Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-12-22
SEVENTY-FIVE MILES AN HOUR
AN ENGINEER S STORY.

had spent the night in a stage, day
in the saddle, a night in the sleeping car,
half day doing business, half day in
bed, and was, after supper, enjoying a
cigar and a newspaper, in the reading
room of the Redwood house, Fayette, Ind
The newspaper was uninteresting, or else
I was rather sleepy-and I guess it was
little of bOth-so that | soon neglected
it, to watch the fantastic curling of the
smoke from my fine favored cigar. I
didn't feel much like talking, and felt
still less like reading; but did feel as
if would like exceedingly we'll to hear
good story.
[ had barely come to this conclusion,
and commenced wishing for some one Of
my acquaintance to amuse me till the
time was up for the train which was to
take me to indianapolis, when I recog-
nized, in the person who sat next to ME, 8
fellow traveller IN the sleeping car Of the
night before.
He, too, had laid aside his paper, ard
was apparently, like me, watching the
smoke of his cigar, and wishing for alb
sent friends to keep him company.
He was very agreeable looking little
man, with clear, gray eye, light hair,
sandy whiskels and smiling mouth In
deed, he had so much the appearance of
the man that l would like to hear
tell story that thought Dame Fortune
had smiled upon me, when he recognized
me with q genial ''How dye do, strang-
elY'
I returned bis salutation, and ask cd
him some commonplace questions ABOUT
how he had etjoyed the ride we had to-
gether.
He said something in reply about the
running being too fast for the poor track
and from this the conversation ran upon
fast travelling in general for some time
At last remarked, that sixty miles an
hour was the most speedy travelling that
/ had ever done. Whereupon my friend
Informed me, with pleasant but know
ing smile, that he had travelled consider
ably faster than that, and, in fact, faster
than he hal ever heard Of, besides. Of
course was anxious to know where, how,
and when he had done it; and, after the
modest assurance that he feared his tale
would not be interesting, my friend re-
lieved my anxiety by relating the follow.
ing story:
II am railroad engineer. Away along
in fifty seven, during the great panic, I
was running on ire f. & G r. r. The
railroad companies were going under, in
all directions Every day we heard of
new failures: and quite often in quarter
where we least expected it. Our road
was generally looked upon as one of the
most substantial in the nation; nobody
seemed to have any fears that it would
fail to survive the general mash-up. But
yet did not fully share in the general
confidence Wages were cut down; ar
rearages collected; and great many
other little matters seemed to indicate to
me that the road had got in rather deep
er water than was agreeable all around.
Among other things, the master mechanic
had told me in the spilog that the COM
pany had ordered four first quality
Taunton engines for the fall passenger
business. The road was put in the ve1y
best condition, and other preparations
were made, to cut down the
time and put trains through quicker than
was ever known before, when the rev
engines shOud come. well, there was
but one of the engines came.
II said there was but one engine came !;
but she was, in my opinion, altogether
the best ever turned out of the Taunton
works: and that is saying as much as
Can be said IN praise Of any engine She
was put IN my charge Immediately, with
the understanding that she vas mine.
"It was SATURDAY. when she cama o,,+
of the shop, and was to take special
train up to Y The train was 10
carry up the president and several oe the
other officers of the road, to meet some
officers of another road, which crossed
ours there, and arrange some important
business with them
Il had no trouble at all in making nv
forty miles an hour going out. The en-
CINE handled herself most beautifully