Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-11-21
CAUGHT In A TUNNEL

ting through the window at the crowd of
hurrying passengers, l felt my shoulder
touched and heard the pleasant voice of
my friend, Captain B.. AS there is no
military renown connected with the Incl
dent l am about to relate, perhaps he
might not like his name to appear, but
should you visit West Point and meet
with an artillery officer whom everybody
likes and who is one of the most agreeable
companions in the world you may ask
him about his tunnel adventure and he
will describe it to you better than l can
The conversation of my friend converted
the tediousness Of the journey into enjoy
ment, and before we had supposed our
selves at Peekskill we were surprised at
the shout of the brakeman announcing the
station, Garrison
"Do you not stop here for West Point?"
inquired.
INC" replied the captain. II am going
to Hudson to dine"
Immediately after passing Garrison's
the train steamed through the long tunnel
which takes its name from the station.
My friend was silent for several minutes
after, when, turning to me- he said, II
always feel chilly when l go through that
tunnel.
For what reason?" l asked.
Il was caught in it one night" said the
captain, and l think never SO narrowly
escaped death as on that occasion. "
l begged him to relate the particulars,
and he obligingly described the occurrence
as follows
"You have lived long enough in Cold
Spring." said the captain, ITO know that
the Saturday dinners of Mr. - are ex-
ceedingly delightful. Well, 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 flew by with double its ordinary ra-
pidity. General Scott had taken his seat
at the whist table, and having been beaten
he could not bear to abandon the game
until he had had his revenge A group
of West Point professors watched the
players with deep interest, and l myself
became so absorbed in watching the game
that when at last remembered that had
agreed to meet Livingston at the depot
and go with him to Garrison's found, on
looking at my watch, that had but seven
minutes TO get to the train. l made my
adieux hastily and walked rapidly to the
station, but arrived too late. The train
had gone.
1.-THE night was delightful, the stars
were brilliant and the moon was nearly
full. felt unusually well, and being an
excellent walker at once resolved to walk
to Garrison's, for the distance was about
three miles only, and had on several &C.
CT -a1 Int ncrtinr, of tha
railroad. l 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 l
reached the mouth of the tunnel 1t looked
darker and more forbidding than I expect
ed, and paused few moments before I
resolved to go 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 might not be overtaken in rear and
could see the engine light if approaching
me in front, as soon as possible. l had
reached about the middle of the tunnel,
when l heard the distant rumbling of a
train. / listened attentively and felt salts
fled that the cars were coming from the
direction of Cold Spring
II therefore continued on the track had
taken. Presently the sound of the engine
whistle reverberated in the dismal passage,
and was startled with the singular effect,
for at one instant was sure it came from
the north, while second sound seemed to
come from the opposite direction. In fact,
l soon became SO uncertain as to the way
the train would approach that stood
still and watched both entrances. In a
very few moments l saw the bright light
of the locomotive sweeping round the
curve near the northerly mouth, and felt
relieved, for the train was on the other
track. But the unearthly noise of the rap
idly moving cars was enough to terrify
even stout heart.
while watching the passing train l
suddenly became aware Of another train
entering the tunnel from the opposite di-
rection Escape seemed impossible. Both
tracks were occupied, and knew If lay
down upon the middle of the track the
cowcatcher would inevitably tear me to
atoms. l thought of the trench outside OF
the track and sprang across the rail to
throw myself down in it, but as the beam
of the engine light came rushing toward
me l found that there was not room.
Why my wits did not desert me has al
ways been wonder, for l felt that had
but a second or two to live and would be
killed in a most horrible manner, but a
merciful Providence directed my eyes to
an unusually large cavity In the wall,
caused by a blast near seam, and with
the rapidity of thought l sprang into 1t
and pressed my back against the rocks.
The cars rushed by and SO close that the
wind caused by their motion blew off my
hat, and few that were an inch or two
wider than the rest rubbed my clothing,
as afterward saw by the marks. Oh, my
friend" said the captain, placing his
hand, which was like ice from agitation,
upon mine, "if you knew the agony Of
those moments-the suspense, the hope
of escape and tho terror lest some car a 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 it seemed to take to pass by-you
would not wonder that cannot even now
pass through that tunnel, although safely
In my car, without shudder and prayer
Of thank fulness to Providence for not for.
saking ME In those trying moments"
The captain was silent for several min
utes, and did not speak to him, for l was
deeply Impressed by his story.-New York
News.
Mercenary.
The low descending sun sent Its beams
as1art thu hack allev and lighted tho scene