COULDN’T RESIST IT.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 189, 12 April 1902, Page 3

COULDN’T RESIST IT.

A retired signalman tells a strange Btory of a mental disorder that seized him, after many years’ fortunate work on ,the railways. At first it was only a passing thought of what a disaster he could bring about, any'day, by a movement of his hand. As the weeks went by this thought gradually became a definale impulse to alter the correct signals at critical moments. For some time he was able to -shake off the evil spell with a scornful laugh but, at length, it was only by a strong effort of the will, that he could keep his hands off the levers. Then he grew alarmed, and applied for a short leave to pull himself together. It was granted, and it was arranged that he should leave after his spell of night duty. After midnight lie had set the signals against an ordinary passenger train, to allow a special to pass. Of a sudden the horrible impulse seized him with such force that his hands seemed held and drawn as in a grip of iron. In a moment it was done, and the “ ordinary ” passed on under a “ line clear ” signal. A few minutes later he began to recover, but, before he could take any action, the horror of the thing sent him into a fit.

He was found there by an official shortly afterwards, and when he recovered consciousness, great was his joy, at the news he heard. By a happy chance the engine of the special train had broken down and had just reached a siding when the ether train reached it. That was his last job in the signal-box.