Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-01

that that Brown was ut his post. look
ing out as | did. and moving his hand
Cncrgetically, while whistle and bell
were uniting their protest.
What was the matter | could not
conjecture, but was anxious to know.
Springing upon the rail, | made my
way to the top of the car. and the
mystery was revealed. There on the
track was il sight that sent thrill
of horror through me. Only few
feet ahead of us on the track stood Il
mere child-unconSciouS of its danger
--paralyZed so that it could not move.
Just clear Of the track lay Il woman,
evidently helpless. | looked for Gar
diner to see what he was doing. ere
closed my eyes to shut out the hor-
riblc sight. The poor follow had not
been idle. Plainly seeing that he
could not drive the child from the
track. and that its companion was
helpless he left his cab and climbed
forward on the engine. on to the eX
treme end of the cowcatchcr. leaned
over. and while clinging with one
hand. reached out with the other.
There did not seem one chance in Il
million to save the chld-not one
but anxiety overcame horror. and |
looked, and shuddered as l looked.
How my heart leaped into my very
throat as | saw the train dash on. but
saw that as it did so Gardiner. with
almost Superhuman effort. raised the
child by it's arm from the track and
clasped it to his bosom. Then he sank
down upon the cOwcatcher. faint and
powerlesS. His fireman clambcrcd out
to his side, and you may rest assured
| was not long in getting to their as
sistance. The unusual noise of the
steam had brought every person in
the village out to witness the sight,
and us they realized it they shouted
their joy until their throats must have
been hoarse. The fireman and | clung
to Gardiner: there was no need to hold
the child. for though rigid and help
less. Gardiner held the little one to his
breast with an iron grasp. Very soon
we crossed the bridge and struck the
up grade. where the train slowed, and
finally came to full stop. nearly in
front Of Gardeners house. With the
help of the villagers we took by force
the child from Gardeners arms. and
carried the engineer into the house
and laid him on the bed. AS he sank
down the little life in him seemed to
come back. and he whispered. Whose
child is it?''
superintendent Browns" said Il
ncighbor. to my astonishment.
lis it alive?' gasped Gardiner.
at is alive and well-thankS to your
bravery" | answered. and Gardiner
sank back upon his pillow.
The child which Gardiner had so
miraculously saved was a son and only
child of our superintendent. 1t seem
cl singular that the morning talk of
the two men should have so singular
an ending. but so it was. The wife
of the superintendent. with their only
child. had been out for a walk The
little one running on ahead. had
Strayed upon the track. Hearing the
whistle. the mother called the child
to her: but the child. happy in its free
dn!n. ran on laughing and shouting,
childlike. into the very jaws of dan
ger. 1t was too much for the mother;
she made an effort TO save her darling,
but bcfor" she could overtake the
little one her strength failed her. and
she fell.
Our engine was injured so that it
was impossible to go on. and another
WAS telegraphcd for We tried all we
could to bring Gardiner back. but the
physician said the excitement under
which the noble fellow had labored
had Frustrated him, and it would re-
Gurc the greatest care and long
time to bring him back to life. He
had that care. yon may rest assured
| was in Gardeners house when
Superintendent Brown came i'll that
night The 'old man." as we called
him, had lost all sign of anger. and
he wept like a child as he looked upon
the strong man PROSTATE before him.
He visited the patient daily. and his
very life seemed to hang upon Gar
diners recovery. and when the danger
was passed. the long fever which en-
sued was broken, and the engineer
began to recover, the superintendent
was as happy as child.
l may say in conclusion. that the
accident was not without its results.
for at once the Valley road was thor
| Dughly rebuilt in the best possible
| manner newly stocked. and is today
one of the best roads in the country,
running it's trains on time. and giving
great delight to the travelling public.
thanks to the energy and enterprise
of Superintendent Gardiner. kind
hearted gray-headed gentleman who
is ranked among the best railroad men
in the country. l go down to see him
twice year, and we always talk
about the day when he undertook to
run his timetable, and the results
| thereof.