Year: 1879

was announced to appear at the Bowery
Thcatcr. l had intended to see him that
night in his new rO{e. Our train had been
delayed some time up the river, waiting for
the express going north to pass. We were
fifteen minutes behind time at Riverdale
Forrest, who always waited ON the plat
form, was nowhere to be seen. was I'M
patient to be off, and asked Bill to blow the
whistle and ring the bell fiercely. He did
so. Still Forrest did not show up. Tic
may have remained in the city last night,
or gone down on an earlier train, thought.
However, l became uneasy, but the train
must go ahead, and ut last shouted, "All
aboard" We were obliged to make up lost
time in going to the depot, and we had
gone along probably half mile when q
furious signal of down breaks was given.
went to the forward car and saw the brake
man put on the brakes. l looked down the
track for the cause, and, with thrill Of
horror, saw a man on 1t. With head bowed
down and hands cluspcd behind his back,
he was plunged in deep thought. I was
sure it was Forrest. Hc was walking down
the track unconscious of danger The sig
mai did not arouse him. The train would
surely reached him, and Americas great ac-
tor would be manglcd mass in a twinkling.
The thoughts Of the sorrow that would bc
expressed by the people and the actors
rushed through my now quickencd brain.


cit was then | saw Bill, tho engineer,
clutch a huge billet of wood in his right
hand and go out upon the tender of the en-
gine. He threw it with all his force straight
at Forests head. 1t struck him full on
the right side, knocking him down aud off
the track just as the train rushed by. I
thought he was struck by the train, which
stopped about a hundred yards below
where Forrest stood at the time when he
was struck by the billet of wood. The late
Moses II. Grinncll, who had witnessed a
part Of the above scene from the rear car,
was one of the tirst to jump off. We all
expected to find Forests mangled body Oh
the track where he was struck by the billet
OF wood. Instead, the great tragcdian waH
sitting with his back against telegraph
pole, cody tugging away at a damaged
boot"


care you hurt much, Ned |" Mr.. Grin
nell anXiously inquired.


"Not as much as this boot is, he ans
wcrcd, with an effort at smile.


'Ihe COw-catcher had torn the sole off
his boot and injured his foot slightly.


"What were you doing on the track, and
such distance from the dcpot2"


81 became impatient over the trains de-
lay, " he replied, ''and thought of saunter-
ing down the track. 1t is better walking
on The track than the sido road My i'm
patience made me nervous, and l thought
to work it off by walking. fell into deep
thought, and unconsciously walked along
Had been left alone would have walked
into the city. ] did not hear any signals,
nor know of my danger until found my
self rolling OH the ground. ( could not con-
When found that Forrest was not serious
ly injured | again shouted, "All aboard" "
After reaching the depot, Forrest found out
Bill, the engineer, and thanked him kindly
for saving his life. He remembered Bill
substantially afterward. Bill and I. saw
Forrest in the theater that night. He was
applaud after every act, and we were among
those who appaudcd the loudcst