n6 Reminiscences of 



intimation that it was his business. I felt so much 

 alarmed with the rocking and swinging of the car that 

 I thought it prudent to retire to the rear end of the 

 train, which I had great difficulty in doing in pushing 

 through the crowded cars, there being eleven of them 

 from the baggage. The last car was a sleeper, crowded 

 full, of which the door was locked to keep out the fre- 

 quent calls of outside passengers for admittance. 

 Finally, by thumping vigorously, I brought the porter 

 to the door, who opened it partially, and in answer 

 to my request to be admitted declared that it was ut- 

 terly impossible, as it would hold no more. I told him 

 it was important to see a friend of mine in the car 

 without delay, at the same time exhibiting a five- 

 dollar bill, which I offered him in case of admission. 

 It was sufficient for my purpose, and the colored 

 porter passed me in, finding the car as much over- 

 crowded as the others. 



Not more than five minutes after my entry, a violent 

 series of shocks occurred, as of most severe breaking 

 up, which came from the smashing of the cars ahead, 

 and which brought our car to a standstill, but not 

 until the front half had left the track, being the only 

 car of which any part remained upon the rails. We 

 were not prepared to witness the scene which met our 

 sight upon going out from our car. No wreck could 

 hardly be more complete. We had been running at a 

 speed which I should estimate at fully forty miles an 

 hour. A broken rail over which the engine and bag- 

 gage car had passed threw off the smoking-car and all 

 following to the sleeper. The car next ahead of ours 

 was thrown over on its side with its front end smashed 

 in. The next three or four cars were more or less 



