Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-30
CAUGHT IN A
TUNNEL.

hurrying passonRurs, felt my shoulder
touched and hoard the pleasant voice Of
my friend, Captain B.. AS there Is no
military renOwn connected with the Incl.
don't / am about 90 relate, perhaps he
might not like his name 20 appear, but
should you visit West Point and meet
with AN artillery officer whom everybody
likes and who a. one ~ the most agreeable
companions Ia the world you may ask
| him about his tunnel adventure and lac
| will describe IL 10 you better than can.
The conversation Of my friend converted
the tediousDoss of tho journey into enjoy
ment, and before we had supposed our
selves 40 peekskill we were surprised at
the shout Of the brakeman announcing tho
station, "Garrison'sl"
"Do you not stop here for West Polnt"
| inquired
NO" replied the captain. II am going
70 Hudson 10 dine"
Immediately after passing Garrison q
| the train steamed through the long tunnel
| which takes its name from the station.
| My friend was silont for several minutes
after, whom, turning 90 me, he said, II
always feel chilly when 20 through that
tunnel"
"For what reasonf" ] asked.
II was caught In 10 one night" said the
captain, and ] think never 80 narrowly
escaped death as on that OCCASION" "
begged him to relate the particulars,
and no obligingly described the occurrence
as followsi
"You have lived long enough IN Cold
Spring" said tho captain, 'to know that
tho Saturday dinners of Mr.. are ex-
ooedingly delightful. VOL, on one occa-
sion was present at one Of these Satur-
day evening reunions, and there was such
an unusual amount Of enjoyment that
time few by with double It's ordinary ra-
pidity. General SCOTT had taken his seat
nc the whist table and having been beaten
he could not boar TO abandon the game
until no had had his revenge A group
Of West Point professors watched the
players with deep interest, and j myself
became so absorbed I'm Watching the game
that when at last remembered that had
agreed TO meet Livingston at the depot
and go with him TO Garrlson's found, on
looking ut my watch, that / had but seven
minutes to get 20 tho train. i made my
Adieux hastily and walked rapidly TO tho
station, but arrived too late The train
had gone.
"The night was delightful, the stars
wero brilliant and the moon was nearly
full. felt unusually well. and being an
exoellent walker ! at once resolved TO walk
20 Garrison g, for the distance was about
throo miles only, and had on several oo-
oasions walked over that portion OF the
railroad / examined my time table and
saw that there were no trains due for some
hours. did not at that time know it had
been that day changed.
After picking my way over the long
bridges on piles and testing my powers Of
walking a rail over the drawbridge
reached tho mouth OF tho tunnel IL looked
darker and more forbidding than expect
ed, and paused fow moments before
resolved 20 60 through IT, had not gone
far when was In perfect darkness Know
ing that the trains run on the right hand
track, took the one on the left, in order
that I might not be overtaken In rear and
could 500 the engine light II approaching
mo In front, M soon as possible. had
reached about the middle of tho tunnel,
when l heard the distant rumbling OF a
train. listened attentively and felt satis-
fed that the cars wero coming from the
direction of Cold Spring
II therefore continued on the track ] had
taken. Presently tho sound OF the engine
whistle roverberated In the dismal passage
and was startled with the singular effect,
for nc one instant was sure Il came from
the north, while second sound seemed to
come from the opposite direction. I'm fact
i soon became so uncertain as tO the way
the train would approach that l stood
still and watched both entrances. In u
very few moments l saw the bright light
OF tho locomotive sweeping round the
curve noar tbe northcrly mouth, and felt
relieved, for tho train was ON the othor
track But the unoarthly noiso of tho rap
idly moving cars was enough to terrify
even n stout heart.
"While watching the passing tram l
suddenly became aware Of another train
entering the tunnel from tho opposite iii
rection. Escape seemed impossible Both
tracks were occupied, and knew II lay
down upon the middle Of the track the
cowoatchor would inevitably tear me TO
atoms. thought OF the trench outside Of
the track and spranR aoross the rail TO
throw myself down In it. but as the beam
Of the engine light oamo rushing toward
mo l found that there was not room.
Why my wits did not desert me has a.
ways been wonder, for felt that had
but "A second ur two go live md would be
killed In IA most horrible manner, but a
mcrCiful Providence directed my eyes 20
oh hlhHhhiig HrSO NhNibg W tIlt NdIlf
caused 10y n blast noar q scam, and with
the rapidity of thought ! sprang into it
and pressed my back against the rocks
The cars rushed by and 40 close that the
| wind caused by their motion blow of my
hat, and a fow that were an inch or two
wider than the rest rubbed my clothing,
rs afterwarl saw 10y the marks. Oh, my
fricnd," said the captain, placing his
hand, which WINS like ice from agitation,
upon mine, III you knew the agony of
those moments--the suspense, The hope
Of escape and the terror lest somo car n lit.
tie wider than the rest should drag me
from that shallow cavity and crush me,
the bewildering, rushing, crushing noise
OF that fearful train and the interminable
time IL seemed TO take tO pass hy--you
would not wonder that cannot cvon now
pass through that tunnel, although safely
In my cur, without shuddcr and Aprayor
| Of thankfulness TO Providence for not for
saking me IN those trying moments"
Tho captain was silent for several min
utes, and DIM not speak TO him, for was
deeply impressed by his story.-Ncw York
News