Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-09-04

CINE and put on the air brakes. The
big mogul slackened speed, and came
shudderingly to standstill within
a few yards of the bridge.
Meanwhile my fireman had thrust
his head out of the window to look
down the track ahead of US.
When he drew in and turned his
face to me, / saw his protruding
eyes and deathly pallor that be had
seen something which nearly terri
fed him out Of his wits. In fact,
he was speechless, and could only
point with trembling hand toward
the summit of a mountain which
rose frowningly above the track on
the other side OF the river. Follow
Ing his gesture, | looked out OF the
cab window, and beheld q sight
which fairly stupefied me with
amazement.
A long train of cars, composed en-
tirely Of flame, was rushing across
the sky, over the top of the noun
tain. From the smoke stack of the
phantom engine were pouring clouds
of sparks, that seemed to mingle
with the stars in the midnight sky.
Suddenly a crimson flag appeared,
waving from the cab window.
Then in an instant the apparition
was gone, and only the stars we're
shining in the black, midnight sky.
"It's a supernatural warning,
Bob !" said my fireman in an awed
whisper "There's danger ahead
bark p
From around the flank of the
mountain across the river flashed, at
that moment, the Keeling headlight
of an engine running at full speed
Not sound did she make other
than the rumble of her own wheels
not even the customary short
whistle as she approached the bridge.
The moment I laid eyes Oh her
knew she WAS runaway ; and be-
fore she had gone a hundred yards
the moguls great driving wheels
were grinding backward on the
rails.
"God help US y | cried. sour
only chance is to run ahead of her,
until some telegraph operator wires
ahead to the next station to set a
switch and ditch her.
It was terrific race. / still shud-
der at the thought of it.
The mogul was the larger and
more powerful engine, but her wild
pursuer was running light and APP
parently at full speed. The result
must have been awful had we met
her head-on.
Past half dozen sleepy little
way stations we few, the wild en-.
CINE gaining few feet in every
mile, till at last some wide awake
operator OWNED the situation, and
sent the saving message flashing
ahead of US.
AS we dashed by the long freight
siding at Hardwick, we saw the
plucky station master dart to the
switch rod, unlock it, and throw it
over the instant we had passed.
The wildcat was less than three
hundred yards behind US st the time
but the switch caught her. and we
saw her plunge against the bunker
at the end of the rails, and fling her.
self in Kissing, flaming ruin into
the field beyond.
We put on the brakes, and came
to stop little way beyond the
station. The conductor leaped from
the baggage car to the engine.
"By heaven it was close shave,'
he exclaimed, clambering into the
cab and wringing my hand. slow
in Gods name did you know that
thing was coming when you stopped
at the bridget"
"I-I saw sign in the sky that
warned me, / faltered.
"Well, Gcd be praised TOR it !"
exclaimed the conductor. at saw
ed US when nothing else could"
Reader, do you believe that our
friends watch over us and care for
US after they have passed into the
other life?
do. I believe that the warning
which saved US from destruction
that night was given me by my old
mate, Tom Hatch. / don't consider
myself superstitious, either. l sim
ply don't believe in denying the tes-
timony Of my own senses.
''What is hardy rose bush ~