A WARNING.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3829, 12 June 1873, Page 3

A WARNING.

Little boys who amuse themselves by throwing stones at railway trains will do well to read with attention the story told by the "Indianapolis Sentinel," of the punishment inflicted by an engine driver in Indiana on a miscreant who committed an act endangering the lives of the passengers. It seems that this driver had on more than one occasion found his engine thrown from the track at a certain point on the line, owing to some obstruction being placed on the line, and therefore determined to put a stop to a practice which had led to his own abilities as a driver beingquestioned. On nearing the fatal spot one night he sat "glum and silent at the throttle," and telling the fireman to be sure and follow him if the train "jumped the track," awaited the result. The train was banked as usual, and jumping into the darkness, the engineer and fireman disappeared for a few minutes, but soon returned, bringing the culprit, whom they had captured in a neighboring

coru field. The enraged passengers wished to lynch the villain on the spot, but the engine-driver, " a stern, determined man," prevented it, merely remarking that he would take charge of him, and acco. dingly the fellow was placed on tbe engine under the charge of the fireman. The train being righted, was soon speeding on its journey as though nothing had happened. While bowling away over a smooth piece of track the engine-driver beckoned to the fireman to stand on one side, and picking up a round stick of wood, struck the criminal a stunning blow on the head. He then caught the quivering form of the poor wretch, and opening the furnace door, threw his body into the fierce, seething flames. The doors were then shut, and the train rattled along, and never, until the engine-driver lately confessed the act on his death bed, was it ascertained what had been the fate of the fiend who hnd been in the habit of throwing the train off the track.