The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1902-11-26

reached the end of the rails, pitching
twenty-five or thirty feet down into
the ravine.
Something prompted me TO turn my
eyes toward the other side of the track,
and there | saw group of men, ten
or dozen of them. all armed, crouch
ing at the foot of the embankment. At
the sight all my calmness took flight.
{ forgot all about the danger we were
IN. Drawing my revolver | emptled 1t
into the midst Of the group and had
the satisfaction of seeing two of them
tumble over. Then l threw the lever
forward and pulled the throttle wide
open, for now | was anxious to have
the thing over with, and the end, what
ever II might be, reached at once.
The train jumped ahead, and we
We're almost on the switch when | saw
bolt of lightning coming directly to-
ward u.s. | say l saw 1t. l did see 1t,
and that Is all know. The concus-
sion that followed made the old engine
rattle In every joint and almost jolted
me from the cab
When, moment later. the realiza-
ton of our position returned to me.
saw that the engine had passed over
the switch. A minute later and the
entire train was across. and then l
knew that by some means which l
could not understand we had escaped
the trap that had been laid for us. A
moment before we had reached 1t | had
seen the open switch rs distinctly as
ever saw anything In my life, and yet
we passed over 1t In safety.
1t WAS like n miracle We pulled in
to Chattanooga about midnight. The
assistant superintendent happened to
be there. and early the next morning
he sent for me.
"You seem to be the only man likely
TO give me clear account of your last
night experience" he said. And when
| had given II he added sharply, you
are certain you saw the open switch|
Eyes, sir" | replied; perfectly sure
of it."
Then he turned to me suddenly and
said;
what was II that closed the switch
and let you oyerT'
That's more than can say" re-
piled, but something closed 1t or we
would have gone out over the siding
and then down into the gully"
mo doubt of that" he said; none
whatever. And you mentioned some
thing about an unusually sharp fash Of
lightning which came at about this
time" He paused significantly, then
added: "Well, | want you to keep this
matter entirely to yourself Take the
first train going out, make thorough
examination of the switch and find out,
If you can. what closed 1t SO suddenly.
The next train coming this way Will
pick You up. and as soon as you arrive
here report TO me-
The assistant superintendent sug-
| gestion about the lightning kept my
| brain busy during the trip. Could that
| flash have been the agency whereby
| we We're turned from certain doom Into
| the path of safety? ] got the answer
as soon as | arrived at the scene of our
adventure and examined the switch.
| Not only had the switch been closed by
| being thrown violently into place, but
! the parts where they came together
had been fused and welded by heavens
| fires into mass so solid as to prevent
the switch from ever being opened
again.
Some may say II was nothing more
than chance, others will call 1t good
luck. but never think of 1t without
realizing that the bolt which struck
the switch and forced 1t back into place
came straight from him who "holds the
lightning In his hands"