IT was on Monday afternoon, May 10th 1926, during the great strike, that the “Flying Scotsman” was wrecked in a coal-mining district as it was proceeding southward.
The catastrophe took place just one mile south of Cramlington, Northumberland, and one of the passengers wired shortly after to a lawyer in Scotland, ― “All Sate!” He had been the guest of the lawyer for the weekend, having traveled north by the same train on the Saturday to preach the Word of God on the Lord’s Day.
One of the L. & N.E.R. officials, a Christian man, had kindly told the preacher of the perils attending the journey of the well-known express, but having a message of peace to proclaim in a world of strife—the “glad tidings of great joy” in a world of sorrow and gloom—the news of salvation where some were bent on wanton destruction—he traveled northward with the Word of life.
The danger zones were safely passed. Nor did heavy showers of sharp stones do little more than uselessly smash the glass windows, while iron and sharpened steel missles fell harmlessly at the feet of passengers, or of those in charge of the train. The progress was slow. Often the express was stopped, for closed crossing-gates had to be opened, or, where deemed needful, smashed apart by the engine itself. On reaching his destination, the servant of Christ wired to his dear wife, “Preserved safely, none injured, thank God.”
Having observed the care and ability of those in charge of the “Flying Scotsman,” he had no misgiving in being a passenger again for the journey south. He remarked, “All deserve the fullest praise.” Moreover, his confidence was in the One who is above all― “the Preserver of all men”―the God of his salvation.
One, who had preached Christ to multitudes in his life-time, was asked when he was dying, if he had any misgivings in trusting the Saviour then. “No!” he replied, “if I had a million souls I could trust them all to Him!”
Among the last words quoted to the passenger on the Scotch express, before leaving, were some Scriptures from a calendar that morning: “Fear not, I am with thee”― “I am with thee to deliver thee” “I am with you alway.”
Everything went well till Cramlington was reached, and even then some interference, which caused the slowing down of the train, was so mercifully over-ruled, that, instead of scores of passengers being killed outright, not one single life was lost.
While proceeding carefully, the part was reached where the wreckers had done their dastardly work, and the great engine left the rails. Soon it overturned, carrying with it the first coach, while the next, in which the preacher was, canted the other way, and so steadied the others behind. All were preserved from injury except that in the front coach a gentleman’s ankle was hurt.
Kept in perfect peace amidst the crashings of the derailed wheels, the cracking and splintering of wood, the falling of luggage, and the flying of broken glass, without even a scratch, the preacher was soon freed from the compartment where he was imprisoned. After lending what aid he could, and reaching home before the news of the wreck of the “Flying Scotsman” was made known, he wired to his host in Scotland― “ALL SAFE, THANK GOD!”
Having often told others that the Lord Jesus Christ was an all-the-way-home Saviour, little did he expect to experience such an illustration of that grand truth. There is, however, this difference. The train, which carried its hundreds of passengers safely was at last wrecked. But Christ can never know any breakdown or wrecking. All power in heaven and earth is given into His hands, and having passed through the atoning sufferings of Calvary, and risen triumphant from the tomb, He is the exalted Saviour at God’s right hand, so that it can be confidently said of those who trust in Him, “ALL SAFE.”
When sitting quietly at home with his family these lines came to the servant of Christ: ―
“What shall it be, when dangers all are past,
And led by Thee,
We reach our home―the Father’s house at last,
To dwell with Thee?
How loud the chorus which we then shall raise,
And sing forever to Thee, in Thy praise.”
Can the reader not trust this wonderful and worthy Saviour? Let him do so now, and he shall prove that the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, is able to save him and to preserve him all along life’s journey till the heavenly home is reached.