Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-03
THE BRAKEMAN's STORY.
Life on the Rail-HOw Passenger Trail
was Saved.

Life on the Rail-How Passenger Train
was Saved.
eyes sir" said the brakeman, as he
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.
Imagine yourself out on a fat-car all
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
a 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
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 to go through
(for generally we have to go on freight
cars first,) entitle us for something better
on a 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 never-to- 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, it was fearfully
cold right IN the middle of winter and
showing very hard; was brakeman in
the middle of freight train. It was
running along on slow time that night,
and we were two or three miles from the
station. was standing by the brake of
flat car trying to get warm by stamping,
wishing we were at the depot, so that I
could go back to the calaboose out of the
bitter cold, when suddenly 1 felt the
train humping and jumping as if wheel
had broken, and knew something was
wrong. The whistle blew for brakes, and
in a 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 1
was nearly frozen. Going back about
three hundred feet, we found that one of
tho 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 be along in short
time now; and take this; he said, hand
ing me red-ight lantern; well 90 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
me to myself with quick turn, and then
| remembered what I had to do. Hold
| ing the lantern up, saw the light flick
ering, and shaking it found It almost
empty.
Then began to feel the responsibility
of my position. A lamp without oil in
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 sometimes loses
his own in 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 nv
mind that the train must he signaled,
lamp or no lamp. 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 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
religious feelings, so didn't pray much,
but looked around and saw light smil-
ing from window some distance off. I
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 forsperm oil the only sort
we use-and / cried out:
"sGive me a bundle Of straw, quick,
for heavens sake!'
"She seemed to realize the position,
and quickly brought bundle. Feeling
in my pocket I found three matches, and,
grabbing the straw, made my way back
10 the track.
Laying the straw between the rails, 1
struck match and showed it into
the bundle. 1t dlckered an instant
and then went out. I felt and found the
straw damp. Just then dull faiut
rumbling sound came down the wind,
and l. knew she was coming The train
would soon be there.
II struck the second match, and 1t
touched off the straw. A blaze, little
smoke, and it was dark again, and raising
my eyes, I saw the headlight of the
approaching train away in the distance.
But trains don't crawl and the buzzing
along the rail told NE to be lively. The
red light was burning family; five
minutes more and it would go out. For
an instant I stood paralyzed, when a
shrill scream from the engine brought me
to my senses, and saw that inside of
| two minutes more she would 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
shone down in the track, and the engineer
saw me, but he did not notice the red
light the sudden waving had put it out;
only screeching he came straight on.
| When the train was almost on me, I
jumped one side, and, Singing the Ian
tern over my head, dashed it into the.
cab. The engineer saw the lamp as it
broke on the floor, and, seeing the red
glass and battered lantern, whistled the
danger signal and tried to 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
train came to astandstill. She was saved.
that's all remember.
t.,The next knew was in the harrape