Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-06-27
The Brakeman's. story.

ltb, olII Sdl( Ill6 W uhGLlllII, do It
stood by the stove warming his numbed
hands, after coming in from braking
" People think, as they sit here in their
warm seats, and only hear us call out the
different stations. that we have nice, soft
easy time. But we know better Imag-
inc yourself out on fiat car all might
with the snow dashng into your face, your
hands on a cold iron brake, and think il
that's easy; or, up on top of IL freight car
running along, the wind cutting like =
knife, dark AS pitch, and watching for ieal
you may rush suddenly under II bridge
and be swept off and perhaps left to die in
the snow Is that easy? Does that look
like soft job? To be sure, when we are
transferred to passenger cars, the work is
nice enough, but the dangers we have t.
go through (for generally we have to 90
on freight cars first) entities us TO some
thing better on u passenger car, and We
amt sorry when we get orders to take the
head end of such regular train.
There are very few brakemen who
can't tell some never-to-be- forgotten Incl
dents connected with their life on the rail
To explain, let me tell you story of my
experience. | remember one night, ii
was fearful cold, right in the middle OF
winter, and showing hard, l was brake
man in the middle of freight train. Ii
was running along on slow time that night.
and we were two or three miles from the
station. l was standing by the brake oI
Il flat car trying to get warm by stamping
and wishing that we were at the depot, 50
that could get back TO the caboose out Of
the cold, when suddenly l felt the train
humping and jumping as if Il wheel had
broken, and | knew something was wrong.
The whistle blew for brakes, and in II
mighty short time we had the train stop
ped.
With the rest of the men l went back
to see what was the matter, thinking
might get a chance at the stove, for | was
nearly frozen. Going back about three
hundred feet we found that one of the
rails had got loose and was ont of place,
but as we bad been going slow. we had
run over the spot safely. Our conductor
looked up, and seeing me, said:
"' Jim, 90 back and signal the passen-
ger train. She will be along in a short
time now; and take this he said, hand
ing me a red-light lantern. "We'll 60
on. You can come along with the other
train
"With that all hands got on board, and
soon there was nothing but myself and the
lantern left.
g" A cold gust brought me to myself
with quick turn, and then | remember
ed what had to do. Holding the lantern
up | saw the light was tlickpring, and
shaking it found that it was almost emp
ty. Then began to feel the responsibi.
ity of my position. A lamp without oil
in it, the train due in ten minutes, with
the chances of it being thrown off the
rack, and no telling how many people
would be killed or wounded! In case OF
this kind. sir, every brakeman will do his
best to save human life, although be some
times loses his own in the attempt, and all
he gets for it is having his name in the
paper and being II brave fellow.
Quicker than tell it, made up my
mird that the train must be signalled,
lamp or no lamp. But how to do it was
the question. If | ran ahead without a
light, the engineer might think l wanted
to stop the train for robbery-for such
things have often been done, you know
and would dash on faster than ever, and
maybe scald me as the locomotive rushed
by. tell you l felt like praying just
then; but brakemen are not selected for
their religious feelings, so l don't pray
much, but | looked around and saw II
light shining in window some distance
of. l laid down my lantern carefully on
the track. made bee line for the house.
and soon my knock brought u woman to
the door. who looked more frightened than
was at my excited appearance. 1t was
useless to ask her for sperm oil-the kind
we used so | cried out:
g" For Gods sake, give me some
straw!'
She seemed to realize the position,
and quickly brought q bundle. Feeling
in my pocket, l found three matches, and
grabbing the straw, made my way back
to the track.
Laying the straw between the rails, |
struck II match and showed il into the
bundle. 1t tlickered Il minute and then
went out. l felt and found that the straw
was damp.
Just then dull, faint rumbling sound
came down on the wind, and l knew she
was coming-the train would soon be
there.
Il struck the second match, and it set
the straw on fire. A blaze, Il little smoke,
aud all was dark again, and, raising my
eyes, saw the headlight Of the approach
ing train away in the distance. But trains
don't crawl. and the buzzing along the
rail told me to be lively. The red light
was burning but family; five minutes more
and it would 90 out. For an instant |
stood paralyzed, when saw that inside of
two minutes more she would be there.
"Seizing the lantern with one hand, |
struck the last match and, bending down,
| laid it carefully inside the straw, and
then | dashed forward waving the red
light. The glare from the head light
shone down on the track, and the engi-
neer saw me. but did not notice the red
light-the sudden waving put it out-only
Screeching he came straight on. When
the train was almost on me, Jumped on
one side, and singing the lantern over
my head, dashed it on the cab. The en-
gineer saw the lamp as it broke on the
floor, and seeing the red g glass and battered
lantern. whistled the danger signal and
tried to check up.
Looking down the track l scream
ed from excitement. The last match had
found dry spot and the straw was baz-
ing up bright. The train came to stand
still. She was saved; that's all l remem-
Der.
"The next knew l was in the bag
gage car. They said they had found me
lying in dead faint, and-excuse me, we
are going to stop now"
Stamfordm he sung ont. The train
stopped and the writer went home, salts
fed that brakeman's life is an exciting
one.
SLEEP.-Sleep, DR.. A. w. Hammond
says, may be defined as general repose.
A 4. - Al, plOO