The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-27
BY A HAIRS BREADTH

nown connected with the incident / am
nbout to relate, perhaps he might not like
his name to appear, but should you visit
West Point and meet with an artillery off
rcr whom everybody likes and who is ono
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 can.
The conversation of my friend converted
the tediousness of the journey into enjc--
ment and before we had supposed our
selves ut Pceksliill we were surprised TT
the shout of the brakeman announcing the
station, Garrison
"Do you not stop here for West Point
inquired.
mo" replied the captain. II am going
to Hudson 20 dine. ="
Immediately after passing Garrison 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, Il always
feel chilly when go through that tunnel "
For what reason?' l asked
II was caught in 1t one night, " said the
captain, land think l never SO narrowly
escaped death us on THAI OCCASION"
begged him to relate the particulars,
and he obligingly described the occurrence
as follows:
"You have lived long enough in Geld
Spring" said the captain, "to know That
the Saturday dinners of MIR. - arc e.
ccedingly delightful. Well, on ono oc-
c2sion was present at one Of these SGtdr-
day evening reunions, and there was such
an unusual amount of enjoyment that time
flew by with double its ordinary rapidity.
General Scott had taken his scat ut t. e
Il.
whist table, and having bccn beaten lie
could not bear to abandon the game until
nc had rad l!ls 'rcNCrSC.
"A group of West Point professors
watched the players with deep interest, and
l myself became so absorbed in watching
the game that when l ut last remembered
that had agreed to meet Livingston at
the depot and go with him to Garrison l
found, on looking at my watch, that had
but seven minutes to get to the train. l
made my adicu 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 an
excellent walker | at once resolved to walk
to Garrison, for the distance was about
three miles only, and | had on several oC-
casions walked over that portion of the
railroad. / examined my time table and
saw that there were no trains due Tor some
hours l 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 the mouth of the tunnel 1t
looked darker and more forbidding than l
expected, and paused II few moments be
fore l resolved to go through it. l had not
gone far when l was in perfect darkness
Knowing that the trains run on the right
hand track, took the one on the left, in
order that l might not be overtaken in
rear ana could see the engine light II ap-
proachlng me In 'front.' as soon as possible.
had reached about the middle OF the
tunnel when heard the distant rum bling
OF train. listened attentively and felt
SATISFIED That the cars were coming from
the direction OF Cold Spring.
L therefore continued on the track l
had taken. Presently the sound OF the en-
glne whistle reverberated in the dismal
passage, and l was startled with the sin
! gular eject Tor at one instant l was sure
IL came from the north, while n second
SOUND seemed TO come from the opposite
direction. In TACT, soon became so uncer-
tain as to the way the train would ap-
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 stout heart
While watching the passing train /
suddenly became aware OF another train
entering the tunnel from the opposite di-
rection. Escape seemed impossible. Both
tracks were occupied, and knew If l lay
down upon the middle OF the track the cow
catcher would inevitably tear me to atoms.
II thought OF the trench outside OF the
track and sprang across the rail to throw
myself down on 1t, but as the beam of the
engine light came rushing toward me
found that there was not room. Why my
wits did not desert me has always been a