The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1903-10-30


engineer.
Something Of that sort Will be in.
vented"
"Oh, yes, one Of these days; I've al
ways said so"
In the meantime. the Lightning Ex
press was rushing on It's way. straight
into the intense darkness, which. If
possible. was now rendered more APP
parent by fcecy fall OF snow, which
was packed all about US by reason Of
the great speed at which we were
running. | could not but admire the
perfect coOlncss Of the two men who
were my companions. though my own
senses were I'm constant state Of
nervous excitement. The intense dark
ness, the binding snow into which we
drove. as II seemed 10 me not know
ing whittier, kept my sense on the
alert | could not divcst myself OF the
feeling that there was perhaps some
thing in that darkness just ahead
which we were sure To run into and
wreck the train. Finally. my excited
brain began TO recall some Of the
| u
ever read or heard until, rs | had just
arrived at the height of miserable an
ticipation. | suddenly cXclaimcd
"What Is thatT on hearing some
thing like prolonged whistle ahead.
Your ears are quick" said the en-.
ginccr calmly. THAT is the Rutland
accommodation train; IL Will pass us
I'm moment"
Even while he was speaking, there
appeared In front OF us the bright re.
tlccting signal lantern upon the other
engine. seeming exactly In front OF
Us. and perhaps six or eight rods dis
tant. but scarcely had the eye settled
upon the dazzling object before 1t
swept past us on the other track so
quickly rs To seem TO have been a
flash Of lightning. and. for IN instant.
quite taking away my breath, though
my companions did not so much as
wink an cyclid. In this instance we
had not only the thirty miles per hour
headway Of our own train, but also the
twenty miles per hour of the accom-
modation train added To the speed
which so rapidly separated us. IL 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.
ful rate Of speed, the result can easily
be conccivcdl
Frank Moore. the engineer, had been
long In the companys service. He was
man OF some thirty eight or forty
years. intelligent, though not Guilt
waited. and as | 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 SOUL
and more I'm the train? But he stood
there MS firm as the iron about him.
never for moment quitting his hold
upon either the valve which SHOULD
signal danger. or that which shut of
the motive power in case of necessity.
Begrimed by long exposure 10 SCOT
and smoke. his features were very
dark, but there was kindly express.
sion through all the bronze. and n
trmness visible in his face. which
challenged trust and entire confidence
in the man.
We had stopped twice for fuel and
water. at which times | might have
taken my seat in the passenger cars
but sense OF wild fascination seemed
to attach me 20 the locomotive, and
determined 10 continued upon IL at
least while longer. And So we dashed
still through the dense darkness and
the binding snow, as we had beer
doing for SO many n long mile. Now
and then the engine would jump it
, it's fierce hcadway on striking som,
, rifling obstruction upon the rails, auC
, my heart would leap into almost audi
I bic action. anu tO me IL appeared a
+ times as though the whole train was
. going over an cmhankment 10 newt
: able wreck. When one of these cNpcri
- enCcS was more decided than usual
: could not quite suppress an ciacula
tioa. at which my companions woul,
- glance at me with an amused smile
Custom had Injured them 10 these oc
currcnccs, SO that they gave them n
( heed
On. on. and still the driving snow
| storm and the darkness rcigncd 81
prcme. The stokcr fed the fire. and th
Y engineer. watchful aS ever. pcCre
II ahead | was perhaps getting to b
5 little sleepy from the force Of th
Is wind and the latcncsS of the hour. fC
Is il was now about midnight. when, feaj
ii ing 60 drop asleep, arose from sto,
u. on which had occn sitting, and dctc
mined 10 change to the passenger cal
| at the next stopping place. Just rs
had made this mental resolve. thci
lt came suddenly n crash at the froi
n window Of the engine that sent ever
drop of blood back to my heart with
d. s.ckcning thrill | had time To dra
In ono long breath when the cnginc
whistlcd down brakes" and shut q
x steam from the engine cXclaiming:
er My God what is thatf" while no
es he and myself shook the broken gla
from our faces and necks. and he st
re further reversed his engine.
Il Its lantern" said the firema
picking up what remained Of {
tn article which had come crashing
a at the window.