Year: 1862

EEs l T -3a5s51Aai l =s J-.Afttf-fs -5's+'t s-+4 A RIDE ON THE MADISON. 1 Reader whether you gre travelling individual or not, did you ever take ride with the engin ger on the locomotive? We'll, if you never did and furthermore, are not capable of " keeping yourself cool" and your nerves collected on all occasions, would respectfully suggest to you the fact that cars were made for the especial purpose of conveying travellers. "You must be ready to get aboard immedi- ately when you see us back down to attach to the train, which we shall do in about ten min utes," said the engineer to me, having control of an express engine on one of our fast roads, who l had politely invited me to accompany him on Q trip. Having seated and irrevocable determi- nation to ride, though not to run wid der ma chine," pulled up an easy chair to the window, | where I could observe all the motions of the Iron Horse, whose rider was soon to be- As it stood there roaring and fuming, seem- ingly impatient to be gone, could but breathe I to it humble supplication that it would mani. fest degree of mildness and gentility worthy of a thing of such acknowledged power While I am thus occupied, of sudden the roar of escap- ing steam ceases, and with heavy pants the en- | zine backs towards the train which is in readi- ness to start. Taking courage and my cap, I make all haste and chamber up her iron sides just as she slowly and majestically emerges from the depot: The engineer smilingly points to the place l am to accupy, and proceed thereto with | a vague and indescribable kind of fear, such as never before experienced. Having established myself well in my seat, I had an opportunity to look about me. My first conviction is that our speed has been increased, and that sensibly since got on. Surely, we did not then fit past trees 1 and rocks, and houses as now. nor was there this roar and chatter of machinery.

 | While these thoughts pass through my mind | the din increases, and we vie with the wind as we rush or. plunging under bridges rattling over crossings and culverts, sounding the warning bell to all the unwary, who may be imprudenty walking or loitering on the track.

 Heaven grant that all may hear in time to es- | cape from sudden and terrible death. Now we ! sweep round curve, and the engine as if scorn- tEi of this slow rate, springs to greater speed Farther on the track goes round another curve, and with a nervous anxiety, strain my eyes to see what is beyond it. The curve is gained, and see, but fearful short distance ahead of us are two men on the track, observing the motions of a train just in advance of us on another track, and ignorant of our approach and thsir conse- quent danger. Ah, my poor fellows, may God help you now, for human aid can little advan- tage. On, on, nearer and nearer we come with speed that cannot be checked. The fireman sees the danger and rushes to the side of the engine the engineer sees it, his hand is raised and the whistle sounded, and why do they not save them selves? As we draw in our breath expecting to see them both fall before our remorseless steed, one leaps from the track and barely saves him. self; while the other-look, he is struck, he falls and we just have glimpse of a manged corpse, still rolling from the shock of the concussion as we Hit past.

 The fireman makes gesture of sorrow and pain, the train is stopped and backed to the fatal spot. All is over and another soul is ushered as it were in the twinkling of an eye, whether pre- pared or nnpreparea into the presence of its God.

 Again, and with feelings rendered not parti cularly tranquil by the scenes of the last few mo- ments we sped on. Our speed is soon slackened and soon we roll slowly and majestically upon a trestle bridge from whose dizzy abutments we look down into the chimnies of respectable sized houses as we pass.

 As we near the centre look down with cold shudder of terror to the water far below,-so far down that the masts of the shipping pass under us easily. Think of the horror of plunge into the depths of those blue waves. Decidedly not ill good taste. But our slow and steady motion has carried us over the further abutment. Now that are over the Engine casts off all restraint and comes bravely up to the work. It would seem as if the steeds of old king Pluto were un- der our rein, and we can easily imagine that no greater speed could have been gained nor no greater chatter ensued at the time when that un- derg:oand sovereign abducted the youthful Pros perina.

 At this moment the door of the furnace is flung open and in that gaping mouth you see the fierce flame and hear its roaring; you form some faint sHno fhar k1ok 1,,,, ing you with impetuous speed past river and mead, farm house and village. Now the Engine. CT puts his hand to heavy iron bar arranged with spring catch and braein9 himself draws it back notch and the terrific speed at which we were before running is increased to frightful velocity which sets all your senses in a whirl.

 Recovering my ideas find myself instructive ly and wildly clinging,-one hand to the iron brace at my side, the other to the seat on which l am sitting. Casting glance at the engineer, behold him, his hand on the throttle, the very image of serenity and composure.

 The dust flies in clouds, the dry leaves are toss ed in the air as by whirlwipd, men lean on their hoes and scythes to see us as we bound past the village appears in the distance, anon it is far in the rear, the man with the white flag at the station is passed almost as soon as seen, the workmen we saw away ahead on the track but a

 

 rushed on, and amid all this he stands there with the same unmoved countenance as when a+hu man soul was sent from time to eternity by the fire breathing monster he controls. Now he raises his hand to small brass handle and a shriek like that of confined demon causes you to jump nearly from your seat.

 While you are trying to recover from the effects of this, whiz-z-sh goes something comparable to,--just nothing else, unless it be the combined hiss-6 couple dozen Anacondas. Then follows in quick succession all the noises and shrieks, and jars, and groans, supposed capable of mak- ing the most steady minded person mad lunatic, till 1 whose nerves are not easily moved begin to regret that was endowed with quite so much Yankee curiosity, especially when we come round a curve and the concussion nearly throws me from my seat. #H

 But having gone thus far I must see the end and thanks to a kind fortune we are nearing it. The last station is passed, and we are rapidly approaching the City of Films" from which we started. We welcome the return with a kind of joy we never before knew. Here we are at last the train stops, and thanking the gentlemanly engineer and fireman for their kindness we dis mount from the fiery steed where we have gained so many ideas of locomotives in general, and en- gineers in particular. Hereafter let no one won. der that they are uncommunicative, quiet, but determined men. In the position in which they are placed their mind is wholly occupied by their daily employment. The workings of the most mighty production of human ingenuity are under their control and supervision, as well as the lives and fortunes of the many who confide themselves to their skill and care. No, 1t is no cause for wonder that they keep counsel with themselves and converse but little with those with whom :, they come in contact

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