Moments Of Horror

Awful Anxiety of a Telegraph Operator Who Slept on Duty.

One night Borne years ago on the Santa Fe road the night operator at P--- was enjoying a short nap with his head resting on his arms, which were folded on the table, when the dispatcher called him.  He was all attention in a moment, received a crossing order for the down express to cross the up "flier" at his station and replied to it in proper form.  He had been asleep, but had aroused himself for the time being and had taken upon himself a heavy responsibility.  But he was tired and hesitated a moment before rising from his chair and pulling the cord that turned the signal in front of the station.  His head fell over and rested on his arms again; he was fast asleep.  The "flier" and fast express were rushing toward each other - some distance away, to be sure, but surely and swiftly nearing each other.  The operator slept on.  The "flier" reached P--- and flew past the station.  The operator awoke, grasped his lantern, rushed through the doorway and out to the platform only to see the rear lights of the flier disappearing in the distance.  He swung his red lantern, but to no purpose; it was too late.

When he rushed out to the platform he had left the doors open behind him.  Suddenly he heard the sound of his instrument; the dispatcher was calling him.  He hesitated a moment; he trembled all over.  Should he answer his call?  He realized that he had been derelict in his duty, and an awful collision seemed sure.  It almost made him a coward for the moment, but hadn't he worked night and day for the past week?  The agent's wife had died, and he had done double duty.  Would not this excuse him?  He hurried into his office and answered his call.  The dispatcher sent an order annulling the one which had been the cause of the operator's awful anxiety.  The "flier" could safely go on to the next station because the express had been delayed by a hot box.

The operator felt better.