Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-03-03
How He FIagggel the Train.

There is a certain clergyman
" no has recently come to believe
more firmly than ever that he
knows little Of the ways OF the
world, and especially tf that part
pertaining to the management OF a
railroad. This clergyman is well
known all over the country, and he
has frequent calls from western
cjlrs ioI his services. Recently
ne consented to visit a small CITY
in the West near Columbus, w.,
and dedicate new church that had
INST been built. Accordingly, be
took IL night train, aud ABOUT
tweuty four hours later he reached
the city. He was met by a delega-
riou from the church aud was
tsk ken at once 10 the best hotel III
the lltile place and made as COM
Portable as possible.
The duty that be came TO town
10 perform WAS promptly carried
our, and he began 10 speculate up
ON the best way to get home. DE
found that by catching a train that
vent through the town at . o'clock
IN the morning he could get home
IN time to fulfill an engagement OF
importance 90 he decided to take
that train. He refused the kInd
offers OF several persons to come
arnnnl and take him to the station.
He said he would not bother any
one, 6ut woull slip out quietly
esil7 in he morning, The train be
vastotake did not stop at the
town unless tagged. He visited
the station agent and asked him II
be would flag the tram. The agent
said regretfully that be went home
at @ p. N. and did not come back
until : o'clock next morning, but
ba uonII cnme down TO Oblige the
minister. The clergy man declined
this kind offer, and SAID that II the
aeeut would leave a lantern Oul
where he could fud it he would
light ii sud dag the train himself.
This agreemeut was made, aud
the clerg, mso went home aud re-
rir, d early. About 4 o'clock be was
as,Ir, and after packing mp walked
down 10 the station, u short dis
tsnce away. He reached there
..bout A55 o'clock by his watch.
. he found the lantern and lighted
il. and sat down to walt for train.
| Now everything was all right, ex'
cent that this minister was an ab'
> seut.minded one, and had never
/ realized that there was an hours
d, fierence in the time between New
York and the Ohio town. 1t Vas D
o'clock by bis watch, New Ymk
time. and 20 he was an hour ahead
Of time. 1t was 6 o'clock by bis
time yvLeu the tIain was due. He
had waited only few moments
when big train came rafting
along. BE saw The headlight flare
mp 10 the darkness, and he stepped
out and swung bis lantern. Ihe
tram drew nearer and nearer and
yl0wed mp, and finally came to a
lull stop. Then the clergyman dis
covered that be had pulled down a
long freight. He was speechless
with surprise, but the engineer
wasn't. When lie learned the cOu
diuon Of Affairs lie broke loose
With a torrent of abuse, to which
the aiiuister.made no reply. The en-
gi8eer finally climb Il bac's o. biz
e., eine ald opened the throttle. Il
va- afcold Niuier nofniug ard The
easlre cresked, pufed, snorted
,r. zed. ana the Wheels spur
frauiically in getting The big tralI
started. Finally he got under wal
and left the clergy man behind, bu
still ignorant OF his time schedule
being awry.
II, rOrdered over the situation
srd aDally came to The conclusion
that the passenger tram was late
, and that this freight was run II
All al on a SPECIAL schedule. AbOu
ten nInutes later he saw anOthe
headlight blaze in the distance
b. ana felt confident that this wa
q he passenger. So he stepped ou
and SWING his lantern. The resnl
I, Was the train slowed up and stol
IS ped. and when he discerned II
i. outline through tie darkness h
, t. .,,,.,,a1 4o 600 that n