Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-04-10
LIFE ON THE RAIL.
The Brakeman Conductor
"JOe''- The Mothers Warning
Thu NyraeE

| there are others VINO nave good euucA-
ton, and are perfect in positions Of MI
nor trust, but never rise higher. because
OF lack OF those capabilities and that
tirmness that is necessary for men oil au-
thority to exercise,
The impression seems 10 be general
that any man may become "hrst'class
railroader, and that II requires no par
ticular qualification TO ill the positions
on road, from brakeman and fireman
10 engineer, conductor and superintend-
end.
How little outsiders imagine the true
facts in the case Do all small dealers
become great merchants1 DO all the
rank and file of an army become officers
Of distinction? Do all the pettiiogging
politicians become party leaders,
No, indeed And no more can all be-
come good railroad men. The duties
are arduous aud dangerous, and the re-
spOusibibities are great Let US take
brakcman's duties by way OF example.
To become good railroad man he
must have that iearlessness, that, while
il does not approach recklessness. will
cast nervousness aud timldlty aslde,and
perform difficult duties every hour that
place life in danger, aud where oyer.cau
ton or hesitancy because OF danger will
result disastrously. lie must be quick
10 comprehend and quick 10 execute.
Must acquire practical knowledge oi the
construction Of a car, for he may at any
moment be called on to repair brake,
put in draw-bar, OF chain up put
in a pair Of wheels or Center'pin, pack \
box, or put in brass-in fact, almos,
rebuild car, while going over the road.
good brakcman-One who II desir.
Gus Of prunotiun-will iamiliarlze him
self with the destination OF every car IN
his train. ~ that the "sctting.on and
taking on" may be done with all posi-
ble dispatch " II see that he is always
provided with links, pins, frogs, chain,
AK, saw, wrench, oil, waste, dope and
the complement OF red and white lights,
will acquaint himself with all sldc.tracks
along the road, and know how many
cars they will hold, will learn all the
technical points ol the running OF trains
by time card ur orlcrs, and the quickest
way % passing them on the road, viii
watch all trains met, aud look closely Tor
signals carried on cngincs-in short, will
take the same interest IN getting the
tram over the road safely on time IA his
conductor. These are sumc OF the more
important duties Of a good brakeman,
who is working Tor the interest OF the
company, aud Tot the promotion that II
sure tu come il he is watChiul, faithful,
capable, trustworthy, and ,pbyr.
Such one was Joe Redmond, Of the
Missouri Pacific, aud il was not long ere
he received orders to report to heal
quarters, where lac was duly examined,
found qualified, aud promoted 10 u
freight eondUclorshlp,
Joe wasa brave, good hearted young
fellow, who always had good word Tor
every one, young aud old, rich and poor,
great aud small Aud a good railroad
mau Was Joe one Who ALWAYS did his |
duiy without grumbliug, were II ever 80 !
arluous and prrlluus, When the men |
were hard run, aud man was wanted |
iur the night freight on particularly !
stormy night, when all the other con |
ductors plead oil, or were sick "tor this |
occasion only Joe VAS sent for. Joe !
would 10 out, Joe would wade through |
fire aud water, and peril hls hIc on every .
mile ui the roal without a murmur 1t /
has dut lei him % it, even Il he had eN- |
pcctcd a coy night at home with dear !
old mother, loving WIFE, and a coolng |
tiny baby.
-Jur's good nature was often imposed !
on, and some of the Jealous ones wins |
pcrcd about that he was working the |
ropes ior something better, or else yO- |
ted him green Tor being made 10 dO duty |
Tor the "shitkcts' but 1t would never |
do Ia intimate IA much ~ Joe, tor lac |
was ~ quick 10 resent an insult as hc |
was 10 forgive fault aud there was not |
one 81 the gtumblrrs who would care to |
kindle the flame Of wrath1n those brave,
honest eyes, which looked 20 steadily |
and icarlcssly out from his smiling lace. |
Another ui Jpc's characteristics was /
hl-implirit obedience, without question,
81 any request 81 his mother. She al |
ways resided with HIM, aul the old belief ,
that mothers can not live happily with |
their married children VAS not verified
in her ease. Mrs Joe worshippcd her,
a. lid Joe himself aud both were wont |
g. receive her advice ~ becoming spirit,
aud well content to yield themselves to
her gentle sway.
Joe received orders % ~ out one even
ing, which hr observed rather reluctant
~, ~ Joe, junior, was quite sick. But
leaving many lnJunctiOus what o. do in
case the little fellow grew WOTs', he took
his departure. CA reaching the other
end Othis run he found 30 his Joy that
he was booked Tor return on the fast
freight, which LETT in a lew hours, and /
what made the news more attractive still
was the TACT that an old Chum vast pull
him with new engine, this being her first
trip. Now, the fast freight u always q
choice run, aud many u the others en-
We'd Joe his good luck in getting it.
4 couple oi hours before leaving time
hc threw himself down Ia hIs cahooSr 10
catch a little sleep lie was awakened /
hy messenger, who handed him the
most singular message Il bad ever been
his fortune to receive. l, vas short, aud
simply read
"jor Donoi come On No H.
"MptHER"
Now. how came his mother 10 send a
message over the rDai' How did she
know be- was To 70 on No. ~ Why /
he ~ on that train aud hasten
to the sick bed oi his bow But there
were his orders irJuronc J. q never refused .
10 obey. Tie had no difficulty IN getting .
A conductor toChaugr II with hiW, but i
as he did not explain his reason tD any
one for the change, a. be hal never he
fore been reluctant 10 obey TIE call Of I
duty, there was much speculation about
H.
Icayius.tine came, and Joe saw the
new engine, gayiy decorated, take the /
last freight out II the yard "aNhgup. .
ing With the thought that he must I
take the slow night Height. But regret, 7
we're useless. and be- consolei himself /
with tie reflection that hr hal obeycd /
his mother strange request, Tor which /
she certainly must have good reason, !
however mysterious Il nov seemed.
Two hour- passed, aud Joe was startled /.
from his mciitations 10y another mes
sage. this time from the superintendent,
which read
send wreck train to Covington IN
charge OF conductor first out
As he was trst out the message Was
handed to him. with orders to get ready
What train Was wrecked.
or whether any one was killed OF injured,
could ~, be found out
In few minutes the wreck train, with
wreckers aboard, was hyiHg over the
road, with Conductor Joe in charge.
At the reverse curve near Covlngton
they were tagged. and told ~ pull slow.
IN around the curve, a. the wreck sS
al the bridge As they came in sight oi