Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-07-05
A Phantom
rain?
By WILLIAM CHANDLER

bridge that years before had given
way under train, precipitating both
engine and cars into the stream. After
the accident the bridge had been re-
paired. but the crossing OF the river
had been changed to point further
upstream. and the lower bridge bad
| not been since used
This accident was the one great
event In the history Of the region In
which It occurred At the time of its
occurrence every one had been greatly
shocked Since then whenever persons
| living near the bridge found converse
| ton tagging they Invariably fall back
upon the great catastrophe for topic.
Johnny had heard it reported that
q phantom train had at different times
been seen to enter upon the bridge and
tumble in the water. He had never
met any one who had seen one Of these
ghostly performances. but 30 many per
sons believed In them that Johnny had
come to believe in them himself.
Johnny was sitting quietly In his
punt, waiting for bite and thinking
about the railroad accident, the phan-
tom train and all that, when he heard
the choo choo OF a starting train
some distance back from the river. He
was surprised, for since the accident
not only the crossing, but that part Of
the road leading to and from II had
been abandoned. The puts came near
er and nearer together. and presently
Johnny realized that a train was near
ing the brink of the river.
Then suddenly Johnny's blood ran
cold A locomotive emerged from be-
hind a clump of trees and started
across the bridge The boy knew that
the bridge had not been completely
repaired and had heard that no train
could cross it without breakings II
down The locomotive with two cars
reached the center, then TO Johnny's
horror careened, and with crash went
down into the water. dragging the cars
with It.
The sight was terrible shock to the
young fishermen. He expected to hear
shrieks and cries for help. but after
the noise caused by the fall all
was still John believed that he was
near enough to hear cries and won
dered. Then It occurred to him that
he had seen the phantom train. And
yet 50 real was 1t that be could not
bring himself to believe In this ex-
PLANTATION. He had heard the puffs.
had seen the train emerge from behind
the tretA and had seen and heard the
crash. He could not realize anything
ghostly about It.. And yet. what else
could II be than the ghost train Of
which he had heard.
Johnny "a soon as be had recovered
something ~ his equaminity pulled up
stream. To do this he WAS Obliged to
turn his back to the wreck. He had
made about three-quarters OF the dis
lance when a board passed him to
which Girl chung She did not seem
frightened. but when Johnny pulled up
beside her and helped her into his boat
she was evidently quite satisfied with
the transfer
See herer' said John excitediy.
WAS that train a real train or ghost
train
Instead Of replying she looked ut
Johnny and laughed
.Great SCOTT" exclaimed the boy.
how can you laugh at such a terrible
thing Did you so down with that
train without getting hurtr'
An idea seemed to strike the girl and
knitting her brows and assuming q
uorios,~ svnru~~i~~, ~h> .aA .R>~<Sc~ .
spiritual tone:
II am the spirit Of one who years
ago went down with the train that
crashed into the river from that
bridge"
John dropped his oars and shuddered.
Take up your oars Garry me to
yonder bank that from there may
20 back to my resting place in the
cemetery"