Year: 1872

lay dead or dying among the ruins
some were floating in the water, and 8
few were clinging to trees and bushes
on the shore. 1t was fearful and heart
rending sight, too fearful for description
and such as trust 1 may never gee in
reality.


"Although it was night, / seemed tc
see all these things very distinctly, and
can well RENE mber my feelings as sur
veyed the scene. While viewing the


aides in the water, I suddenly caught
sight of the mangled and lifeless form
of my wife, and with wild cry, l
| awoke.


"This dream made so great an i'm
preston on my mind that lay awake
Tor the remainder of the night.


"The next day, carly in the morn
ing, it commenced raining, and con.
tiDaed te rain through the day and
following night. felt very lonely and
uneasy all day, which feeling was in.
creased by receiving a letter from my
wife, saying that she intended to come
home on Friday night, on the express
train. / retired late, feeling much
worried on account Of my fearful dream.
And, to add TO this fear, presentiment,
or whatever you may call it, the dream
was repeated, and even more distinct
and vivid than the first.


"When l arose in the morning, the
rain was still falling. This was Friday,
and therefore was the day on which my
wife was to start for home. There were
two passenger trains from the east each
day, one at nine o'clock in the forenoon,
and the other at nine in the evening.
This last was the express, and the one
on which my wife was coming.


Towards the middle of the after
noon the rain ceased falling, and the
clouds slowly cleared away. The dream
had made such an impression ON my
mind that / resolved to attempt TO find
the stream had seen so plainly in my
dreams, and if it appeared at all danger.
GUS, to attempt to stop the train before
reaching it. Accordingly, soon after
the rain was over, got ready and start
ed. had never before had occasion to
visit the station in this direction, and
therefore was entirely unacquainted
with this part of the country. But
found everything just as it had appeared
in my dream.


Immediately after starting, passed
through the piece of woods / had seen
in my dream, and then entered the
cleared field, and found the two farm
houses, one inhabited and the other de.
serted. In fact, everything seemed rs
natural rs if had reilly been this way
before. / walked slowly, and late in
the afternoon l came to the stream,
which flowed rapidly, and seemed much
swollen. But the bridge, instead of
being broken down and mingled with
the broken cars ard mangled passen-
gers, was still standing, and though its
timber looked quite old and weather-
beaten, there seemed to be little danger
of its breaking down beneath the
weight of a passing train. There was a
heavy freight train due from the West
about six o'clock, and resolved to wait
at least until it came and if it passed
over in safety, there could be, thought,
but little danger Of accident to the
lighter passenger train.


"ln due time it came laundering
along, and passed safely over the bridge.
But, though it might have been owing
to my excited imagination, it seemed to
me that the bridge bent and shook be-
meath the weight Of the train in man.
nor highly suggestive of danger. At
all events, l resolved TO wait o while
longer, and see if the stream, which
was still rising, would have any appar-
ent effect upon the bridge. took with
me lantern, and also u thick blanket
to protect me from the damp night air.
"Shortly after sunset, rs was sitting
few rods from the stream, | heard a
loud splash, and, hurrying 10 the bridge,
| saw that portion OF the bank, on
the opposite side, had broken away, and
also that the actien of the water, or
some other cruise, had weakened the
| foundations of the bridge, in such a
manner that portion of tho track was
bent and lowered enough to make i,
impossible for train to cross. limme.
diatcly crossed the bridge, resolved to
stop the train, if possible, before ii
reached the bridge, and certain destruc.
| lion.


"Well, to make long story short,
went on in the direction from which
the train was to come, and soon found
a place which commanded good view
of the track for considerable distance
/ lit my lantern, wrapped my blanket
closely around me, and sat down to my
wearisome vigi! Of two hours. The
night was clear, but not very dark
though no moon was shining. suffered
none from cold, as it was remarkably
warm, even for the climate Of Virginia
and | succeeded in keeping awake


though the task was difficult one.


"Slowly the moments passed by, bu


at last saw by my watch that The tim'


had nearly expired, and q few minute


would decide the fate of the train ant


its human freight. Soon saw light


far away and very small at first, bu


rapidly growing larger and brighter.


arose, trembling with excitement, AM


commenced swinging the lantern abov


my head and, as the train drew neal


l redoubled my exertions, and shoute'
loud as could.


"Onward came the train at rap.


speed. 1t was q time of terrible su'


pense to me. Should the engineer fa


to see my signal, or not ses it in tim
to stop the train before going a few rod
past me, knew that no human powe
J could save it. On it came, and o, jo
: unspeakable just as gave up my e,
J ertions, and stepped from the track, m
J frantic signals. were observed, and th
whistle was sounded, arousing the sleep
brakemen like an electric shock, VIII
, flew quickly to their stations.


''The train was quickly stopped, an
) | then informed the engineer and col
ductor of the danger ahead, while tt
: frightened passengers loft the cars an
gathered around me. Many bra,
man grew pale when he learned what
fearful death no had 90 narrowly G
! capped.