mother, sisters and brother, that she must go to the scene
of the accident, and render assistance if possible, and also
warn the oncoming passenger train.

It was in vain they tried to dissuade her. Although she was
obliged to almost improvise a lantern in many of its parts,
it was but a few minutes before she was ready to set out.
Realizing then that her mission was one of peril, and that
she might not again look upon those dear faces, she kissed
each of them affectionately, and amid their sobs, hurried
out into the gloom, into the descending floods, toward the
rushing torrents--drenched to the skin, on she passed toward
the railroad to the well remembered foot-log, only to find
the waters rushing along high above and beyond the place
where it had been. Then she thought of the great bluff
rising to the west of her home and extending southward
toward the railroad track, and she determined to ascend it
and reach the bridge over this barrier to the waters. Need I
recount how she struggled on and up through the thick oak
undergrowth, that, being storm-laden drooped and made more
difficult her passage; how with clothing torn, and hands and
face bleeding she arrived at the end of the bridge, and
standing out upon the last tie she peered down into the
abyss of waters with her dim light, and called to know if
any one was there alive. In answer to her repeated calls
came the answer of the engineer, who had caught hold of and
made a lodgment in a tree-top, and around whom the waters
were still rapidly rising, sending floating logs, trees, and
driftwood against his frail support, and threatening
momentarily to dislodge and engulf him.

It took but a moment to be assured that he was the survivor
of four men who went down with the engine, and after a
moment's hurried consultation, she started for Moingona, a
mile distant, to secure assistance and to warn the
eastward-bound passenger train then nearly due. As she
passed along the high grade it seemed as if she must be
blown over the embankment, and still the heavens seemed to
give not rain but a deluge. As she approached the rai