DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO DEATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 29 June 1893, Page 18

DOWN THE MOUNTAIN TO DEATH.

At o'clock on the morning of November 8, 1875, an express train on the Lehigh Valley Railway, in America, was on the top of a mountain, 18 miles above the city of Wiikesbarre. Among the passengers were the President of the United States and several members of his Cabinet, in a special coach. From this point the grade was very steep, and the road full of curves. It was the custom to keep the brakes set all the way down. If they failed, disaster was sure to follow. Within a minute after the train started, the driver noticed that something had suddenly gone wrong with the brakes. The train kept pushing the engine. He reversed, but without checking the speed. Seeing this, the guard and one or two other train men jumped, and escaped with only slight injuries. The trairi now ran faster and faster, and a horrible death seemed waiting for all on board. The driver blew the whistle continuously to warn trains at tho foot of the mountain of his approach. When the runaway passed Nescopeck station it was going at the rate of nearly 70 miles an hour, and the faithful driver stood at his post, bareheaded, holding on, and still blowing the whistle. At the foot of the mountain all the trains had got out of the way except the rear end of a coal train which was just shunting. Into this the passenger train dashed with a crash that was heard for miles around, knocking the coal cars in all directions. The passengers were badly shaken, and some were bruised, bub none were killed. Bufwhere was the brave driver ? From under the wreck of the overturned engine he was taken an hour afterwards, crushed and dying, but still able to speak. "Is the President safe ?" he gasped. "Yes, and everybody else," was the answer. " Thank God for that," he said, and never spoke again.

A splendid deed, truly, yet there is not a driver in a hundred who would not have stood to his duty with the same fidelity. Exposed to all sorts of weather, to constant danger, and laden with responsibility, the enginedrivers have a commendable record, and deserve higher appreciation both by the companies and by the public. "I am an enginedriver," says Edward Roberts, "and have been for 11 years. My health was always good until July 1885. Then something came over me that I couldn't account for. I felt tired, sleepy, and languid. My stomach felt sour and cold, my mouth tasted awfully bad, and my tongue was thickly coated. A disagreeable fluid came up into my moutb, and my appetite failed. No food, however light, agreed with me, and I had greab pain after eating anything at all. In ten minutes my stomach would be all in a ferment, and swell like as a balloon does when the gas is running into it. I had also a miserable tightness around my chest and sides. Later on I had awful pain in the kidneys. I could not rest at night; I had dreadful dreams, and would turn and turn in bed, but found no ease. " As time went on I got weaker and weaker until I could scarcely crawl to my work, but having a large family to support I struggled on as best I could when many another would have been confined to bed. As it was, my suffering was so great that I went to bed as soon as I returned from my work. For over four years I went on in this fashion, about half alive and half dead, obtaining no relief from the medicines the doctors gave me. I took six bottles of pepsine, but it did no good, neither did the seven bottles of a medicine we sent over aud gotfrom Dublin. "In May 1890 a lady who called at my house told me of a medicine called Mother Seigel's Syrup, and recommended me to try it ; BO "i got a botlle from Mr Wilson, at Drug Hall, Holyhead, and begau taking it. In a week I felt better, my stomach was easier, and my food digested, and I gradually gained strength. By the time I had taken six boltles I was strong as ever. I could eat anything, and have kept well ever since. I have told of my recovery everywhere, and many of my friends have used the Syrup with benefit. I wish my experience to be published, and will reply to inquiries about my case. " (Signed) Edward Roberts, " No. 9 Tyn Pwll Road, Holyhead."

What originally brought on this wretched attack of indigestion and dyspepsia— which through lack of the proper remedy became chronic— Mr Roberts does not say, even if ho knows. Probably the cause was exposure, and a hasty and irregular habit of eating. At all events he was fortunate in learning of Mother Seigel's Syrup before it was too late. We congratulate him on this point, and are confident his frank statement will be o£ use to others of his honourable and responsible calling.

For one, the writer of these lines never lies comfortably back on the cushions in a first-class carriage on the excellent North- Western Railway without hoping (selfishly enough, to be sure) that all is well in mind and body with the man who drives tho iron horse.

Before the Gumfields Commission Wellsford, a witness, stated that young men were usually spoiled for any farm work by digging gum. Farmers' sons became unsettled by the speculative element in digging. Diggers were willing to pay a 10s annual license fee to keep foreigners from encroaching on the ground unlesg naturalised.

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