St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-03-02

but, as the approaching engine ap-
Epeared in sight, lie awaited its arrival
before attempting to cross.
Probably from some such cause as
that | have mentioned the train swept
far beyond the platform, and, as no
attempt appeared to be made to back
up to the proper position, conclud-
ed that it would, as at other times,
| proceed on its onward course
This was evidently the opinion
adopted by the man in charge Of the
| wagon, for he called to me to open the
gates for him, which, however, / re-
fused to do until the engine should
have made some decided move; but
the mans impatience overcame his
discretion, for, alighting from bis seat,
he himself opened the gates, passed
through, remounted, and drove on
homeWard, leaving them closed across
the line.
At this juncture, to my consterna-
ton, / observed the train in backward
motion toward the platform, and
promptly rushed forward with the OBJ
ject of averting, if possible, the i'm
| pending crash.
I was some distance from the
crossing, and it appeared extremely
problematica1 whether / or the rear
ward car would first reach the point of
danger.
| | hurried along, without the least
thought Of risk to myself, possessed
only by an Overwhelming anxiety to
save the gates from the destruction
which threatened them.
| Dashing up to the one nearest me,
I gave it a vigorous thrust and sent it
swinging home with a resounding
clash. I then sprang at the other, but
found, to my horror, that it was i'm
movable! [ tugged and stroVe with
main and might, while the perspira-
tion started from my brow and my
heart thumped painfully, but all in
vain. The gate had 'ssagged" down
ward, and refused to respond to my
efforts. y s
Glancing through the bars, / saw
the cleaning wheels, gathering speed,
as they approached, roll silently and
relentlessly toward me.
The women at the doors of some
adjacent cottages, pereeiving my per-
ilous situation, cried out in warning,
but / continued to tear at the gate
with desperate energy, while the
wheels glided nearer and nearer.
At length, with supreme effort, I
managed to hoist the gate, just suf-
fciently to clear the groove IN which
it rested.
Nothing more was required on my
part, for at this instant the rear car
struck the gate with great force, send
ing it far beyond its usual range, while
Isfound myself dashed to the ground.
A piercing scream from the women
served to recall me to a sense of my
danger, and Icarefully drew my hands
and feet closely together, for | was
lying. in the space between the rails.
Here, though momentarily con-
fused by the shock, [ was able to real
tize the truth of the statement as to
the speed Of thought Of situations Of
extreme danger, for every account |
had read of the experience of persons
placed in predicaments similar to my
own REQUIRED to me with startling
vividness, and I endeavored to weigh,
with some GOODNESS, the chances, pro
and con, in respect to my ultimate
escape.
I remember that the danger Of any
effort to escape by creeping between
the wheels presented itself with. suf-
fcient force to deter me from the at
tempt, while the idea Of clinging to
the axles, with the view of reaching
the framework above them, was at
once suppressed.
A thump from loose coupling link
caused me to wonder what would be
the result should one Of those heavy
Ecustomers knock me on the head or
catch the collar Of my jacket, and I
Immediately fattened myself out as
thinly as I possibly could in order to
avoid such an awkward contingency.
Looking toward the engine, how
ever, I noticed that the fre-box was
unusually low, a circumstance that
Immediately put to fight my newly
formed purpose Of remaining pros
trate.
/ Doubtless the consciousness that
the train was but backing, and must
sooner or later come to a standstill,
contributed to my self-possession;
| yet, after all, there was the chance Of
the engineer overshooting his mark
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