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Story
October 3, 1895
The Advance
Jamesburg, Middlesex County, New Jersey
What is this article about?
An old couple experiences their first train ride through Alabama's hilly terrain. The wife, frightened by the speed and a high trestle, panics briefly before relief upon reaching solid ground.
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SHE WAS FRIGHTENED
The first railroad ride is naturally a somewhat exciting experience. A correspondent of the Chicago Times-Herald says that he was taking a trip through the hilly part of Alabama, where the road-bed is intersected by trestles from 50 to 175 feet high, and from 50 yards to half a mile in length. At a small station in the pine woods an old gentleman, carrying a carpet-bag and accompanied by an old lady, evidently his wife, boarded the train.
They took the first seat, the old lady sitting next the window. It was apparent from their expression of curiosity mingled with anxiety that this was their first railway journey. The train started, and they both looked eagerly from the window, and as the speed increased a look of keenest anxiety gathered on the old lady's face.
She grasped her husband's arm and said in a voice plainly audible to those about her :
"Joel, we be goin' awful quick. I know 'tain't safe."
A few minutes later the train ran onto one of the long trestles. With a little shriek of terror the old lady sprang to her feet and seized the back of the seat in front of her. There she stood, trembling from head to foot, staring from the window.
Meantime the train sped onward and was soon once more on solid earth. The old lady was quick to note the change. Her features relaxed, and she sank into her seat with the fervent exclamation :
"Thank goodness, she's lit again!"
The first railroad ride is naturally a somewhat exciting experience. A correspondent of the Chicago Times-Herald says that he was taking a trip through the hilly part of Alabama, where the road-bed is intersected by trestles from 50 to 175 feet high, and from 50 yards to half a mile in length. At a small station in the pine woods an old gentleman, carrying a carpet-bag and accompanied by an old lady, evidently his wife, boarded the train.
They took the first seat, the old lady sitting next the window. It was apparent from their expression of curiosity mingled with anxiety that this was their first railway journey. The train started, and they both looked eagerly from the window, and as the speed increased a look of keenest anxiety gathered on the old lady's face.
She grasped her husband's arm and said in a voice plainly audible to those about her :
"Joel, we be goin' awful quick. I know 'tain't safe."
A few minutes later the train ran onto one of the long trestles. With a little shriek of terror the old lady sprang to her feet and seized the back of the seat in front of her. There she stood, trembling from head to foot, staring from the window.
Meantime the train sped onward and was soon once more on solid earth. The old lady was quick to note the change. Her features relaxed, and she sank into her seat with the fervent exclamation :
"Thank goodness, she's lit again!"
What sub-type of article is it?
Journey
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Fortune Reversal
What keywords are associated?
First Railroad Ride
Trestle Panic
Alabama Journey
Elderly Couple
Humorous Fear
What entities or persons were involved?
Joel
Old Lady
Where did it happen?
Hilly Part Of Alabama
Story Details
Key Persons
Joel
Old Lady
Location
Hilly Part Of Alabama
Story Details
An elderly couple boards a train for their first ride in Alabama's hills. The wife grows anxious at the speed and panics on a high trestle, believing the train is unsafe, then sighs in relief upon reaching solid ground.