Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-03-25
Twice went out on the platform 70

When the small Office clock struck 0, /
could stand it no longer, but donning my
cloth cap and coat opened the door to
sally forth again. AS did so the shrill
shrek of woman greeted my astonished
ears.
At first concluded that it was the
work of the wind, but second time the
cry rose above the storm, clear and dis
tinct. There was no installing the sound.
1t was the cry of a woman in distress,
and came out of the storm not far dis
tant.
/ started along the platform with an
answering shout, and had not gone far
before | encountered woman staggering
along the track.
"What is the matterl" l inquired in as
loud voice as could command.
''For heavens sake, come quickm she
shrieked wildly. ''Come quick The
train has run off the line All are lost
my husband my child-dead-deadw
The horrible situation flashed over my
bewildered senses in moment. Just
around the curve was a deep crossing,
and the rain must have washed down
the embankment In time to wreck the
evening express. This woman was the
only one saved, and she had managed to
crawl up to the station for assistance.
| helped the woman up on the plat
form, and told her to hurry into the
station house and wait until my return.
Then, with lantern in hand, l started on
a run toward the scene of the disaster.
1t was barely a quarter of q mile to the
crossing, but it seemed ages to me be-
fore l reached it.
All was quiet; not moan nor shrek
Of any kind could be heard. The storm
still ragged around. | looked down the
embankment, expecting to see heap of
broken, twisted iron mixed up with the
dead and dying passengers
| then examined the crossing and
found the line in good condition. A
small slip had been caused by large
current of water, but everything--so far
as | could see-was in perfect oSder.
What could it all mean And in an
agony of fear and dread | stood still and
thought. In my excitement | had not
asked the woman where the accident had
happened, but took it for granted that it
was at the crossing
1t might be half mile farther on, or
it might be a mile or more, I reasoned.
But, at all events, it would be better to
return to the station and get the right
place from the woman's own lips. So |
turned my face in the direction of the
station once more and began running
with all my strength.
AS hurried along glanced occasion
ally at the line to sec if it was in good
condition. When I reached the new
switch, which was used for siding trains,
l suddenly stopped. The switch was
turned. l could not believe it possible
that l had been 50 careless as to leave it
in such a condition. If the express should
come along when it was turned, nothing
could save her from being dashed down
a steep embankment.
While | was still wondering at the
strange condition of things | heard the
long shrill shrek of the belated and, as
supposed, wrecked express. The next
moment the headlight of the engine
rushed in sight around the curve and
made long path Of light along the line
There was evidently no accident, but
there would be one in a few moments if
the brake was not turned back.
This could be done in one way only
by reaching the station before the train
reached the switch, and turning the
heavy lever that connected the two
Could do it2 | started for the station
on a dead run.
do not know how I reached it, I
was dimly conscious Of running blindly
through the darkness stumbling against
the rails, and finally leaping upon the
platform, Selling the iron lever desper-
ately in both hands.
heard the heavy bolts fly into their
sockets, and then before | could key
it the heavy wheels rumbled over the
switch. 1t seemed for moment that
the heavy pressure would jerk the lever
out of my hands but | chung to it tena-
ciously, and finally the last wheel rum
bled over the fatal place.
The evening express did not usually
stop at the station, but merely slowed up
to see if there were any passengers. But
before l could recover from my excite
ment the long line Of black carriages
were brought to a standstill and the
guard was hurrying toward me
"Jim, " he said, "take this package aud
lock it up securely in the safe until called
for. Be very careful of it, for it is some
thing valuable. will explain later
Then, without waiting for a reply, he
showed a small, heavy parcel into my
hands blew his whistle and leaped upon
the train.
The next moment the long line Of car
riages was swiftly flying southwark, and
| was once more alone.
BY this time | felt so thoroughly ex-
hausted by the excitement and strain
upon my nerves that | reeled into the
station like a drunken man
dropped into chair, completely be.
wildercd. The parcel lay before me, but
| took no notice Of it, my thoughts be.
ing busy with the strange events Of the
evening.
There were no signs Of the woman who
had started me of to find the wrecked
train In fact. felt TOO tired 30 search
for her. She had sent me on % wild
goose chase and came near causing Oh,
death Of many people. and 20 my mind
she seemed TO deserve punishment littl,
short of death.
The storm was sim raging without