Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-03-17

CHARLES sat ct the round table, un-
der the hanging lamp, reading the
evening paper aloud. The family were
listening in the half-indifferent way in
which all-even the most sympathetic
are obliged to regard the daily news,
which is largely made up of Others
woes, of whom we have no personal
knowledge.
For variety. here is railroad COLI
sion," said the reader, after going
through long list of coasting acct
dents, and he proceeded to read an
item, which ended with John Swift, the
engineer of the special. reversed his
engine, whistled for brakes, and saying
TO his fireman: Look out for yourself,
Davidl' jumped from the locomotives;
but his feet caught in the fireman's
shovel-which had been dropped in the
excitement-and the poor fellow, who
was one of the oldest and best engineers
on the road. was thrown beneath the
slowing wheels and quickly maugled TO
death. Had he remained upon the en-
CINE. he would have come out unhurt.' :"
when did it happen?" quickly spoke
up Horace Mason, a near neighbor. who
had dropped mas he often did-for an
hour in the evening.
He sat in an easy chair, balancing a
stout crutch-which stood him in stead
of his right leg-across the arm, and
now. without waiting for an answer to
his question. went on. with deep sigh:
Poor John Swift So he has gone
in that way at last. He has always been
called reckless, but luck has been with
him until now; while |, who was al
ways far more cautious, have been fire.
quently in trouble, and after having
been jammed, bruised and pinched, I'M
til IL came TO be said on the road that
had as many lives as n cat. have lost
leg and come off barely with my life.
John Swift and | began firing on
the Noneficut River road. on the very
same breezy March day, IS years ago.
"He was promoted to be an engineer
long before I was. but was not jealous
of his good buck and will tell you how
II happened.
when we had each been throwing
wood about two years, there was fear
full freshet on the Noneticut river, after
which our road was named. and with
which it ran parallel for 40 miles or
more.
at was a good road. well managed by
conscientious officers. who treated their
employees as If they were men and
brothers. and kept their stock away up
above par, by making their road as
nearly perfect On every way as rail
road can be made.
"The Noneiicut river fairly outdid it.
self in the way of f.eshet that year.
There was a tremendous amount of
snow at the north. and when after 4
long rain. the ice broke up and went out,
il made a block at the Narrows. above
the Oxbow falls. and in two hours time
the water had spread out over the great
meadow on one side, and had sub
merged ten rods of our track on the
other, midway between Nosuch and
North Nosuch stations. taking every
body by surprise, for the oldest inhab-
iiants even had never before known |
the placid. steady Noneticut to attempt |
going beyond its prescribed bonds.
Late that afternoon the freight tina. |
was firing was standing on a siding |
NJ North Nosuch station. waiting for |
the express to PASS us. upon whose loco
Ar.iurus--Johnny Swift |
was fireman.
There was high wind. the rain was
pouring in torrents. the slush was ankle
1eep. and as darkness settled down |
upon us there was promise of the worst |
Kind of a night for railroading-or any
hing else. for that matter-that could |
AXE person ont of doors.
Just as the express came whistling
nto the North Nosuch station. little old
Jimmie Hughes. droll Irishman. who
ived in a small shanty in the center of
IS good 'pertatee-patch' as there was
IN the river road. came hurrying and
wheeling into the,passenger station.
Every hand on the roadknew Jimmy.
md made point of swinging their hats
II him and his 'owld woman in her
tia. white apron and her white double
-ufied cap. as she stood by him. smiling
md knitting. while be hoed away. keep
ng the wesds out of the potatoes and
lbbageS
~'There Is ihrouble below,' ex