Year: 1875

THE LIGHTNING EXPRESS.


1t was on a cold Winters evening that
we were to start from Burlington, VT. for
Boston. The January thaw had failed to
put in an appearance that year and the
cold in that Northern region had become
intense, bedding the frost to great depth
in the soil. After purchasing our tick ct
for the lightning express, as it was called,
and placing valise and wrapper safely i'll
one of the passenger ears, We had strolled
about the depot until we had finally paused
beside the huge locomotive, which was to
draw the train on its downward trip. II
was a superb piece Of mechanism, with its
brass monntings, all bright as patient toll
the iron and steel parts conveyed sense
of enormous strength even at glance
with animal life as it paused there with a
restrained power, like thoroughbred horse
champing impatently at the bit that curbs
HIM. The engineer anG fireman were both
at their places, quietly awaiting the sigma
which should start the train for the South
A sudden thought struck me. | had never
ridden upon locomotive: it would be a
new sensation. Was it possible to do SO
to night? asked the engineer who shook
his head, but still answered me pleas.
antly:


There is the Superintendent, yonder,
ask him"


"Seeing the individual designated as the
Superintendent, ] was pleased to recognize
in him an old friend, with whom, years go
| had been on intimate terms. finalI;
told him that had singular request tC
make, and expressed my desire to ride with
the engineer.


lie somewhat reluctantly assented to my
desire, but net without numerous cautions
and the remark that it was quite exception
al to grant such privilege to any one.


Walking to the side of the locomotive
the Superintendent introduced me to The
engineer, and gave him directions to &C
commodote me as it regarded the intend
ed purpose. Five minutes later the sigma
bell was wrung, the shrill whistle sounded
steam was gradually let on to the cylinders
and the train rolled out of the depot into

the darkness, which for a moment wa
rendered more dense by the contrast will
the well lighted depot left behind. l a
once bestowed myself so as not 20 be in th
way of the engineer or fireman, and eau
tiously watched the novel scene immediate
" about me, for that was all that conl,
possibly see,


"Never OF a locomotive before?" sugges
ted the engineer.


"No.'


Don't see very much such night a
this"


mo; it's as dark as pocket" l re
piled.


"Of nice Summers night it's all yer
WELL" Continued the engineer, but of dar
night-well, don't think it is very jolly.


All this time he was looking straigt
! ahead, with his hands on the valves to shl
off steam and whistle "down brake" at a
instant's notice.


GLOW far ahead can you see?" asl
ed.


about couple of rods, such night {
this, unless strong signal lantern Is show
then we can see further"


Two rods would be Of no real adyal
tage if we were to encounter an object c
the track"


"Well, no; you can't stop ar EXPIRE
train much inside Of a quarter of a mi
with the style of brakes we have now"


Gay, that's it; you require mere po'
erful sort of qrake; is that what | unde
stand you TO meau?''


Exactly; one that will act with great
power, and yet not bring the tram up
standing. aa it were That would be
most as bad as to run into an object de
ahead.n


Something of that sort Will be inver
ed


"Oh, yes. one of these days: I've alwa


said So


In the meantime, the lightning expr'
was running on its way straight into


intense darkness, which if possible, "