The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-06-08


them. If you think either glory or in
tfluence is to be gained by any such
course, you mistake both the intelli-
gence and the fairness of your readers.
Respectfully Yours,
IGNATIUs DONNELLY.
Mysterious Warning.
4 well remember the night Of Jan.
uary 5th 81.
I was employed as night operator on
the St. Paul and Duluth Short Line at
small station about sixty miles out of
St. Paul Of the name Of Wyoming. I
had been there about three months
when [ received a letter from the divis-
ion superintendent instructing me to
watch for a fellow named Van Slyke,
who was formerly operator at Wyom-
ing, but who had been discharged for.
intemperance and was still hanging
about the town.
discovered that he was a lover Of
cards as well as whiskey, and he would
boast of tricks and the quantity he
could drink at one time without losing
his head, threatening often when in
toxicated to make things interesting
for the ''ham OPERATOR who had beat
him out of his place.
One evening I found him sitting
alone in the waiting ROOM sGood
evening, john I said pleasantly. "a
fine night out! It is a pity that one
has to be tied to the apron strings Of a
railway company in such way that he
cannot even get a chance to enjoy a
sleigh ride
Yes, 8 he said. We chatted for a
few minutes and then he said he must
go, hut before leaving offered me a
cigar, which, in my desire to appear
friendly accepted. 3
tapped with my fingers on the
glass in an idle way for moment or
two and then turned away to seat my
J self at the desk, elevate my feet and
light the cigar that Van Slyke had
given me. A sleepy sensation crept
over me, the half-smoked weed died
out and knew no more till the clock
chimed a half, hour stroke I awoke
/ with a start and the impression that
some one had been shaking my arm
gently.
CHANGING straight ahead of me into a
large mirror that hung over my desk I
saw that which thrilled and bound me
with steel. The face Of a young and
beautiful girl, framed in white hood,
with large, dark eyes gazing wistfully
toward me, at once full of sorrow and
pleading. For a full minute the pic
ture remained, then the opening and
closing Of the waiting room door, with
a cold draught Of air, seemed to sweep
| it away and came to my senses. I
went back to my Office, where I saw a
large sheet of paper lying on my desk,
fastened there by the blade Of small
pen knife. sat down and unfolded it.
! At the left corner a hand was drawn
pointing toa bold sketch in outline. It
was a train entering a station at full
! speed and ahead was an open switch
leading to a side track occupied by a
number Of cars of coal. Just below was
wreck, with an engine topled over and
lying in shapeless ruin on its side-the
body Of the body of the engineer pro-
truding from the crushed cab. One
car had been completely telescoped
and had taken fire, while two men
were in the act of cutting a seat away
from woman whose limbs were inn
/ prisoned beneath it. Another car
i stood on end, and dangling from the
broken sash of the window a dainty
4 hand and arm could be seen. Il
was SO graphically portrayed that ]
sickened at the sight. Across the
/ lower part Of the page Tread these
q lines:
Prevent this wreck, but do not be.
8 tray this warning. 3
The first thing that had power te
q arouse me was the dispatcher signal
ing the western bound train. It was
at Bald Eagle juno 10 minutes be
\ hind time, and he was giving it orders
Y to make up between stations. No.4
4 night limited, never stopped a
i " yoming but took the nigh
mail from an arm OF
i crane but about 800 feet from the de
), pot It was my business to place thu
i sack upon this crane five minutes be
! fore the train was due, and. as it passed
j the mail clerk applied the touch witt