The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-02-23


awaited him. The division superin-
tendent had received by express from
Vancouver an embossed address suit
ably framed, from the passengers who
had reached the end of their journey,
with request that it be presented to
Fairbairn. together with the purse
of gold that accompanied it.-New
York Tribune Sunday Magazine.
STRANGE ACT OF PROVIDENCE.
How remarkable are some of the
experiences of those who drive loco
motives for any length of time may
be gathered from a story of early
days in the West told by an engineer
not long ago in the official organ of
the Order of Railway Conductors.
About twenty-five years ago, while
working on what was known as the
P, M. & o. railway, which ran
through the eastern part of Missouri,
he left Tacoma about ten o'clock one
morning with train of twelve heavi-
ly loaded passenger cars containing
the members of a Sunday-school
bound for picnic at a place known
as Picnic Grove, about fifty miles dis
tant. 1t was insufferably hot, and be-
fore the train had made more than
half the distance clouds began to
gather, and soon the sky became
black as ink. Evidently an exceed
ingly heavy thunder storm might be
expected at any time.
At last it came, a regular cloud
burst. The children in the train
thought only of spoiled outing; but
the man in the cab was seriously con-
sidering the possibility of washout
and spread rails.
AS they swung round a curve and
bore down on a small station at a
speed of about thirty-five miles an
hour, the engineer, keenly on the
lookout despite the falling sheets of
rain, was Mortified to discover that
the switch for the siding was set foul.
Probably freight train had used it
and the brakeman had forgotten to
set it properly after backing out his
train.
To run over it meant terrible dis
aster, and even the fireman, feeling
sure that his own death vas near,
could only whisper hoarsely, "Oh, the
kids, the poor kids"
The engineer reversed and did all
in his power to bring the train to a
stop; but he knew that he could not
hope to bring up in time; the speed
was too great and the switch too near.
Better stick to it," he shouted to
his fireman.
'I mean to-" was the answer. God
| help us!"
Scarcely had the words left his
mouth when bolt of lightning more
binding than any before flashed di-
rectly in front of the engine, followed
| by the terrific and peculiar crack of
thunder which indicated that the bolt
had struck something. Engineer and
| fireman were half daZed, and by the
time they had fully recovered their
senses were astounded to discover,
that they had passed the switch and
were still riding safely on the main
| line.
AS soon as possible the train was
brought to a stop, and both hurried
back to discover what had happened.
The fireman took off his cap. IF
that isn't what they speak of as the
act of God, l know know what isl"
he said.
The lightning had struck squarely
between the switch and the rail, fore
ing over the track, and so allowing
them to pass in safety. While the
conductor hurried back to the station
to make a report and call for section
men to make permanent repairs to
the switch, the pastor in charge of
the excursionists was listening to the
story of the engineer. At the end he
gazed at him curiously for moment,
then said quietly:
"Yes, l think we should all give
thanks to our heavenly Father. By
the way, your hair was black when
you combed 1t this morning, was it
not?"
Certainly" answered the driver.
I'm afraid you won't find much
black left there now" said the clergy
man. 1T has become almost entirely
white. New York Tribune Sunday
Magazine.