old 449 was doing
her best, and we were making fifty
miles an hour.
"At our first watering station l
made sure that all was working
smoothly, while Jim inspected the head
light. The operator handed out the
orders, which showed that the road
was clear as far as our next stopping
place. On we went.
"The darkness grew more intense,
if possible, while the wind sErieked 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 wrapped
in long black mantel, which seemed
to flutter in the wind. She waved great
spectral arms about in swift, twisting
movements. As l stood, looking in
horror, the figure vanised with final
wave of her arms.
81 was too much astonished and
stupefied even to make move of my
hand toward the throttle. At that
moment Jim had been bending over
the fire. As he looked up he ex-
claimed:
"'Hello, Frank, what's up? You
look as if you had seen ghost!'
81 did not answer. My mind was
too full of that strange figure I had
seen.
I'VE were now nearing Rock creek,
where there is trcStle over a deep
stream. felt more nervous than ever.
We dashed around the curve and
whizzed by Rock Creek station, which
is only mile from the trestle. AS we
passed, l glanced at the steam gauge
for al instant. 4 cry from Jim caused
ME to turn quickly toward him. Ho
sat rigid, his eyes large and staring,
his jaw dropped, the very picture of
terror. lie pointed with Il shaking
finger out into the darkness. There
on the track was the same hideous
figure of woman outlined OH the
background of light from the engine,
now motionlcss, now whirling in n
witch dance, but all the time motion
ing us back.
Frank gasped Jim, but scarcely
above whisper, don't 60 over that