Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-10-31

were my companions, though my own
senses We're in constant state of
nervous excitement. The intense dark.
ness, the binding snow into which we
| drove, as 1t seemed to me not know
| ing whittier, kept my sense on the
| alert. I could not divest myself of the
feeling that there was perhaps some
thing in that darkness just ahead
| which we were sure to run into ana
wreck the train. Finally. my excited
brain began to recall some of the
many railroad accidents OF which had
ever read or heard, until, as had just
arrived at the height Of miserable an
ticipation, suddenly exclaimed:
what is that" on hearing some
thing like prolonged whistle ahead.
Your ears are quick" said the en-
gineer calmly. THAT is the Rutland
accommodation train; it will pass lis
in moment"
Even while he was speaking, there
appeared in front of us the bright re-
fecting signal lantern upon the other
engine, seeming exactly in front Of
lis, and perhaps six or eight rods dis
tant, but scarcely had the eye settled
upon the dazzling object before it
swept past us on the other track SO
quickly as to seem to have been a
flash Of lightning, and, for an instant,
quite taking away my breath, though
my companions did not so much as
wink an eyelid. In this instance we
had not only the thirty miles per hour
Roadway of our own train, but also the
twenty miles per hour of the accom-
mediation train added to the speed
which so rapidly separated us. 1t was
not very pleasant thought which
passed through my brain just then,
that misplaced switch might bring
these two trains upon the same track
facing each other. and, at this fright
full rate of speed, the result can easily
be conceived!
Frank Moore. the engineer, had been
long in the company's service. He was
a man of some thirty eight or forty
years, intelligent, though not cult
waited, and as l watched him standing
at his post, that dark and dismal night,
thought how many lives were trust
ed to his sole guidance. Supposing an
accident were to happen to him, what
would become Of the hundred souls
and more in the train? But he stood
there as firm as the iron about him,
upon either the valve which should
signal danger, or that which shut Off
the motive power in case of necessity.
Begrimed. by long exposure to SCOT
and smoke. his features were very
dark, but there was kindly express
sion through all the bronze, and
firmness visible in his face, which
challenged trust and entire confidence
in the man.
We had stopped twice for fuel and
water, at which times I might have
taken my seat in the passenger cars,
but sense of wild fascina ton seemed
to attach me to the locomotive, and
determined to continued upon 1t at
least while longer. And so we dashed
still through the dense darkness and
the binding snow, as we had been
doing for so many long mile. Now
and then the engine would jump in
its fierce Roadway on striking some
lrifling obstruction upon the rails, and
my heart would leap into almost audi
BILE action. and to me it appeared at
times as though the whole train was
going over an embankment to newt
able wreck. When one Of these expert
ences was more decided than usual,
could not quite suppress an ejacula-
ton, at which my companions would
glance at me with an amused smile.
Custom had Injured them to these oc-
currences, so that they gave them no
heed.
On, on, and still the driving snow
storm and the darkness reigned su-
preme. The stOker fed the fire, and the
engineer, watchful as ever, peered
ahead. 1 was perhaps getting to be
little sleepy from the force Of the
wind and the lateness of the hour, for
1t was now about midnight when, fear
ing to drop asleep, arose from stool
Oh which / had oeen sitting, and deter
mined to change to the passenger cars
at the next stopping place. Just as
had made this mental resolve, there
came suddenly crash at the front
window of the engine that sent every
drop of blood back to my heart with a
sickening thrill. I had time to draw
one long breath when the engineer
whistled "down brakes" and shut of
steam from the engine, exclaiming:
"My God what is that" while both
lie and myself shook the broken glass
from our faces and necks, and he still
further reversed his engine.
Its lantern" said the fireman,
picking up what remained of the
article which had come crashing in
ut the window.
"Throw at u.s." said the engineer.
THAT means danger If it means any
thing"
In the meantime, the train had been
brought to a standstill, the conductor
had appeared at the side of the loco
motive to consult with the engineer,
the bell was rung, the whistle started,
and gradually we ran backward toward
the spot where the lantern had struck
us. We had retraced our way for
nearly quarter of mile, when a man
suddenl.' appeared through the dark
ness, AMI came to the locomotive.
"Did you throw that lantern?' asked
the engineer.
"To be sure did, and worse luck if
hadn't hit yer was the answer that
came to our ears with unmistakable
Milesian accent.
"Who are your asked the conductor.
"I'm trackman between here and
Brandon"
"Well, what's the lnatter" asked
the engineer.
'The matter Is broken rail, just
beyant, as would have sent ye all
to gloryv' replied the Irishman.
The affair was ,oon explained.
During the winter season the frost
often renders the rails very brittle. 20