The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-10-06

out and we followed them. A few hun
dred paoes in front of us was a railway
bridge, over which road passed, and
under which the rail went at a sharp
curve. The snow had drifted heavily
against the bridge With It's high earth
embankment. making manifest at
glance the cause OF the disaster.
The bridge was crowded with human
figures, and on the line below men were
working in the drift amid piles of debris
and splintered wood The wrecked train
had all been slightly draped in snow; the
engine alone, barely cold lying black
and grim, like some mighty giant. for
midable In death A sheet of glass ice
near II showed how the boiler had burst.
Some OF the hindormost carriages were
still standing or had faiten comparative
ly uninjured but others seemed to have
leaped upon their fellows and plowed
right through them into the drift. 1t
was we'll that II began To snow rs we
reached the spot. There were traces of
dismal smears on the white ground
which IL would be seemly TO hide.
Our friend In black went forward and
asked few questions OF the man in
charge and presently returned.
The remainder OF the passengers are
az the farm" he said. pointing 10 a house
at a little distance, and without further
delay we began TO scramble up the steep
embankment and Chamber over the stone
wall Of the bridge into the road. My
mind was full of other things. but / re-
member still the number OF people as
sembled on the bridge, and how a man
was standing up in his donkey cart to
view the scene.
II was Saturday. apd there were guam
titles of village school boys sitting
astride on the low wall, or perched on
adjacent hurdles, evidently enjoying the
spectacle, josting. bawlinE, eating
oranges and throwing the peel at the
engine. Some older people touched
their hats sympa the tically. and one went
and opened gate for us into n field.
through which many feet seemed to have
come and gone, but FOR the greater
number the event was evidently re-
sarded as an interesting variation In the
dull routine OF everyday life. and TO the
school boys IL was an undoubted treat.
Ralph and Charles walked on in front
following the track across the field. II
was not particularly heavy walking
after what we had had earlier in the
day. but Ralph stumbled pSrpetually
and presently Charles drew his arm
through nls own ana tNe TWO went on
together. the police Inspector following
with me.
In q few minutes We reached the Ia nm
and entered the farmyard. which was
the nearest way 10 the house. little
knot Of calves intrenchsd on a mound Of
straw In the center OF the yard lowered
their heads and looked ssKance at us ns
we came In. and . party of ducks re-
treated hastily from our path with a
chorus u exclamations, while thin
colly dog burst out OF a barrel at the
back door and made a series OF gym
nastics at the end OF a chain. barking
hoarsely, as II he had not spared himself
OF late.
An elderly woman with red arms met
us at the door. and on n whisper from
the police inspector first shook her head.
and then. In answer to further whis-
per, nodded at another Goor. and a voice
calling her from within hastily dlsap-
pesred.
The inspector opened the door she had
indicated and went In, / with him.
Charles, who had grown very grave.
hung back with Ralph. who seemed too
much dazed TO notice anything In heaven
above or the earth beneath. The door
uprued into an outhousr,- roughly paved
with round stones. where barrels. slaves
and divers lumber had been put away.
There was straw In the further end
OF Il. out Of which a yellow cat raised
two cleaning eyes, and thenx few up a
ladder against the wall and disappeared
among the rafters. In the middle Of the