CHAPTER XVI.
AN ACCIDENT ON THE RAILROAD.
After the affair in the cemetery matters drifted along somewhat quietly for several days.
Then Joe was called upon by his father to go on a trip to Cleveland to pay some money which was due to an insurance company.
He was to go on the journey by train, and started off early in the day.
In the cars he met Charley Osborne, and the two sat down together.
“It’s awfully foggy,” said Charley. “By gracious! I shouldn’t think the engineer could see two yards ahead of him.”
“It’s dangerous traveling in this weather,” replied Joe. “I wish it was clearer.”
“So do I—we could look out of the window,” replied Charley.
On rushed the train through the fog. The engineer was behind time, and was doing his best to make up his schedule.
“We’re moving along, eh?” cried Joe as the car gave an extra jerk around a curve. “We must be going nearly a mile a minute.”
“That’s so.”
A half-hour passed. Several stops were made, but few got off or on. The cars were about half filled.
“Folks don’t like to travel in this kind of weather,” remarked Charley.
“Well, I rather wish we had remained home, too,” was Joe’s answer. “I would rather take this trip when the sun is shining.”
“Oh, so would I. But who would have thought it was going to get so foggy when we left?”
Another half-hour went by. Charley began to get sleepy, and, leaning back his head, closed his eyes.
Our hero sat idly turning the pages of a newspaper.
Suddenly the train was checked in its rapid onward course.
Charley and Joe were thrown forward out of their seat on to the back of the seat in front of them.
Then came a crash in front and the jingle of glass.
The rear end of the car ahead had come up and struck out the front end of the car they were in!
A succession of bumps followed, a quiver, and all became still so far as the cars were concerned.
The train had run into the rear end of another train ahead, and the crash was followed by a hundred cries on every side.
“Help me out!”
“My leg is broken!”
“Take this seat off my chest!”
“Get an ax and chop me loose!”
The cries came principally from the cars ahead.
“Are you hurt, Charley?” asked our hero as soon as he could make himself heard.
“No; are you?”
“Not a bit.”
“Let us get out by the back way.”
“All right.”
They at once started to leave the car.
Charley got out first.
Joe lingered behind to help an old man who was lame.
The old fellow could scarcely move, and our hero had quite a task getting him to a place of safety.
Fortunately no one had been seriously hurt in the car they had occupied.
The principal damage sustained was in the car ahead, next to the engine, and the rear car of the train ahead.
The engine was almost a total wreck, and both the fireman and engineer were badly hurt.
“My! but this is awful!” murmured Joe as he gazed on the scene.
“Help wanted here!” shouted the conductor, as he rushed forward. “We must get out the helpless before the cars take fire!”
“I’m at your service!” cried Joe promptly.
“So am I,” added Charley, and a dozen others also volunteered.
It was not long before those on the rear train were all gotten out, and then the crowd ran forward.
The rear car of the front train was almost smashed to kindling wood, and it was already burning in several places.
Those around had gotten out most of the sufferers, but could not get at those who remained.
“Save me! oh, save me!”
It was the cry of a despairing woman.
The appeal came from the end of the car nearest to the wrecked engine.
The woman was caught under several seats, and the fire was but a few feet away. Soon it would reach her and she would be burned where she lay.
“I’m going in for her!” cried Joe bravely.
“No! no! I’ll go in!” exclaimed the conductor of the train.
He leaped into the battered car and began to crawl over the wreckage.
Soon he was directly over the woman.
The steam and smoke enveloped him like a thick cloud.
With herculean efforts he hurled the broken car seats right and left.
He raised them all excepting the last, which he could not budge.
“An ax!” he yelled. “Bring me an ax!”
Joe heard this cry and got the instrument and threw it toward him.
Crack! Whack! Bang!
The ax flew right and left.
The under car seat was smashed in a jiffy.
Then the conductor raised the woman in his arms.
With quick leaps he sprang through the smoke and flames.
The crowd was watching for him, and as he and his burden appeared they set up a shout.
“Good for the conductor!”
Our hero helped place the woman on a grassy bank, and here a doctor attended her and the other sufferers.
Stirring times followed, and both Joe and Charley did many deeds to their credit.
It was not until an hour later that a train backed down from Cleveland and took the dead and dying on board.
Joe and Charley boarded this train and half an hour later found them at the depot in Cleveland.
Here Joe’s business for his father was quickly transacted, and then he went off with Charley to visit the home of the latter’s uncle.
The two spent a most enjoyable time at Charley’s relative’s house, but knowing their parents might be anxious concerning them, should they hear of the railroad smash-up, they returned to Lockport much earlier than had been their original intention.
The news of the accident had preceded them, and Joe found his folks at the depot awaiting him.
“I’m so glad you are safe, Joe!” cried his mother, and folded him to her breast.
This was Joe’s first and last accident on a railroad, but many thrilling adventures on the wheel were still in store for him.