Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-04-05
DELAYED DISPATCH.

terry day in January, one of those dreary
winter days that make one feel SO mel
ancholy and blue, the wind shriekine
about the building and the snow falling
thickly in great white flakes, which
seemed to be vying with each other fol
comfortable spot on which to fall
when reaching the friendly bosom Of
earth. Old Sol had not favored us with
smile all day, but had sulkily hidden
his face behind the gray restless clouds
1t was truly dismal afternoon.
The Office building in which I was
domiciled was one of those dreary old
country stations which seemed to be
dropped along the side of the railroad
track at intervals without an effort at
making them other than what they are,
both uncomfortable and unsightly.
The little town of B. was sleepy
little village of about 900 inhabitants,
built down in valley, surrounded by
hills, from which flowed an abundance
of beautiful, clear, pure spring water,
supplying the humble, contented citi
zens Today the place presented a pic
turesque appearance. The snow had
been falling heavily during the night,
and the trees, fences, housetops, bushes
and streets were completely covered
with the beautiful. -
The principal street of the village end
ed at the foot of the long winding hill
which served as a coasting place for the
merry young people. The only sign of
life about the place this memorable aft
ernoon was the occasional jingle of
sleighbells waited to my ears on the
frosty air as some farmers boy took ad-
vantage of the deep snow to exhibit his
new sleigh, and merchant now and
then coming to the station for his small
shipments One or two disconsolate
looking tramps passed my Office, trudg
ing along through the snow, casting an
envious glance in my direction as sat
IN the bow window.
This cold wintry day, as I sat in the
little office listening intently to the tick
of the two instruments on the table in
front Of me, little did dream that it
was to be the one eventful day of my
life. Looking from the windows, could
see east and west Of me the straight line
Of track stretching away like two silver
reptiles running side by side over vast
white sheet. A short distance north of
the Office was the old wooden mill of
Bartlett & Sons, from which issued the
sound Of the merry wheels as they hum
med i'll busy unison with the click of
the looms, keeping company with my
wandering thoughts.
At a distance of perhaps quarter of
a mile on each side of my office We're
two curves, preventing my seeing train
approach the station from either direc-
ton until the shrill whistle of the en-
CINE called for my signal or down brakes.
l had just learned telegraphy, Or
thought l had, having studied it about
four months, and had become proficient
enough, as my sanguine teacher avow-
ed, to fill the place with perfect safety
while he made pleasure trip to Louis
vile, the center Of gravity for him. /
remember I had serious misgivings as
to my ability to take care of the Office
work and sat with tears trembling on
my eyelashes long after the train bear
ing my only assistance had disappeared
and felt very much depressed, as though
on the eve Of some great calamity.
To throw off this dreadful feeling I
walked to the waiting room and back
several times, humming popular air to
keep up my spirits. | think had been
thus occupied an hour or so when I
heard the train dispatcher at "M. "giv-
ing an order to the operator at Whining
ton for No. 48. freight train coming
east It read: 'Train No 48, engine
236, has until eleven ten (11:10) a. m.
to run to Raysville for No. II, engine
245.--R. G. L.
went to the table and copied the Or
der as it was given, simply doing SO to
pass the time, and heard the operator
at Wilmington receive it and give the
signatures Of both conductor and engi.
neer Of No. 48, the dispatcher giving
him the correct time Then I noted
Wilmington reporting No 4S out of his
station at 10:40 a. m. After an inter-
val Of half an hour or SO the operator at
@'M." asked if there were any orders for
No. III, receiving a negative answer
from the dispatcher. All this I noted
casually, not thinking for moment
that it had the slightest interest for me,
other than something to copy, and in
blissfnl ignorance that we were on the
verge Of a terrible catastrophe.
In few moments, while lazily gaz-
ing west from my window, I saw a
hazy, dark mist curling up over the
snow capped trees in the distance,
which looked very much like smoke
from an engine, and while was con.
1eetaring as to what it might mean I
heard the signal for my target as it
sung around the curve into sight. It
struck me as being exceedingly strange
that No. 48, freight train, was run.
ming to ''M., - regardless Of the limited,
and concluded to inform the dispatch.
or of the unusual situation, telling him
mo. 4S is coming" He answered 30.
K.." and then I gave them my signal
to 60 shead. JUST as they were round
ing the east curve, the caboose just die
appearing, IN. " called me and asked,
''Is No. 48 on the siding?'' / told him
"No;" that they had just left the sta
ton. giving the time they had passed,
His reply: my God. has No. 4s gone?
No. III is pulling out. They will coll
Tide. Can't you get No. 48s" MY heir
felt as though it was raising off my
head, chills chased themselves up and
down my spine, and the cold perspira-
ton poured down my pallid cheeks as I
rushed with all speed and less grace
from the office and frantically waved
white apron wore and which tore off
as I ran, but the crew of the freight
failed to look back as the caboose sailed
round the curve, and my heart almost
failed me as I realized that the only
hope now was to catch No. III before
they left "M."
ran back into my Office and sank in
to chair. no longer able to stand on
my feet, scarcely breathing until in a
few-hours it seemed to me, but in
reality-seconds the dispatcher called
me, saying, We've got No. H." Were
ever words SO sweet to mortal ears? The
tick of that little brass sonnder as it
rang those words through the room was
like sweet music, SO welcome were they
to me.
How did they get No. III? will tell
"