The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-07-19
Tho Train Bell Rope.

In the early days of the railroad in this
country the locomotive engineer was the
master of the train. He ran It according
TO his Judgment, and the conductor had
very little voice in the matter. Collecting
fares, experimenting the loading and I'm.
loading of freight and shouting "All
aboard!" were all that the conductor was
expected to do. The Erie railroad was
then the New York and Erie RairoaI.
There was no rail connection with Jersey
City in l842. Boats carried passengers
from New York to Piernont-o -on-thc Hudson
which was then the eastern terminus of the
road. Turner's, forty seven miles from
New York, was Us far West as the railroad
was Ill operation. One Of the pioneer con-
ductors of this road was Captain Ayrcs.
lie ran the only train then called for
between the two terminal points. 1t was
made up OF freight and passenger cars.
Inc idea OF the engineer, without any
knowledge of what was going on buck of
the locomotive, having his way as to how
the tram was TO be run, did not strike the
Captain as being according to the propriety
OF things. lie frequently encountered a
tractious passenger who insisted on riding
without paying his fare. AS there was no
way OF signaling the engineer, and the
passenger could not be thrown from the
tralh While 1t was Ill motion, the conductor
IN such cases had no choice but to let him
ride until regular stop was made. Captain
Ayres finally determined to institute n new
system i'll the running of trains. lie pro-
cnrea stout twine, sufficiently long to
reach from the locomotive to the rear car,
10 the end of this string next the eppinccr
he fastened stick of wood. IIe ran this
cord back ovcl the cars to the lust one. He
informed tho engineer, who was a German.
named Abe llammill that If he desired to
have the train stopped he would pull the
string and raise the stick. and would expect
The signal to bo6bcyed. Hammill looked
upon this innovation rs direct blow az his
authority, and when the train left Piermout
he cut the stick loose. At Turner's he told
Captain Ayres that he proposed to run the
train himself, without interference from
any conductor. The next day the Captain
rugged up his string and stick of wood
again.
ABE, said ne, 'thls things got to be
settled one way or the other to-day. If
that stick of wood is not on the end of this
cord when we get to Turner's you've got to
lick me or I'll lick you."
Inc SUCK was not On the string when the
train reached Turner's. The Captain pulled
on his coat, and told Hammill to get off
his engine. Hammill declined to gct off.
Captain Ayres climbed to the engineers
place. Hammill started to Jump off on the
opposite side. The conductor hit him un-
der The car and saved him the trouble of
Jumping. That settled forever the question
OF authority on railroad trains. Ilammil
abdlcatcd as autocrat of the pioneer Erie
train, and the twinc and stick of wood.
manipulated by tic conductor, controlled
It's management. That was the origin of
the bell-rope, now one of the most lmpor-
tant attachments Of railroad trains. The
idea was quickly adopted by the few roads
then IN operation and the bell or gong in
tlmc look the place Of The stick OF wood TO
sgnal the engineer. Captain Ayros con-
tlnucd conductor on this road under its
different managers until he was supcran.
nuated and retired on pension year ago.