Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-02-27
MISCEILA AN ".
From "Trips in the Life Of a Loco
motive Engineer"

N motive Engineer"
THE GOOD LUCK OF BEING OBSTINATE.
fstation with the Up Express to pass me.
I'VE were both, owing to snow and ice on
khe rails, sadly heifnd time, and had con-
eluded just to wait where was. until we
card from the other train, though liberal
eonstruction Of the rules gave me the right
to proceed . with due caution;" but was
afrail that. if anything did happen, there
would be two opinions as TO what due
&caution meant, SO | held still. The pas
sengers were all uneasy, as they always are,
land s,ormed and frettea up and down, now
8comng to me and demanding, in just about
such tones as We would imagine a newly
caught she bear TO use, whether We intend
led " TO keep them there all night I" wheth-
Der supposed the travelling public would
kamely submit TO such oatrages if
thought they. had no rights in the prem
ises 7" &c. These and similar questions
were put to me, some peevishly, some in a
lordly manner, evidently with the intention
of bullying me into start. | generally
tnaintained the dirty dignity Of my position
of " rnnner Of tLat kettle" bat these lat
i ter Sir Oracles, told that / was too well
used to dealing with FIRE, water, steam and
rock 10 be scared by a little " wind"
After while there came a telegraphic
despatch, unsigned, undated, but saying,
II" Come ahead i this raised a terrible hill
laballoo." The passengers crowded into
the cars and looked for an immediate start,
&The conductor came to me and said that he
Thought We had better start. told him
Nos that infinitely preferred TO run
ION good solid rails rather than telegraph
wires, at all times, and more especially
when the wires brought such lame orders
as these. Very we'll" says he, "I don't
know you are right, but shall leave you
TO console the passengers-IE. off to hide y
ana away he went. Pretty soon they came
| by twos, tfrees, dozens, and scores and |
declare they needed consolation, for mad
der set | never saw. Pshaw talk about
korne;s,' and "bob-taled bulls in fy-
time i" they amt circumstance to pas
senger on railroad train which is an hour
behind time. Well, they clustered, and
stormed, shook their fists at me, and about
twenty took down my name with the mur.
derous intent of reporting me at head
Quarters, and seeing about this thing" gen.
8erally.
AT last some individual, bursting with
Il wrath, called for an Indignation meeting
4 the call was answered with alacirity. at
tended as disinterested spectator, of course
president and secretary were appointed
several speeches were made, overfowine
with eoquence, and all aimed at me, bu
carrying few shots for everybody on the
train, even to the boy that sold papers
This much had been done, and The commit.
tee on resolutions which should be utterly
annihilating," had just reported, when {
whistle was heard up the track. and dowr
came an extra engine, running as fast as
she could, carrying no light, but bringing
news that the down tram was off the
track a1oen miles above, and bringing q
requisition for all the doctors in town tC
care for the wounded, who we're numerous
The " resolution committee adjourned sin,
die. was never reported, for they all saw
that had l done as they wished me to,
4 would have met this extra engine, and made
few more doctors necessary for my owr
! train. The blunder of the telegraph wa:
never explained, but blunder it was, ant
! the more firm was ] never to obey a tele
/ graph diapatch without it was clear anC
distinct, Asigncd, sealed, and delivered