The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
A stony OF THE HEADLIGHT.
The Astounding vIsion that Appeared 20
Conductor COLUMBUS BrannIuaa.

The Astounding vision that Appeared 70
Conductor COLUMBUS BrnnnIuan.
Gray-haired Columbus Brannigan Is az
rough and ready conductor rs ever swung
lamp. For almost quarter Of a century he has
run Hudson River train between New York
and Poughkeepsie. to the satisfaction OF the
company, tho public and himself, and to tho
terror of all who tried to clrcumvent the road
But Of late years. while he has done his work
ne well as ever. Conductor Branngan has felt
that he is growing old that his shoulders arc
not so plumb ne they were. his limbs less
supple. and he looks with growing aversion
upon tho now men who are coming on. young
follows who wear their gold laced caps jauntily
and give their signals In an Off hand fashion
that is painfully unlike the clear free sweep OF
the lamp that characterizes tho old style. These
last two weeks he has felt worse than usual.
and his eyes have bothered him great deal.
On one occasion. for instance. he saw two
lights. red and n green. at point where he
know there could be- only green. At another
time he thought that fire was spouting from the
sido OF his engine when really the flame was
only tho haring torch OF the fireman who was
putting oil into the cups. When he reflected
upon these things he was troubled; for II he
should get worse he might have to give up his
train. He couldn't live away from the road.
Once Off and he knew what would happen thom;
1t would not be long before the Great Engineer
would blow brakes on him forever.
This condition OF mind wrought an astonlsh-
ing change in Conductor Brannlgan's de-
meanor. Before. ifhe encountered on his train
man who was trying TO ride without paving.
he put him of without ceremony; now he was
inclined to be enient. and n the poor traveller
told plausible story he would let him pass.
Formerly he was brusque and dictatora TO his
baggage master. and made that overworked sor-
want Of the company sort and count his tickets
for him. and stand around generally; now he
was gontle and forbcarng. and did his work
tus Fogarty. the placid hut gigantic trunk de-
strOyer. whose thoughts were SO cngrossed by
this new departure that one day he carolessly
dropped trunk ON the wrong corner, ana gave
1t. not the gaping collapse that marks good
work. but what is known as the steamboat spit,
term OF contempt applied To- the hungling
work done 10y steamboat deck hands and bag,
gage masters on short feeder roads. ChRgrined
closer attention to his duties; but he never
ceased wondering what was the matter with tho
Conductor Brannigan pulled out Of the Grand
Central depot yesterday afternoon on time; He
takes the east track going up. Wnymonk do
pot. which he reached about two hours alter
dark stands alongside the west track 50 that
the baggage for Waymonk from up trains il set
on on the down track. and removed thence To
tho station platform 10y the agent Fogarty set
set out last night upon the down track seven
| teen trunks. seven tNfp't-NNNS. anu loOf Dhnu-
| boxes, making neat pile about the size OF
| log cabin, AZ Conductor Brannigan passed the
depot On his way along down his tram To see II
everything was all right he saw the station
agent coming out for tho trunks. and then in
| tho darkness ho lost sight and thought OF them
altogether. Turning at the rear ear. lie lifted
his lamp and gave his engineer the signal 10 go
ahead. and nt tho same moment he tho
glare Of q headlight coming around the curve
| himself. a. he stepped upon the rcnr platform.
and then NJ his train gathered hendway he for
al T4N INN
! before. and started for the baggage car. While
he was passing from the front platform Of the
rear ear To the rear platform OF the next. the ~.
Louis shot by and Ut the same instant he heard
u cracking sound. and thought no saw trunks
nylng IN every direction.
gage ear he set down his lamp with "A detected
air and sank YEARLY In his chair. 'Gustus."
matter with my eyes | don't know what. but
I'm afraid I've got 70 give up running. II
the train for you, for you've always been faith
iul TO me. don't know what ais me- hut lately
| I've seen all sorts OF things About ten DAYS
! then thought the engine was ahre Ito. might as
was coming through the train. thought
"Speaking OF trunks" said the trunk
wrestler The thought the conductor was fooling
with himl Il happened 10 be- looking ont Of
the side door when the express PASSED us and
| thought saw few trunks myself kind O.
nOating around, aud there might have been SIX
! or eight carpet bags mixed in, Tor set on
| seven Of 'em Dlong with the trunks | thought
| thured bo truubl" when that baggage WASH /
! EOt OF tho track sharp, and when ST. Louis
| showed around the curve there wasn't any help
| for 1t. knew by the whistle II was Seventy
nine for Jim Beettop can get moro scrcech To
the pound OF steam than any man on the road.
aud when he's making time he don't waste any
| Of IL slowing for way stations. When she went
! by her furnace door was open. and tho fireman
/ was stpiiing coal into hor. jim sat on his
bench. hand on the throttle. and eyes ahead
and the WAY he was bouncing her for New York
was beautiful 10 look at The instant hc struck
the straight he saw that pile ot baggage. Ho
hand. and reversed her with tho other. but ho
| might just as well have tried 10 stop comet.
For about second that pile OF trunks stood out
| In tue headlight. and hen-'
Then them was real trunks saw In the
| airF and the conductor jumped TO his feet a
Rcql trunksY said Fogarty. amazed that
| anybody could douh; IT,, " Real trunksp' and
! he added mournfully. " | thought could break
up trunk pretty fine, but | want 10 give w
Coniuctor Brannigan gave n vicious yank on
| the bell cord and MS he felt the brakes gripping
| under him lac started back. Sitting humbly in
the uncomfortable end seat at the rear OF the
| last car WAS "A lean and tired Trump whose pitt
eous plea for a free ride had Just been granted
! 10y the conductor. Looking up as the door
toward him. but so changed that he hardly
| recognized the man who few minutes be-
fore. had been kind TO him. That was the Con
sell. sympathized with those in distress this
was the Conductor Brannigan who had dscov-
cred that II was not growing nnrmities, but in
| digestion. that allied lis eyesight.
"You can't beat the company on nv train.
Come out o thisl' he shouted. as he dragged
! the trembling tramp along tho aisle. and when
the train Stacked up he pitched him OF the
| platform into n snow bank Then he yanked
| the bell cord again to go ahead went back to the
! baggage ear. set his lamp ON the floor. tipped
back in his chair and placed his feet on tho
| highest trunk In tho corner; and ns he
scratched match on the bottom Of tho chair TO
light his cigar with, Conductor Brannigan
pulled u lot Of loose tickets out OF his pocket
| threw them into his box. and said 10 tho as
| founded baggage cruncher: " Fogarty. II you
| can't learn 10 sort tickets quicker I'm going TO
| put on a man that canl'
Making II Corps of Rowing Detectives.
WARRINGTON. Feb 2s-Among tho amend-