The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-11-28
BOB COMSTOCK.
An Intcrestiag History OF that
Knight Of the Throttle
valvo.
Which Same will bs Of Interest to
oil the L. s. 4 N. 8. r. r.
Boys.

The following We fnd in the Toledo
Blade, OF the 18th, and as everybody
within the range Of the STANDARD
knows the genial "BoB CoMsrooK," we
copy it for the interest Of our readers
and Bob's friends:
"Do You know Bob Comstock, !" is
the first question which a railroad man
from Michigan is asked when he visits
foreign locality. II he is a railroad
man of any experience his reply is in
variably, "well should remark that I
do.p But IL he admits that he does
not know the famous Bob, it is taken
as sure sign that is green hand, for
Bob Comstock, the famous engineer,
has become as noted in his line as Van
derbilt himself.
The noted Bob In not, as his name
would seem to signify, the engineer Of
dashing, fashy iron hoss, which
yanks an express train over the rail at
the rate of mile a minute. He has,
in his eventful career, run everything
from a hand-car to an express engine,
but now in his old age he retires to a
life Of quietude and ease as an engin-
eer OF a gravel train engine. Here,
with no restrictions OF time card to
worry him, he suffers much comfort.
In the cab OF this same unpretentious
gravel train engine. the Elkhart. or the
"Hell-Kart" as Bob profanely terms it,
may be found this emperor OF engin-
GERS. But il you do not live on the
liue Of the l.. s. a M. s., road, and
hence are not acquainted with Bob's
engine, you are wonderfully deceived
il you think that modest little ma
chine can't travel. Travel; "why
stranger" Bob will say When you ask
him about the ability OF the machine.
II could yank train from here to the
moon in twelve hours with that en-
CINE" And he will lay his hand ca
ressingly on the throttle valve and look
wistfully out of the window as il anx-
ious to prove the truth OF his state
ments. And when there comes tele-
gram TO "Run wild; get out of the way
OF passenger and go like the devil
his horid nose will flush brighter with
excitement, he will spring into the cab
with the agility of a cat, seize the
throttle valve, pull her clear open, and
all that can be seen Of the Hell Kart"
will be little black streak, while the
waiy paddy Of the gravel train will sit
down on his hat, lash himself to the
brake and implore the "Houly mither"
to keep the train on the track.
Years ago when the l.. s. & M. s,
road was a strap rail with its western
terminus at Hillsdale, Bob, or Levi
j. Comstock as his name appears in
the family almanac, commenced his
life Of railroading as ''greaser." He
took to an engine just as a coach dog
does to horses, and soon rose to the
dignity of fireman, and finally obtained
the much coveted position of engineer,
and now, after many years Of hard
service for the l.. s. 4 M. s. Company,
after running all sorts OF machines
from an old worn out pony 10 m ex.
press engine, he settles down is his
old "Hell-Kart" with his years OF ex-
periences. his volumes of "reminiscences
and his short clay pipe, perfectly con-
tented. One Of the oldest engineers,
il not the oldest, on the road, he knows
every man, woman and child along the
road over which he has travelled so Of
ten, and his history has become one Of
the legends Of Southern Michigan,
Northern Indiana, and indeed the
whole West, and most pleasing feature
OF the history OF his exploits is, that
although he has done some OF the most
reckless and astonishing running on
record, he has met with scarcely an ac-
/ ci1ent Bob's accession IN the throne
OF engineering was not without many
trials. He relates with great gusto
how he was cured 81 his two great fail
/ ings, laziness and carelessuess, and
thus fitted for his "spere."
One day, while firing for surly, en-
ergetic old engineer. he became so lazy
| that he let the steam run down. The
engine, with its heavy train of freight
cars, was slowly crawling along, when
suddenly an inspiration seized the en-
gineer, He let loose his hold on the
hold on the throttle, sprang from his
seat. and beaming kindly, almost affec-
tionately, on Bob exclaimed Don't
you want to run, Bobby" Now, IL
there was anything that Bob longed
for, il was 10 run that engine, and see
ing the engineer make room for him at
the much coveted place, he gladly
sprang to his post, but Just as he was
about to take hold OF the throttle Mr..
Engineer seized him by the nap OF the
neck, escorted him To the door, and
with one dexterous emphatic kick sent
| him sprawling on the ground at the
side OF the track, exclaiming. as he
boosted the luckless Bob off the en-
gine, Now run, d--n YOU" And he
hid run. He catered along beside the
engine swearing profusely, and after
running till he was ready TO dissolve,
he managed TO climb up on the caboose
and thus, by some very industrious ex-
ertion, got back on the engine again.
That cured him OF laziness.
At length, after years OF waiting,
Robert got an engine of his own TO
run. No prouder man ever trod the
earth than when for the first time, he
pulled q freight train ont OF the yard.
But his glory was Of short duration.
At night when he went TO put his en-
gine in the round house he remembered
how he had admired the skill Of the
old engineers which they always took
good care to display in the manner in
which they came into the round house
Indeed, an old engineer is distinguish.
able from a new one by Just that pecu.
liarity. The veteran will come dashipe
in at full speed, and stop just where he
wants TO. The novice will come crawl
ing in slowly and deliberately, ant
stop and siarta half dozen times befor,
be gets his engine into her stall. Nov
Bob did not want 10 appear like no
vice, and when his engine came int
the round house she came in n "fuk
in, TO use his own expressive Language
But she did not stop just where h
wanted her To-. Not exactly. IL fac
she went right on through the rear wal
of the round house. The next morn
ing Bob was brakeman on freigh
train. In a few days he - wa
back on his engine again. She was
shaky old critter and refused TO pull a
many cars NJ were given her on on,
trip. Twice she tired out going up tn
Hudson hill. The third time Bol
backed her down TO the foot of the hil
wedged down her safety valve and pop
ped the wood 10 her. In about half al
hour, when the steam indicstor scratch
ed the figures 40, he let her ont an,
she walked up that hill M IL she wer
shot out Of gun. At the next STATIC
the train came to a standstill, when lo
who should come aboard the epgin
but the most unexpected, unwelcom
person on earth, the master mechsni
Of the road. Every minute the indica
tor was crawling up towards the q,