Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-04-20
COLUMN
EDITED BY JoNEsBORo W. C. T.. U
CRAZED BY DRINK.

w ohO oiuihBo, Iuo giving way VI
bridges and the forgetfulness of the
dispatcher, all of which is likely to
happen, l may say there is no com
plant of monotony in running an en-
CINE. But the worst snap | ever struck
in the business was a trip l took one
time with a mailman. Yes, sir, as wild
a lunatic as you'd find chained and
strait jacketed in any asylum in the
the country. What's the storyP. Well,
here's to it, and a straight one tits. 1t
was in 1880 that was serving as fire.
man under a man named Grady. He
wasa fine engineer; could do more
with an engine than any one l ever
saw, and knew his road like a book.
I'D been with him about a year and
we got pretty thick, and he was always
showing me his little gals picture and
talking about her. His wife was dead
and his sister had the child.
He was just the lovingest father l
ever did see. Never got drunk like
other men, except this one time I'm 60
ing to tell you about. We were to go
out that night when l met him on the
street just before dark and saw that
he had been drinking; but was in a
mighty good humor. "I1l be there in
time, he said to me. "I'm just going
up to kiss my baby goodbye
well, we parted and l come on
down to the depot. 1t was mighty
near time to start aud I had steam all
up, when here comes Grady. The mo-
ment l saw him | knew there was some
thing mighty wrong with him. Stead
of saying 'Hello'or something like that
he just climbed into the caboose with
out looking at me, but kinder staring
ahead of him with his eyes hot and
dry, and his lips as white as my shirt
of duty. l thought to myself, We'll,
if this is q drunk its the queerest one l
ever saw, and not wishing to rifle him
him / kept quiet. We pulled out of
the station steady enough, Grady still
saying nothing and staring straight
ahead of him as if he saw something
in front. Pretty soon we began to get
faster and faster, till the old engine
just rocked, and l could hear the cars
behind fairly jumping over the rails.
l did not like to say anything for he
was boss of the engine, but when we
went whizzing past a station where we
were to stop without paying any o
attention to it than ii it had not been
there began to think there was some
thing mighty wrong, and | stepped for
ward and pretending to look at the
dial plate, said: 'Hain't we rather goin
it, boss?' But he didn't answer me,
and l went on: Amt sick, are you,
Grady, old manY If you are, lie down
a bit and I'll run her awhile
But still he paid no attention, but
would look out at the headlight and
kinder mutter to himself. So | went
back to shoveling in the coal, but keep
ing an eye on him, for by this time l
was sure there was something very
much wrong with him, and | began to
think that what he had taken had
crazed his brain and yet his looks were
not those of a drunken man and his
hand seemed as steady as usual. But
presently whiz we went past the light
ed lamps of a small station where we
were due to wait fifteen minutes for the
up train. Good Lord = | thought,
well meet that train ON the main
track, and then look OUT
with this in mind l called out
Hello, Grady, forgot about the up
bound, amt you?' But he stood just
as before, mumbling to himself in that
strange fashion, and l just caught him
by the arm, storming at him. Where
are you going to, MANI and then he
looked back over his shoulder at me,
grinning and crashing his teeth like a
dog. TO hellln he shouted, and all OF
you with me. I've killed my baby and
I've got to go to hell, but you'll have to
60 with me- When he said that !
waited no longer, but grabbed him
about the waist. / did not want to
hurt him, but to save the train-no,
both trains. Bnt he fought me like q
devil, clutching me about the throat,
while l slipped my hand up to his, and
there, swaying from side to side, with
our breath hot in each others face, we
struggled for what seemed to be an
age, with the train all the time thun'
dering on, OF to destruction. l had nc
thought for my own life, but / could
not get the idea of the unconscious PEG.
pie behind and coming out of my head
80 | hung on like grim death until 9
happy thought struck me, and l yelled
out; Look out, Grady, there's your
baby just behind you,' and, as he
turned to look, brought my fist down
on his head with all my strength l haC
left, and he fell senseless.
Then began a race between time
and me. l had to run the train back t.
the station, where we were to pass tn,
up bound, 80 away l went. The con
ductor rang to know what the matter
was, but l had no time to answer
Away we went back, back, with m,
fancying every moment that l hear(
the other train laundering down upol
us. Could l make it, Could l? Back