Year: 1873

FROM the Richmond Guide.


Mr.. D writes as follows about
the railroad between Richmond and
Petersburg:


But about this railroad. OF course
l want It abolished-every one does.
The reckless velocity with which the
trains run between here and Peters
burg is absolutely frightful. Twas de-
lighted years ago when this road was
built, because / thought we had got rid
of the old rickety and dangerously fast
stage coaches. but the speed they are
beginning to run the trains on this road
is worse yet. Now every one knows
that Petersburg is twenty-five miles
from Richmond, if it is an inch, and a
day and half is plenty quick enough
for the trip, but the managers have al
ready reduced the schedule to one day,
and with making the engine fires too
hot, and racing with cows along the
road, and with all that, the conductors
are cutting the time down.


Why, it was only the other day.. on
the home trip, we happened to spy old
Jim's mule about two miles from
Manchester. What should thewreteh
of an engineer do but to clap on full
steam and race every foot of the way
into town. We didn't exactly pass
the mule, hut we caught up with him
twice. and came to Manchester cross
ing neck and neck; and which was
putting, most, the mule or the engine,
you couldn't have told to save your
life.


Now it was exciting and all that |
know. but hadn t purchased an aeei-
dent ticket, and L don't believe the
other four passengers had either. This
is all wrong, Mr.. Editor, all wrong.


And then, on another occasion. I re-
member, We came within a hairs
breadth of having a severe accident.
The engineer had gotten off to snow
ball chipmunk, and the conductor
was minding young widows baby for
her-the result was that the train hap
pened to get on down grade, and was
started off at terrific rate, every bit of
four miles an hour, | should think.
We were just mile above Chester, and
the first thing we knew, there being no
one to whistle and wake up the switch
tender, we were turned off into Coal
field road. and went down the track at
full speed. Imagine our consterna-
tiOn when, just at this moment, we
heard the whistle not halfa mile ahead
of US, of the up coal train. We were
paralyzed with terror-here were two
trains on the same track, approaching
each other at the dizzy speed just men,
toned. Evidently our time had come.
In few hours the engines would
meet, and then destruction


With great presence of mind, a min
lister on board organized a prayer-meet-
ing. Pale, but calm, the doomed band
of passengers sat, and though, with
the very shadow of death upon them,
lifted up their voices in a parting and
solemn hymn.


Send for the baggage-master, said
a young man with sadsmile.


Whyg was asked.


Because we are all about to pass
in our checks"


Everybody wept. From the rear
platform we could see the miserable
engineer straining every nerve to catch
up, but he had tight boots on, and did
not gain anything to speak of.


At this moment ray of hope dawn
ed upon us. L had just finished writ
ing my will on the back of a visiting
card, when saw young lady in the |
act of detachiDg her hustle. Placing
the article-which was composed of
eight hundred papers and hair mat
tress-under her arm, the heroine |
marched boldly through the car.


We followed her anxiously.


She climed upon the tender, and
then over the engine. 1t was very in
teresting and thrilling to see her climb
ing the wheels and brass things on her
way to the cow-catcher. 1t reminded
me of the country girl getting over a
wire fence. But never mind about
that now. Let me see where / was.
Oh, yes; on the catcher. Hold
ing on by the cross-bars with one hand,
the noble maiden tied the hustle on
the sharp PROV with the other.


You can guess the result. In the |
course of the afternoon the collision
came of. Protected by the hustle, the !
engine received gentle bump, and we |
were saved. l took up collection for
the woman on the spot | always take |
up a collection on such occasions-al- |
ways. And what's more, never for
get to give the object interested some
thing out of it-never. There is moth
ing mean about me.