Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-09-20
The Bell Rope.
HOv This Train Conductor Originated.

LOU 1"ts IRAN conductor Originated.
In the early days of the railroad in this
country the locomotive engineer was the
master OF tho train. He ran it according to
his judgment, and the conductor had very
little voice in the matter. Collecting fares.
superlntending the loading aud unloading of
freight, and shouting "All aboard ~ was all
that the conductor was expected 20 do The
Erie railway was then the New York and
Erie railroad. There was no rail connection
with Jersey City in 1912 Boats carried
passengers from New York to Pfermopt>on-
the, Hudson, which was then the eastern .
terminus OF the road. Turner'S, forty-seveu
miles from New York, was as far west as tho
railroad was in operation Ono of the pi>
oneer conductors of this line was the late
Captain Ayres. Il ran the only train GALL
ed Tor bet|een the two terminal points. IL
was made up of freight and passenger cars.
TIE idea of tho engineer, without auv
knowledge of what was going on back of the
locomotive, having his way AZ to how the
train was to be run, did not strike the COP.
tain as being according to the propriety OF
things. He frequently encountered trsc-
tiOus passenger who insisted on riding with
out paying bis fare As there was no wav
OF signaling the engineer and tho passenger
could not be thrown from the train while it
was in motion, the conductor had M choice
in such osses but to let him ride until reg>
uIar stop was made. Captain Ayres finally
determined to institute . new system in the
running of trains. H. procured stout
twiue, sufficiently long to reach from the Io>
connective to the rear car To the end of this
string next the engineer no fastened stick
of wood. He ran thia oord back over the
cars to the last one He Informed tho on
gineeT, who was a German Dnmed Abe Hsms
mil, that If he desired the train stopped ha
would pull the string and THisO the stick,
and would expect the signal to be obeyed.
HamUi looked upon this innovation az
| direct blow at his authority, and cut the
stick loose. At Turner'S he told Csptain
Ayres that ho proposed to run the train him.
seIt, without interference from any couduo.
tor. The next day the Captain rigesd up
his string and stick Of wood again. "Abe, I"
said he, "this things got To be settled one
way or the other to-day II that stick of
| wood is not On the end Of this cord when We
get to Turner'S, you've got 70 lick me or I'll
lick you"
The stick was not on the string When tbs.
train reached Turner'S. The Captain pulled
off his coat and told Hammil to get of his
engine. Hammil declined to get of Cap
tain Ayres climbed TO the engineers place.
HsmmiI started to jump off ON the, opposita
sde The conductor hit him under the ear
and saved bin from jumping. That settled
forever the question of authority on rstlroad
trains Hammil abdissted ss autoerat Of tho
| pioneer Eric troin, and the tWibe and stick
/ of wood, manipulated BY the conductor, con-
trolled it's management. That was the ORR
| gin OF the bell-rope. now one of the most
important attachments Of railroad trains.
Tho idea was quickly adopted by the few
trains then in operation, and the bell or gong
in time took the place Of the stick Of wood
to signal the engineer. Captain AyTss son-
tinued conductor on this road under it's
different managers until he was supersnnu>
ated and retired on q pension year sgo He
died few months ago in Osvego, Al the ago
of seventy-eightyears.
wEAT AIS YOUf-Is it a disordered liver s,v-
ing You yellow kin or e"stiVs bowels; which
have resulted in distressIuR piles, do your
30, JonEsystem will soon be cloggsd with poi
sons. Take few d"ses of Kidney, Wort and
oh every inapediuert and each organ vii bs
11eady for dn'y. - D5gEsi'tsseil both the dry asd
500 pieces prints. fall styles snd very
pretty. just received at the Twin Fronts
also whole bales of cotton and cotton fan
goods (eII kiDds) are rolling In the Twin
Fronts. SEQ bats for Men. Boys. Children
apd the babies. and latest fall styIes--soms-
thing to suit Jou ezsetly. Mr. Goidsn ith
is East purchasing and sbippine his goods
By the car losd. Call and eIamiDe them
a yOuDgster. while Wrrming his hands at
tbe IRE, Tas remonstrssed with By his father,
who said :.
$50 away from the Ere the weather iu
4 aiu's heasin' the weather, father; I'm
warming my hands" the little fellow do
nErsIy replied.
! rERsons VINO STAND UPoy rur,s W r..
whstber men or women, are often At t,asti., H.
is Ti.n ser,oI, pains and veakaes IN tie 30 ek
IONS Snd otasT Psrts of the. body 1t has besl
| proven 6eyO"d doubt. however thar VF.s,1ST' =
SAFE kidney aad Liver Cure il csrssih pfs