River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-08-07
THE BRAKEMAN'S STORY


Life on the Rail-Eiow Passenger Trair
was Saved.
YES sir, said the brakeman, as hC
stood by the stove warming his numbed
hands after coming in from braking
"People think, as they sit here in theil
warm seats and only hear US call out the
different stations, that we have nice
soft, easy time. But we know better
Imagine yourself out on a fiat-car al
night with the snow dashing into your
face, your hands on an cold iron brake
and think if that's easy; or, up on top Of
q freight car, running along, the wind
cutting like a knife, dark as pitch. and
watching for fear you may rush suddenly
under bridge and be swept off, and per.
haps left to die in the snow. Is that
easy2 Docs that look like a soft Job
To be sure, when we are transferred tC
passenger cars the work is nice enough
but the dangers we have to 90 through
| tfor generally we have TO 60 on freight
cars tirst,) entitle us for sonnet inc better
on passenger car, and we amt sorry
when we get orders to take the head OF
such regular train.
"There are very few brakeman who
can't tell some be-forgotten in
cident connected with their life on the
rail- To explain, let me tell you story
of my own experience.
81 remember one night, ii was fearfully
cold right IN the middle of winter and
showing very hard; ! was brakeman 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. was standing by the brake of
a flat car trying to get warm by stamping,
wishing we were at the depot, SO that
could 90 back to the calaboose out of the
bitter cold, when suddenly | felt the
train humping and jumping as if a wheel
had broken, and ! knew something was
wrong The whistle blew for brakes, and
in a mighty short time we had the train
stopped.
'Wlth 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 run over the spot safely. Our
conductor looked up, and seeing me, said
hurriedly.
Jim, get back and signal the passen-
ger train. She will b.. along in short
time now; and take this, he said, hand
ing me red-light lantern; well 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. A cold gust brought
Inc TO myself with quick turn, and then
/ remembered what l had to do. Hold
ing the lantern up, saw the light flick
ering, and shaking it found it almos
empty.
Then | began to feel the responsibility
of my position. A lamp without oil in
it, the train due i'll ten minutes, with the
chances of it being thrown off the track,
and no telling how many people killed
wounded In a case OF this kind. sir,
every brakeman Will do his best to save
human life, although he sometimes loses
his own ia the attempt, and all ne get
for it is having his name in the paper and
being brave fellow.
'Quicker than tell it, / made up my
mind that the train must be signaled,
lamp or no lamp. But how to do it was
the question. If ran ahead without q
light, the engineer might think | wanted
to stop the train for robbery--for such
things have often been done, yon know
and would not only dash right on faster
than ever, but may be try to scald me as
the locomotive rushed by.
''Tell you felt just like praying then,
but brakemen are not selected for their
feelings, so didn't pray much,
but looked around and saw light smil-
ing from window some distance off
laid down my lantern carefully on the
track, made Decline 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 sperm oil-thc only sort
we use-and | cried out
g Give me a bundle Of straw, quick,
for heavens sakey
"She seemed to realize the position,
and quickly 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 bundle 1t filckered an instant
and then went out. felt and found the
straw damp Just then a dull faiut
rumbling sound came down the wind,
and | knew she was coming The train
would soon be there.
81 struck the second match, and 1t
touched off the straw. A blaze, little
smoke, and it was dark again, and raising
nv eyes, / saw the headlight Of the
l. IN Ill
But trains don't crawl and the buzzing
along the rall told ne to be lively. The
red light was burning family; five
minutes more and it would go out. For
an instant | stood paralyzcd, when a
shrill scream from the engine brought me
to my senses, and | saw that inside OF
two minutes more she wonld be on the
spot.
"Seizing the lantern with one hand,
| struck the last match, and, bending
down, laid it carefully inside the straw,
and then dashed forward, waxing the red
light. The glare from the headlight
shonc down in the track, and the engineer
saw me, but he did not notice the red
light-the sudden waving had put il out;
only screening he came straight on
w UPH the lIdlll Wdo dillipob VA nv
Jumped one side, and, singing the Ian
tern over my head, dashed IT into the
cab. The engineer saw the lamp as III
broke on the floor, and, seeing the red
glass and battered lantern, whistled the
danger signal and tried 10 check up.
Looking down the track, | almost
screamed from excitement. The last
match had found a dry spot, and the
straw was blazing up brightly. The
rain came to astandstill. She was saved.
that's all | remember.
1.-The next knew was in the baggage
car. They said they had found me lying
by the train, in a dead faint, and-excuse
me, we are going TO stop, now. STAN
ford j" he sang out.
The train stopped, and the writer went
home, satisfied that brakeman life is an
exciting one.-SGn Francisco Gail.