air brakes with the other, opened the cab window and followed the two men in a flying leap down the steep embankment. While I was yet falling I distinctly heard the engine strike the obstruction and the crash of breaking iron and wood was followed immediately after by a blinding flash, which was accompanied by the spiteful crack of an explosion that seemed powerful enough to rock the earth to its very center. I seemed to be propelled through the air at frightful speed and at an immense distance from the earth.

"My flight through space seemed to cover such an extended time that I found myself wondering if I had been killed by the explosion and this was the flight of my spirit to the other world. Then I awoke. I was lying in a bed. My body was covered with a cold perspiration.

"Well, this is about the worst nightmare I have ever experienced. If this is the result of my taking that small nip of liquor on my arrival home this morning, I shall be a teetotaller hereafter. But didn't that seem real, though? I felt of myself to see if I was all there. After lying in bed a few moments to recover my senses completely, I began to wonder what time it was, and if I had not better be thinking of getting up. I put one hand to my face, when-strange discovery-my face that had been cleanly shaven, with the exception of a small moustache, when I retired in the morning, was now covered with a full beard. I bounded from the bed and sought the mirror-which disclosed my face covered with a neatly trimmed brown beard, something I had never worn before. In looking for the mirror I became aware of the fact that I was in a strange room. There was nothing in sight that was familiar or that I had ever seen before. Clothes there were in abundance, but not my own. The room was tastefully, even elegantly, furnished and I pinched myself to see if I was really awake or if perchance this was a continuation of the horrible dream that had so frightened

me.

"By opening the window shutters I looked out upon a landscape wholly new to me and, strangest of all, the trees

which were bare of bud or leaf when I retired, were now clothed in full summer dress and to all appearances I had awakened in the summer season. To say that this was mystifying but feebly expresses my feelings. I sat on the edge of the bed, dazed.

"I tried to decide between dream and reality. I finally came to the conclusion that all was reality. The only way I could explain it satisfactorily, was, that I had been badly injured, and, perhaps, an attack of brain fever had followed, rendering me unconscious for a long time.

"There was one strange thing about it, and that was, I felt perfectly well in every respect and my face did not show any traces of sickness or suffering. I could occasionally hear voices in the same house, and I determined to take measures to satisfy my curiosity. Noticing that the room was equipped with electric bells, I pressed the button, and shortly after there came a knock at the door. As I could find none of my own clothes, I clambered back into bed. I said:

"Come in.'

"The door was opened and a middleaged woman stood on the threshold. Not knowing what else to say, I asked her if the doctor had called yet that day. She asked:

"What doctor?'

"Why, the doctor that has been attending me,' I replied. She answered that she did not know that I was under a doctor's care or that I had been sick.

"Well, that's strange,' said I, 'surely you knew about the wreck--' but with a look of consternation she had disappeared. My feelings can readily be imagined. With all the strange revelations since my return to consciousness, my brain was in a whirl. I knew not what to do. I tried to think of some plausible excuse for my presence in a strange house and under such circumstances, but was obliged to give it up until I could get information from somebody. My ruminations were cut short by the appearance of a keen-looking, well-dressed man of perhaps fifty years of age. He greeted me by saying:

surprise at my words. Instead of answering my questions he made a hurried physical examination, meantime adroitly changing the subject from what so vitally interested me.

"I became impatient and soundly berated him for his lack of feeling in not putting an end to my suspense. Without paying much heed to my words he soon left the room, but shortly returned accompanied by two other men, and shortly after three more appeared. I judged they were physicians and he had called them for consultation, but the oc

"I replied that I did not, neither did I know why they addressed me as Mr. Crandall, when the only name I ever knew was George H. Jackson, residence H- -, Neb. You should have seen the looks that were exchanged between them. Without further talk they left me. By this time I was getting uneasy. The situation appeared to become more complicated every minute. Here was I in a place the name of which I did not even know; neither could I tell the day of the week or month, or year, either, for that matter; and here were a lot of

strange men who seemed to think it strange that I failed to recognize them, and who persisted in addressing me by the name of Crandall.

"It was painfully evident, also, that they considered me insane. When I came to realize the situation it appealed to me as being anything but a joke.

"Again I attempted to figure out some explanation that would satisfy my mind. From all appearances these men knew me, or thought they did, at least, evidently taking me for a Mr. Crandall, whoever he might be. I asked myself if it were possible for me to have lost my identity through the effects of the terrible explosion. I had heard of such occurrences, but had never believed them, still, it seemed the only plausible answer to my questions. Even on this theory there were many things in connection with the whole affair that seemed difficult of explanation. And the worst of the whole matter was, that a lunatic asylum appeared to be yawning to receive me. My speculations were again interrupted at this point, by the physician who had been the first to call. He informed me that my friend, Miss Andrews, accompanied by her aunt, Mrs, Cummings, had just arrived at the house and would like to see me, if I felt able to receive them. I replied that I had no recollection of any such people, but, nevertheless, if my clothes would be furnished me, I would be pleased to dress and receive the ladies. He said:

"No: you must not think of getting up, as you have been very ill, and it would be unwise to do so. The ladies will come to the room to see you.'

"Very well, then; let them come.' "Under the circumstances I was glad to meet anybody, as I had made up my mind to seek an explanation of the strange affair along the lines of the new theory that had occurred to me. The doctor left the room and shortly returned, bringing the two ladies. Both were well dressed, with the unmistakable air of good breeding about them-the elder perhaps fifty-five years of age, the younger not more than twenty-five.

"They both greeted me cordially as Mr. Crandall and expressed themselves

as being pained to learn of my illness, which they trusted would be of short duration.

"I thanked them for their kind expressions of interest, but assured them that I was not ill in the least, but the whole matter was some huge mistake.

"In the first place,' said I, 'my name is not Crandall, but Jackson, and I seem to be a perfect stranger here.'

"But surely you know us, do you not?' said the younger lady.

"I am obliged to say that I do not,' I replied.

"At this answer I saw that the eyes of both ladies were filled with tears. They showed signs of leaving the room, but I determined to stop them, if possible, and make another effort to clear up the mystery.

"'Listen to me,' said I, ‘and give me an opportunity to explain matters. Everybody here evidently thinks that I am insane. I want to say that I am as sane as any man in this or any other place.'

"With considerable persuasion on my part they finally consented to hear my story. I began by telling who I was; what my occupation had been; and went on and gave a history of the trip that I had made in the month of March, up to and including the wreck and explosion. My story was so concise and clear that they could not help but be impressed by it. After relating my history, I gave what I thought to be the only possible explanation, namely, that I had lost my identity and had but just returned to a consciousness of my former self. This seemed to interest them exceedingly, and they asked me;

"What year did all this occur?' ""The year 1896.'

"This seemed to dumbfound them, but when they informed me that it was then the sixth day of June, 1900, I was fairly stunned. The further information they gave was not less wonderful.

"Among other things, they informed me that I was in my own house; that, under the name of Henry G. Crandall, I had for more than two years been a very successful clergyman in the Congregational Church at that place, which was

me, in view of the fact that I was going back to my old home and friends. My return to H- occasioned even more excitement than I had caused at M

"I called on every one I knew, made a trip to the place where the accident had occurred and endeavored to ascertain how it was possible for me to get away from the place without being recognized.

"The explanation can only be conjectured. I had quite a sum of money with me at the time, which of course would aid me materially.

"I was never able to get any trace of myself from the time I was sailing through space on that terrible night, up to the time I appeared in the town of M-, Mass., some four years after. I cannot account for the story I told about my residence at Sacramento, nor for the name I had assumed, although I made diligent inquiries at Sacramento and other places.

The fact that I was enabled to deliver powerful discourses, without the benefit of a training, is also unaccountable. Spiritualists have told me that I was under the control of a spirit by the name that I had assumed. Eminent pschychologists say that it was simply an example of self hypnotism, where the subjective mind had assumed control.

"The part I had taken was the result of a powerful suggestion I had received at some time in my life by reading a story that impressed my mind deeply. Be that as it may, I remember no such story, and I simply relate facts, leaving the scientists to give a satisfactory explanation of what is considered a strange occurrence. My escape from serious injury, although I was the last to leave the engine, is explained by the explosion occurring after I had fallen below the level of the track, but before I had struck the earth, while the other two men were rendered unconscious for several days because they had struck and were sliding down the mountain side at the time, thereby receiving a terrible shaking up by the concussion being communicated to them from the ground.

"The story that they told had given

rise to the theory that I had been literally blown to atoms as, of course no trace of me was ever found. It was learned afterward that the obstruction had been placed on the track by men who intended to ditch the fast express in order to rob the express car of a large quantity of currency it contained. Three of the would-be robbers were killed outright, while the fourth only lived long enough to tell who they were and what had been their intentions. So after all, it was a lucky wreck in some respects, particularly when we take into consideration that the threatened bridge was not damaged, the ice gorge having broken of its own accord early in the morning.

"Al Smith was inconsolable at the loss of the 763. He stoutly declared that I had escaped serious injury, and swore dire vengeance if we ever met. Fortunately for me his wrath was ap peased shortly after by the arrival of a brand new high wheeler, which was given him as a peace offering. He says the new engine is all right, but there never was as good an engine built as the 763, and I will not say he is not right.

"In connection with the whole affair there was one keen disappointment that awaited me. Although I believe I stood first in the affections of Elsie Madden. nevertheless, after a fitting time of mourning, she married my rival.

"I believe this hurt me worse than all else combined.

"The company offered to set me at work at once and gave me a substantial token of the esteem in which they held me and as a reward for the great trial I had passed through while in their service.

"I declined the offer to return to work as I did not feel the confidence I had before, not knowing at what time I might take it into my head again that I was Mr. Crandall, an eminent divine, which would be very unpleasant for the said Mr. Crandall, as well as all parties concerned, if the transformation should occur out on the road some night while between stations.

"After looking around for a time, I