562 RAIL-ROADS. 



is by these iifimense exertions, to bring the trade of the 

 western regions over land, to the middle Atlantic shores, 

 thus avoiding the circuitous and dangerous navigation at- 

 tending the export of produce, even after it has reached 

 New-Orleans, on the one hand, or the Saint Lawrence, 

 on the other. Taking the line of Ohio and Indiana, as 



turn. I speak as a matter of fact: not that we could not see them, 

 but their speed added to our*, each going in opposite directions, 

 rendered it absolutely impossible to count the coaches, as Uiey pass- 

 ed our window. The rear presented itself almost the same instant 

 with the front. All we could perceive was : It is here, it is gone ! 

 Sometimes we ran fifteen miles the hour sometimes twenty 

 and sometimes twenlyfive. I should judge we were running at the 

 rate of twentyfive miles or more rather than less when I look- 

 ed out of the window forward, an;l instantly exclaimed, as my 

 friend says, thrice, (though I do not myself recollect it,) " We are 

 gone! we are gone! we are gone!" And surely I had good rea- 

 son to make the inference. For at that instant 1 saw the engine de- 

 erting its proper track, and staggering and plunsjins headlong 

 down the bank reluctantly indeed, as if conscious of its charge 

 and responsibility! And what could the train do but follow? I 

 had no sooner uttered these words, than crash! crash! crash! 

 went the whole train. And instantly the engine lay bottom up- 

 wards, directly abreast of our car, the fourth in our train, dis- 

 charging its steam directly into our faces. By thu time all was at 

 rest, a heap of ruin The tremendous crash, by which we were 

 brought up, may in part be estimated, when it is considered, that al- 

 though we were running at such a rate, we did not make a head- 

 way of more than two roVis, afier the engine plunged from the rail- 

 road. But you will be in pain to see us out of the steam. * : Open 

 theoppo-ite djor !" said I- " open the opposite door !" My friend, be- 

 ing nearest, made the attempt, but. not succeeding, jumped through 

 the window. There were two ladies, a gentleman, and a boy, still 

 remaining with me in the same apartment of the car. And how we 

 all got out, I could not afterwaids recollect. The escaping steam 

 proved to come from the safety valve, and of course, gave us nothing 

 more than a very very hot bath. The forward car, next the en- 

 gine, was drawn after itj ;md thrown over, with all its passengers. 

 The next plunged into it, and stove its back in pieces. And each 

 car run against its predecessor in the same manner, making more or 

 less splinters, until all were brought up at rest, and be^an to disem- 

 bogue their occupants, each actuated by the impulse of self-preser- 

 vation. Soon, however, they began to help one another, and to 

 look after the killed and wounded. After seeing my own apartment 

 cleared of its tenants, I ran around in front of the circle (for the 

 wreck now made a circle,) and the first thing which attracted my 

 attention, was the dragging out of the engineer, who lay buried un- 

 der the engine the machine having turned bottom upwards. The 



