The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-02-10
THE BRAkEMAN'S STORY.

the nigh pressure OF our artltlclGi lie.
THE BRAKEMAN's STORY.
Yes, SIR" said the brakeman, as he
hands, after coming in from brakiug
''People think, as they sit here in their
| warm seats and only hear US call out the
different stations, that we have a nice, soft,
easy time. But we know better. Imagine
yourself ont on fat car all night with the
snow dashing into your face, your hands
on cold iron brake, and think if that 5
easy; or, up on top of 4 freight car, run
ming along, the wind cutting like knife,
dark as pitch, aud watching for fear You
may rush suddenly under bridge and be
swept off, and perhaps left to die in the
snow. is that easy? Does that look like
a soft job? To be sure, when we are trans
ferred to passenger cars, the work is nice
enough, but the dangers we have to 60
through for generally we have to 60
on freight cars first entitle us to some
thing better on a passenger car, and we
ain t 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
dent connected with their life on the rail
70, explain, let me tell yoI story of my
own experience. | remember one night, it
was fearful cold, right in the middle of
Winter, and showing hard, was brake
man in the middle of freight train. 1t
was running along on SLOW time that night,
aud we were two or three miles from the
station. I was standing by the brake of
fat car trying to get warm by stamping,
wishing we were at the depot, so that |
could 90 back to the caboose out of the
bitter cold, when suddenly felt the train
humping and jumping as if a wheel had
broken, and know some thing was wrong
The whsle blew for brakes, and in mighty
short time we had the train stopped.
with the rest of the men | went back
to see what was the matter, thinking that
| 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 out of place.
but, as we had been going SLOW, we had
ran over tie spot safely. Our conductor
looked up, and seeing me, said:
.Jim get back and signal the passenger
train. She will be along in short time,
now: and take this, he said handing me a
red light lanteran: well 90 on. You can
come along with the other train
With that all hands got on board, and
lantern left.
\ cold gust brought ME to myself with
quick turn, and then remembered what !
had to do. Holding the lantern up. saw
the light was pickering, and shaking it
found it almost empty. Then l began to
feel the responsibility of my position. A
lamp without oil i'll it, the train due in ten
minutes, with the chances of it being
thrown off the track, and no telling how
many people killed or wounded! In case
of this kind sir, every brakeman will do his
best to save human life, although he some
times looses his own in the attempt, and
all lie gets for it is having his name in tie
paper and being brave fellow.
Quicker than tell it. made up my mind
that the train must be signaled, lamp or no
lump. But how to do it was the question.
If ran ahead without light, the engineer
might think ! wanted to stop the train for
robbery-for such things have often been
done, you know--and would only dash
right on faster than ever and maybe try to
scald me as the locomotive rushed by. |
tell You felt like praying just then: but
brakemen are not selected for their religi-
Gus feelings, SO | don't pray much, but
looked around and saw a light shining in a
window some distance off. | laid down my
intern carefully on the track, made bee
line for the house, and soon my knock
| brought woman to the door, who looked
more frightened than | was at my excited
appearance. 1t was useless to ask for
sp-rm oi-the only sort we use-so | cried
| out:
For Gods sake give me some straw"
She seemed to realize the position, and
quickley brought bundle. Feeling in
my pocket, | found three matches, and,
grabbing the straw, | made my way back
to the track.
| Laying the straw between the rails,
struck a match and showed it into the bun
BILE. 1t tlickered an instant, and then went
| T fol nd l,.
| Just then dull, faint, rumblng sound
came down on the wind, and | knew she
was coming-the train would soon be there.
| struck the second match, and it touched
off the straw. \ blaze, a little smoke, and
| it was dark again, and, raising my eyes. |
saw the head light of the approaching
| train away in the distance. But trains
| don't crawl, and the buzzjng along tie
rail told me to be lively. The red light
was burning but family: five minutes
more, and it would 90 out. For an intsant
| | stood paralyzed, when a shril scream
from the engine brought me to my senses,
and saw that inside of two minutes more
she would be there.
! Selling 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
the track, and the engineer saw me, but
/ did not notice the red light-the sudden
/ waving had put it out-only screaching he
came straight on. When the train WIS
almost on me, l jumped one side, and,