Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-18
THE ssH oRT To MEL.

1
e}vspaper 1nan. II was on pedestrian
tour through the mountains Of West vir-
ginia. I had found that the line between
| Charleston and Clifton Forge and along
| the beautiful Kanawha afforded an excel
| lent cinder path Indeed, it was 30 good
| that 1t could be used by bicycle riders.
| The mornings were crisp and dewy and
| the days bright. The scenery was wild
| ard picturesque, often majestic. The peo-
| pie whom 1 encountered had sort of
| quaint kindness. sauntered along. drink
| ing in returning health with every breath
| Of the fresh mountain air, that seemed
| like wine.
II had passed through the marvellous
Iron Gate It must have surely been the
labored work of the Titans-and when at
| night l stopped at little hotel inquired
about the road further on. I was told of
two tunnels. the short ono and the long
one; the short one could walk through.
they said. but at the long one had bet
ter climb the hill that it pierced. following
dawned bright and fresh, and I started
of, determined to make my next stopping
place, which was about ten miles down the
| line, before halted. The long coal trains
with huge, heavily laden cars came one
after the other, trying, it seemed. to re-
move those West Virginia mountains to
the sea. About three miles from my stop
ping place of the night 1 came to tun-
moist and unpleasant, but 1t was, they
had said. the 'shcrt' tunnel. I sat down,
consulted my time table. and finding 10
passenger train scheduled for about that
time. waited for freight or coal train to
come through. reasoning that after one
came there would not be another very
soon and 1 should have time to go through.
The track double I figured, anyway
Pretty soon I heard rumble and a roar,
seeming to come from the bowels of the
earth; and as I waited an interminable
train OF empty coal cars came through,
leaving the tunnel filled with black swirl
ing cloud of coal smoke looked up at the
steep mountain side. where the wires went
over-a goat could hardly have climbed it;
must go through. So. waiting for the
smoke to clear away a little, 1 started /
carried In my hand my umbrella and when
1t got dark in the tunnel, as it quickly did,
GUIDED myself with the tightly rolled UNI
treila, running it along on the rail by my
side. All seemed well, but the tunnel seemed
to have no end. How lcnged to see the light
oEce more! An iil-omened bird of the dark
seemed to fan me with his wings. He
probably did not come within ten feet of
me, and TO circle about me. Suddenly my
neart almost stopped beating. There struck
vi my termed senses a dull and distant
rear and rumble 1t grew louder and plain
er
i Knew 1t was coming coal train-which
way was 1t coming? On which track?
Which one should take? 1 started to RIM
and stumbled over the ties There was mo-
delfverance in that. Was my life to 60 out
IN this inky darkness-this living tomb?
me Inc Tram came laundering on, ana my
thought was, as 1t came nearer: 1t is going
east II must be on the right-hand track:
must take the left. But no: this roads
eastern trains take the left-hand track:
which was right? 1 did not know then
when such knowledge might save nv life
me train came grinding behind me as |
stumbled along. / saw myself ground into
an indistinguishabie mass in the smoke
and darkness. Who would ever know it,
In desperation 1 almost fell on the wall
side of the 1eft-hand track AT full length
1 lay race down in the narrow space be-
tween the wet wall and the track My life
nunS on the perilouS choice. 1t was wrong:
l must leap over to the side of the other
track. But there was no time. On came
the monStrohs engine. Its headlight dimly
hghted up the darkness and the smoke for
an instant. could not tell which track it
waslon. f1attened myself against the wet
wall and held my breath. 1t was near me.
could feel the suction of the merciless
wheels.
1T was ON the risht-hand track and I
lost my senses. When 1 came back to con-
ciousness the wheels of the heavily laden
cars were still booming by, leaving in their
wake Il smoke fairly thick and pasty with
cindars.
Twas perfectly content to lie still until
thei smoke had somewhat settled and then
gathering up my little remaining strength
staggered through the remaining half of
the tunnel. Oh, how welcome was the
faint streak of light first SEEM and then
the bread light of Cay at the exit Ny
face, hands and clothing were covered with
coal smoke and CRIME. 1 was as black as
sweep; hut l alive! Near the exit
met the trackwalker
Got ketched, didn't We? I often git
ketched in there: Jest gilt on tother track
II was the long tunnel; but when 1
came to the short one l climbed the noun
tain. The umbrella that I had hangs up in
a safe place. the cloth all in holes at the
top, worn by friction of the rails along
which ran it. Seeing it there TODAY has
put this story into my mind"