Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-07-10
VARIETIES FROM a VETERAN.

A man talks as easily at the rate OF
sixty miles an hour as he does at an or
binary after-dinner pace, and veteran
railroad man who sat with his feet cooked
on an adjoining chair, on the 0. and M.
fast train Saturday, let his recollections
and gossip flow entertainingly to re-
porter.
did you ever hear" he asked, show
the rumor was started that Jay Gould had
bought the o. and NJ?
The reporter confessed that Mr.. Gould
had never fully explained the foundation
of the rumor.
Well, said the veteran as he looked
at the worm fences spinning by, "Gould
paid visit to the West last winter and it
became rumored in New York that he had
bought the O. and NJ. The actual origin
of the rumor is good story, and it shows
how little it takes to set the stock market
flying. On his way back to the East Mr..
Gould came over the O. and nj. to Cincin-
natl. He was travelling in his special car,
which was coupled on behind the regular
train at Vernon. East of Vernon, you
know, there are number of sharp curves,
which are very trying to the nerves OF
persons not accustomed to railroad travel
ing Mr. Gould's coach, which was light
and airy, was tapping about through
those curves like q snakes tail. 1t was
really more dangerous for him than any
one else, as light car will jump the track
easily. Suddenly there came a sharp ring
on the engineers alarm gong, and the
train was brought to a stop. The
conductor, who had not pulled the bell,
ran out to see why the train was stopped.
The engineer said he received the signal
to pull up. The conductor dashed back to
find out who had pulled the signal rope,
and finally came to the special Car to find
Mr.. Gould standing eiutehing the bell
rope.
!" Did you pull the bsll, Mr.. Gould !?
asked the conductor.
Yes answered Gould.
"sWhy 2
60 Because was afraid my car was going
to jump the track, said Gould this rate
of speed is entirely unnecessary, anyhow.
g. Mr. Gould, responded the company
officer, with emphasis, | am put in charge
of this train to run it on regular schedule
time, and I'm going to get into Cincinnati
at the time set Ii it is too fast for you,
why, can side-track you here until the
freight comes along.
ssWith that the conductor took the bell
cord out and left the magnate to his fears.
1t became known, however, that Gould was
along in his special car and had stopped
the train. This grew into the statement
that he had purchased the road and was
going over the line to examine it. The dis
torted story flew to New York, and stocks
capered for while over it.
81 don't see" said the reporter, with
great evidence of courage in his tone,
that there is great danger in fast run
ming"
Ever in smash-up /" asked the vete-
ran, laconically.
Never !"
That accounts for your lack of ner-
vousness. A child never breads the fire
until he is burned, and SO it is with every
kind Of danger. There are two classes of
engineers, who are known on the roads as
good runners and bad runners A
good runner is always sent out with special
trains, and In other cases where fast time is
to be made. He is an engineer who knows
the road and his engine, and will gauge
the speed by the quaiity of the track, tax
ing good many chances on safety. l
knew one OF these fellows, who was re-
the business. He would take lightning
special as safely through as another would
a freight. One dark night he was hauling
the night express around a curve like
meteor. A tree had been blown across
the track by storm, and he ran upon it
before it could be seen. The train was
smashed and he was badly hurt. He got
well in time, and took his place at work,
but lost it, and he couldn't get passenger
train on any road. The accident killed
his nerve, and he couldn't take a train
through on even schedule time. He was
always tagging and behind time. That is
the fate of great many. a bad accident
to fast train nearly always spoils good
engineer"
SThey are always in danger" said the
reporter.
YES; if there's an accident they are
almost sure to be killed They go through
life on faith and by good luck. One day,
several years ago, went out for a days
hunting in The country, and made arrange
ments for an engine to be sent out for me
at 7 o'clock. 1t came, and, with three of
us aboard, started to make the run of
twenty five miles an hour ahead of the reg
ular train We got out mile or two and
the headlight fickered and went down.
The engine was stopped and the lantern
was tinkered with, and we started again.
We ran few miles, and had to stop and
tinker with the confounded lamp again.
This time it went out clear, and to our hor-
ror we discovered that the regular train
was within five minutes of us, and there was
no side-track near. 1t was as dark as origi-
nal chaos, not star out. The engineer
started carefully, worked the throttle out
gradually, and, all of us clinging to the
cab for dear life, the race began. For all
that we could see it was plunge into
space The engine snorted and rolled, and
fairly flew along the track, until the wei
come light of the home yards fell upon us.
We had run fifteen miles on pure faith in
pine minutes, and the regular train was an
hour and forty minutes behind time p
''That was close shave on luck"
Eyes; don't want to ride under pres
sure again. II Louisville Courier-Journal.