Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-14

switches VIII be turned for the train
that is to leave first in the morning,
and as that is mine, you need have no
fear about coming with me"
But the crossings are no. closed,
time. we might be the cause Of a great
deal of harm to passing teams"
NO, no, l know every inch of the
ground, and shall exercise the greatest
care when we come to the crossings.
And besides, who would be out in
weather like this?'
But what you propose doing is
against all rules and regulations: you
will lose your position, besides being
responsible for all that may happen"
What do l care for that if l could
only save my child? You can do this
for me if you will. On my knees
beg Of you to come with me! Oh.
have pity on mer'
The doctor yielded
Like some wild spirit of the night
the solitary engine sped through the
stormy darkness. Mattern had not
awakened his fireman for the reason
that he did not wish to create any I'M
necessary excitement in the engine
house. When the doctor had taken
his place, Mattern threw a can of oil
on the fire in order to put the engine
in quicker motion, and they were soon
flying along at fearful speed, which
was only lessened as they passed the
Sf>cr for I. i
accident, as the switches were turned
in the right direction.
The doctor sat down in a corner and
tried to finish mis- broken nap, and
Mattern divided mis- attention between
keeping up the fire and regulating the
speed of the engine. Had DR.. Sardo
any idea of the danger he was in, he
would not have thought of going to
sleep.
The last station was passed in safety.
There were only seven miles more to
make and they would be at their des-
jination.
While bending down to his work
Mattern suddenly felt the engine give
a jerk. A terrible cry followed MAJ
tern sp"ang up and looked about him. 1
BY the light of the engine he could see
that they had just passed a railroad
crossing. The next moment they were
again flying along in the darkness and
storm
What was there?' asked the doctor,
who had been reused out of his sleep.
"Oh, nothing-very likely a stone or
other substance, that became fast be-
tween the rails answered Mattern,
with choking breath. In a few
we shall be there"
He slackened the speed of the en-
CINE, but he did it mechanically, as if
in dream. That fearful cry almost
made his heart stand still.
He could we'll imagine what had hap |
pened. Some cart or wagon must have
been crossing at the time his engine
came tearing along in the darkness like !
some spirit of evil and no doubt he
was the cause of a terrible calamity; if
not, what was the meaning of that
sudden jerk, followed by a heartrend-
ing cry? There was the station. Mat
tern could only see dimly through the
darkness, but knew the shape of the
building too we'll to be mistaken He
stopped the engine and took the path
to his home, followed by the doctor
Through the window on the second
floor he could see a light shining.
Very likely it was there his child was
lying, wrestling with death: and to
save his child he had perhaps killed
and wounded-how many others?
He groaned aloud Slowly he |
dragged his weary feet up the stairs.
His wife opened the door at his knock.
His boy was still living. Mattern
saw his ashen face and heard his rat
Ting breath. In his ears sounded
again the awful cry that he had heard
a short time before. His nerves, that
for hours he had kept under control,
gave way, now that he had reached
his destination, and he fell to the floor
1t was late the next morning when
the engineer regained consciousness,
he could not yet collect his
thoughts very clearly; racking head !
ache prevented this. His limbs
seemed immovsble and heavy as lead. |.
In the room in which he found him
self, and which he recognized as their /
living room, a deathlike stiffness
reigned. He tried to lift his head but
in vain; he fell back on the pillow with
a groan. His wife heard him and came
in, but with face pale with weeping. |
Ruth" he whispered.
ooh, my dear husband, how thank /
full l am to see you conscious again."
she cried.
How is the boy? Is he still alive?" .
ooh, yes, thank Goo! Had you come
an hour later it would have been too
late, but the doctor thinks he is past
all danger now. He has just been
called to look after some people who |
were hurt at the railroad crossing. A
man is said to be killed, and two
women and one child badly injured.
Try to sleep a little now, dear husband
that will he your best medicine l will
cal. yea when the doctor returns"
she kissed him and went into the
next room where the child was sleep
ing.
One person dead, three badly hurt,
perhaps fatally, and through his fault!
He had had no intention of doing this;
all he thought of was the saving of his
child; but had he right to undertake
such fearful responsibility when he
knew what terrible consequences might
fo11ow3