THE STARTLING CRASH.

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was only a little glimmering light at first, sosmall that as the passengers pass they throwsnow and a portion of it is quenched. A fewbuckets of water thrown at this time, would havesufficed to have kept down the flame. But thecritical moment was passed. The fire began atboth ends of the wreck, and rapidly spread. Itwas just a little flame on the east side underneaththe sleeper. It was brighter in the smoker andin the heap near the bridge, but it spread fromcar to car, and soon enveloped the whole. Isoone thought that the fire could be prevented.The desire to rescue the wounded, and save theliving, was more urgent. It was too constrainingfor any deliberate thought, it crowded out everyeffort to prevent the ‘spreading of the flames.Every one was appalled, and overwhelmed, anddid that which seemed most pressing at. themoment.

The brakeman, Stone, who had escaped unhurt,thought only of another train which was expectedsoon. He hastened to the telegraph office to tellof the wreck, and to stop the coming train. Theconductor was almost paralyzed with terror and