The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-01-05
GONE MAD"

when the following incident occurred:
l had pulled in on the side track at
Maverick, small junction station, having
received orders to await the arrival of a
special, which wac coming Up behind no
and was due in about Is minutes, when
the telegraph operator rushed from the
station and clambered into the cab as if
possessed by some demon. His face was
white as the driven snow, while he trem-
bled in every limb.
At length he managed to control him
self sufficiently to gasp out the following
startling information:
Engineer of special gone mad; un.
coupled from train at Stiles and coming
toward us at terrible rate"
Scarcely had he ceased speaking when
the rumbling of the wild locomotive was
heard approaching, and upon looking
down the track L saw the black monster
scarcely mile distant, tearing toward us.
What was to dor
In the twinkling of an eye he would
sweep past, and then no power on earth
could stop him until he crashed into the
overland express, which had already left
the telegraph station to which orders
could be sent to warn it.
1 did not pause to think. In the brief
est possible space of time 1 told my fire.
man to uncouple the engine, and ere anoth-
er word could be spoken 1 was fleeing
down the track under full pressure of
steam closely followed by the iron monster,
whose reckless driver could be seen lean
ing out of the cab window gesticulating
wildly with demoniacal glee, as If rejoic-
ing in the wild race
HaouAn nr1Hy Hnntu hon. ~ yunnlH an6
Just why 1 started in the van of that
wild engine 1 could never tell. l acted on
the impulse of the moment, without one
thought of the consequence.
Speeding along with that maniac in my
wake, found time to collect my scattered
senses, and the terrible position was in
became more apparent. Behind me an
iron monster, putting, snorting plunging
madly onward; before me the express,
filed with hundreds of souls, and ap
preaching nearer every second.
Reader, you cannot imagine the anguish
/ suffered as the awful truth flashed
through my brain.
stood between that train Of human
souls and eternity
Could save themi
For moment / seemed to lose my
senses, for upon glancing at my watch
saw we would meet tho express in less
than half an hour. I recoiled from con.
templating the consequences. must do
something Immediately, or scores of lives
would be crushed to death in a twinkling.
But my mind was equal to the emer-
gency. In that supreme moment of de-
spair one mightier than Iseemed to instill
my bewildered brain with new energy.
Slowly began to shut off steam; the
terrible speed slackened; the distance be-
tween the two engines decreased gradual
ly, diminishing until dull thud followed
by a slight jar told me that they had met
1t was but the work of a moment to
Chamber from the cab of my engine
the cab of the specials There 81
met my gaze that shall never forget.
Standing with his hand on the thro lie,
his eyes glaring like live Goals, his whole
form writhing in fury, the maniac present
ed most frightful appearance.
Ere l could speak word or lay hand
on him, he grasped coal pick and made
terrible lunge at my head. Luckily sud
den bend in the road gave me lurch, and
the blow fell harmless against the boiler
head.
Then began terrific battle.
l was unarmed, while the mailman
seemed possessed Of superhumsn strength
The battle waged tiercely. | felt myself
growing weaker every moment.
A small bar of iron lying on the fire.
mans seat was all could procure, but it
proved my salvation. The mailman was
struggling fiercely to liberate himself from
the position I had forced him into, when
raised the iron bar and dealt him blow
on the head which completely stunned
him.
The struggle was over, but it had cost
many precious moments The sharp pierc-
ing blast of a whistle in the distance
aroused me. / needed no second warming.
Weak and exhausted, managed to make
my way back to my own engine slow and
laborious work though it was.
was just in time. Hardly had l got
under full Roadway when the express
dashed into view around a curve short
distance behind me. l called for brakes,
and the engineer, surmising something
wrong, as he saw the two light engines,
when he had received orders to meet only
a special, which was to take the side track
for him at station farther down the road,
stopped.
Well, reader, I have little more to say.
After brief rest and some stimulants, |
was able to run both engines back to
Maverick ahead of the overland express.
The mad engineer was kindly cared for
and soon recovered, but has never entered
the cab of an engine since.-Good News