Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-14
The Engineers Story.

Inc Engineers Story.
Engineer Page was the man who
brought the president through safely or
the 9th. He was a most striking figure
on the train as it pushed up in front of the
Elberon. His long heard was flowing ia
the WIND which was blowing in from the
sea, and his swarthy face was covered
with dirt and cinders. He stood erect
and hrm, and with an air of conscious
pride in every feature that showed he was
conscious of a duty well performed. A
reporter of the New York Sun boarded
the engine asst moved from the Elberon
to the West End hotel station, and during
mat short ride had chat with him about
the trip.
did she behave we'll to-day on the
lourneyP' he was asked.
Behave WE'LL | should say so. She
,eemed to feel what was required of her.
ms morning she glided away as gently
us lady's carriage horse, and even when
put her to her pace, and she went along
at the rate Of a mile in fifty-two seconds,
she seemed to hold her breath"
As Engineer Page said this he leaned
out OF the cab and looked at his engine as
Kindly as Il rider would look at his favor
lite horse
Then you didn t limit the speed to
forty. five miles an hour, as was originally
inlendedP he WAS asked.
ION, no; that you see would have been
only three-quarters of mile to minute.
But great deal of the way we made
more than mile II minute"
" Did the doctors and the president
know you were going at that ratep'
They didn't the first time let her 90.
But I'll tell you how | came to do it. We
left Washington at 6 :37 this morning. We
ran down 10 PatapJco, thirty.seven miles
out, at the limited rate There we stopped
three minutes. This stop, like ali the
other stops on the way, was made to
change crews, to water and to allow the
physicians to attend on the president.
saw one of the attendants-I guess it was
Colonel notwithstanding down the plat.
.orm, and | called out to him, Colonel,
how is the president?' You see, though |
wash t sure who he was, | felt kind of
safe in calling him colonel.
80 He's doing finely, Page came back
the answer.
60 Does he feel the motionP' I asked.
80 Not at ALL he answered. why,
you are going ms smoothly as carriage
over an asphalt pavement
Was it then You began to think of
running little EsterP"
Well. yes. But Bay View, our next
stopping place, wss only eight miles far
Their, so didn't try it till wa started from
Bay View to Perryville, seventy-ei
miles out of Washington. There they
sent me word that the president had been
doing better and better, so | thought I'd
watch the engine. and if she went smooth
y, try one mile little faster. Shamoken,
where we were to have the next halt, was
forty-six miles farther on. The engine
behaved beautifully; so, half way between
Bay View and Shamoken l threw open the
throttle and let her go one mile in fifty
three seconds. didn't feel jolt or jar as
she went tearing down the track, and
knew then that if the president had mind
he might get the sea breezes sooner.
called out to one of the attendants Did
you notice any extra motion while we
were going so fastp
go Why, no. was the reply. We're we
travelling faster than forty five miles an
hour?'
80 Yes, SIR says 1; we went one mile
in fifty three seconds
"'Well,' said he, L didn't notice it,
and I'm sure the president didn't. III 20
and ask.
Pretty soon l saw him coming down
the platform. Whip her up, Page, whip
her up he called out The president
didn't feel any extra motion. They were
all delighted to hear that we could get
along faster, and the president said Tell
him to go ahead. | want to get there A
short time ago he sail: | feel as though
was on the load to recovery
after that | went pretty much at the
speed | thought best, according to my
knowledge of the road"
Il suppose after this" said the reporter,
e your engine will be the most famous
one on the road
Yes, sir; and she ought to be. | guess
she earned a national reputation to-day"
Engineer Page has been for twenty five
years in the employ of the Pennsylvania
railroad company. He is forty.two years
old, weighs one hundred and sixty pounds,
has light blue eyes and sandy whiskers.
He began rs fireman for his father, Ralph
trusted engineer on the road, and was
selected to take charge OF the train that
brought the body of President Lincoln to
New York on the way to its final resting
place. After firing for his father several
years he was promoted for faithful service,
and has for number of years had charge
of the limited Washington express train.