Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-07-13
find that l had lost my place and had
been almost oslcpn. INV head foil slow

find that | had lost my place. and had
been almost asleep; my head fell slow
~ forward, my eyes closed, the book
dropped from my hands. and soon 1
was asleep.
'Toot-toot.
1T was the train. sprung up with
n start, grasped the safety signals and
allowed 1t to proceed, and then
oh, my God! the order!'
4 was vide awake then, and great
drops of perspiration rolled down my
face as l watched the lights of the
swiftly receding train. The engineer
Of that train. Tom Watson, was one
of my best friends, and to know that
he was rushing on to almost certain
death was terrible. His home was in
Bricksburg, and as the train passed
his house ! heard him sound his Wills
tie signal to his wife to let her know
that he was 'on time and all right.
1T Is impossible for me to explain
the awful horror that l felt, know
ing that was the cause Of what must
soon prove terrible disaster. could
only Wait and watch, almost breath
less. hoping that the engineers might
see each others headlights in time to
stop their trains.
"A short distance from the station
there was n sharp lellrve in the track,
and as 1 looked l saw the headlight of
train GS dash into view; heard the
short, sharp whistles for brakes, and
the next instant came an awful crash.
"Hatless, coatlesss' l left my office
and ran to the wreck, which was soon
all ablaze, and when l reached the
spot almost tainted ut the horrible
sight that met my view. The engines
were both piled together in heap,
bright tongues of flame were darling
up>toward the sky, while the screams
and groans Of the unfortunate pas
sengers We're awful to hear
.'Hesitating only for Il moment, l
sprang to the rescue OF those whom |
could reach and assisted them out of
danger. butI could not stand 1t long.
To see men. women, and even little
children all crushed and bleeding, and
to hear their cries for help to save
them from the cruel flames, were more
than could bear, knowing that my
carelessness was the cause of 1t all.
The river was near at hand, and with
a wild scream ran to the bridge and
jumped Off, falling down, down, down,
with murderer! ringing in my ears.
Fired! Fred! come. Fred, get hp!'
1t was my wife calling me, and how
glad was to know that the awful
disaster was only dream.
II told my wife about it, and she
said:
BE careful. Fred; for my sake be
very careful {
1.-THE >neXt day our child was very
sick, and had but little sleep, and
consequently was hardly fit for my
duties that night. asked to be ex-
cused from duty, but there happened
to be no one to put in my place, so l
had to work.
About 0 O'Clock began to feel
sleepy, and found it hard to keep
awake. A few minutes later, however.
when received an order to- bold train
II until train So arss%ed. thought of
my dream. and was wide awake In an
instant.
III placed the book where the order
could not possibly escape my eye, and
sat down to wait. But l was soon nod
ding again. This would not do. de.
cldedly! SO got up, bathed my face.
and took a turn around the platform
in the cold air, and for a short time
7 felt better. But Nature was bound
to have her way, and found could
not keep awake, The awful dream