The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-09-09
BYAHAIR'S BREADTH

a cousin in Albany, 1 took my seat in an
evening Hudson river train. While looking
through the window at the crowd Of hurry
ing passen gers, I felt my shoulder touched
and heard the pleasant voice of my friend,
CAPTAIN b. As there is no military re-
noyFn connected with the incident am
about to relate, perhaps he might not like
his name to appear, but should you visit
West Point and meet with an ARTILLERY Off
Ger 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 1 can.
The conversation of my friend converted
the tediOusness of the journey into enjoy
ment, and before we had supposed our
selves at Peeksl1in we were surprised at
the shout of the brakeman announcing the
station, ''GarrisOnF'
"Do you not stop here for West Point?''
I inquired.
'.No, - replied the captain. 81 am going
to Hudson to dine. -
Immediately after passing Garrison the
train steamed through the long tunnel
which takes it's name from the station. My
friend was silent for several minutes after,
when, turning to me, he said, Il always
feel chilly when go through that tunnel -
For what reason?'' asked.
81 was caught in it one night, " said the
captain, and think never so narrowly
escaped death as on that occasion. -
begged him to relate the particulars
and he obhgingly described the occurrence
as follows:
'You have lived long enough in Cold
Spring" said the captain, "tO know that
the Saturday dinners of Mr.. -- are ex-
ceedingly delightful Well, on one Oc-
casion I 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 its ordinary rapidity.
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
myself became so absorbed in watching
the game that when 1 at last remem bered
that 1 had agreed to meet Livingston at
the depot and go with him to Garrison 1
found, on looking at my watch, that L had
but seven minutes to get to the train. L
made my adieu hastily and walked rapidly
to the station, but arrived too late. The
train had gone.
The night was delightful The stars
were brilliant and the moon was nearly
full. felt unusually well, and being
excellent walker at once resolved to walk
to Garrison, for the distance was about
three miles only, ana I had on several oc-
casions walked over that portion of the
railroad. I 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 rRil over the drawbridge I
reached the mouth of the tunnel. It
looked darker and more forbidding than
expected, and paused few moments be-
fore resolved to go through it I had not
gone far when 1 was in perfect darkness.
Knowing that the trains run on the right
hand track, took the one on the left, in
order that 1 might not be overtaIzen in
rear and could see the engine light if ap-
preaching me in front as soon as possible.
1 had reached about the middle of the
tunnel when heard the distant rumbling
of a train. listened attentively and felt
satisfied that the cars were coming from
the direction of Cold Spring
L therefore continued on the track I
had taken. Presently the sound of the en-
CINE whistle reverberated in the dismal
passage, and I was startled with the sin
gular effect, for at one instant 1 was sure
it came from the north, while a second
sound seemed to come from the opposite
direction. In fact, 1 soon became so uncer-
tain as to the way the train would APP
proach that stood still and watched both
entrances. In very few moments saw
the bright light of the locomotive sweep
ing round the curve near the northerly
mouth, and felt relieved for the train
was on the other track. But the unearthly
noise of the rapidly moving cars was
enough to terrify even q stout heart.
while watching the passing train I
suddenly became aware of another train
entering the tunnel from the opposite di-
rection. Escape seemed impossible. Both
tracks were occupied, and I knew if I lay
down upon the middle of the track the COW
"a
Il thought of the trench outside of the
track and sprang across the rail to throw
myself down on it, but the beam of the
engine light came rushing toward me 1
found that there was not room. Why my
wits did not desert me has always been a
wonder, for felt that had but a second
or two to live and would be killed in a
most horrible manner, but a mercifuI
Providence directed my eyes to an unusual
ly large cavity in the wall, caused by a
blast near a seam, and with the rapidity of
thought 1 sprang into it and pressed my
back against the rocks
THE cars rushed by ard so close that
the wind caused by their motion blew off
my hat, and a few that were an inch or
two wider than the rest rubbed my cloth
ing, as 1 afberward 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
VnOse InOlheh0s-Gne suspense, Ine nope OF
escape and the terror lest some car a little
wider than the rest should drag me from
that shallow cavity and crush me- the be
Wildering, rushing, crushing noise of that
fearful train and the internlinable time it
seemed to take to pass by-yOu would not
wonder that 1 cannot even now pass
through that tunnel, although safely in
my car, without 4 shudder and prayer of
thankfulness 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. Exchange.