The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-03-10
THE BRAKEMAN'S STORY.
HOW 4 PASSENGER TRAIN WAS SAVED.

!
different stations, that we have a nice
soft, easy time. But we know better
Imagine yourself on flat car all night
with the snow dashing into your face
your hands on cold iron brake, anC
think if that's easy; or, up on top of {
freight car, running along, the wind cut
| ting like knife, dark as pitch, an6
watching for fear you may rush suddenly
under bridge and be swept off, and
perhaps left to die in the snow. Is thai
| easy2 Does that look like soft iob2 Tc
| be sure, when we are transferred to pass
enger cars the work is nice enough, bu;
the dangers we have to go through (fol
generally We have to go on freight cars
firsD entitled US to something better on
| a passenger car, and we amt sorry when
we get orders to take the head end OF
such regular train.
There are very few brakemen who can
| not tell some r-to-be-forgotten Incl
| dent connected with their life on the
rail. To explain, let me tell you story
| of my own experience.
I remember one night, it was fearfully
cold, right in the middle of winter, and
showing hard; was brakeman in the
middle of a freight train. 1t was run
ming along on slow time that night, and
we were two or three miles from the sta
ton. | was standing by the brake of a
hat-car trying to get warm by stamping,
wishing we were at the depot, SO that l
could go back to the caboose out of the
bitter cold, when suddenly l felt the train
humping and jumping as if wheel had
broken, and [ knew something was wrong.
The whistle blew for down brakes, and
in mighty short time we had the train
stopped.
With the rest of the men [ went back to
see what was the matter, thinking that I
might get chance at the stove, for I was
nearly frozen. Going back about three
hundred feet, we found that one of the
rails had got loose and was out of place,
but, as We bad been going slowly we had
run over the spot safely. Our conductor
looked up, and seeing me, said hurried
ly:
"Jim, get back and signal the pass
enger train. She will be along in short
time now; and take this, he said, hand
ing me red light lantern; "we'H go on.
You can come with the other train"
With that all hands got on board. and
soon there was nothing but myself and
the lantern left. A cold gust brought me
to myself with quick turn, and then l
remembered what had to do. Holding
the lantern up, saw the light Pickering,
and shaking it, found it almost empty.
Then I began to feel the responsibility
of my position. A lamp without oil in it,
the train due in ten minutes, with the
chances of its being thrown off the track
and no telling how many people killed or
wounded! In case of this kind, sir,
every brakeman will do his best to save
human life, although he sometimes loses
his own in the attempt, and all he gets
for it is having his name in the paper and
being brave fellow.
Quicker than tell it, tlIAde up my
mind that the train must be signaled,
lamp or no lamp. But how to do it was
the question. If I ran ahead without 6
light, the engineer might think wanted
to stop the train for robbery-for such
things have often been done, you know
and would not only dash right on faster
than ever, but maybe try to scald me as
the locomotive rushed by.
I tell you felt like praying just then
| but brakemen are not selected for theil
religious feelings, SO didn't pray much
but looked around and saw light shin
ing in window some distance off. I laid
down my lantern carefully on the track
made bee line for the house, and soor
my knock brought woman to the door
who looked more frightened than [ wa
at my excited appearance. Tt was useless
to ask for sperm oil-the only sort We
use-I cried out
''For Gods sake give me some straw
She seemed to realize the position, an(
quickly brought bundle. Feeling il
my pocket, found three matches, ant
grabbing the straw made my way bacl
to the track.
| Laying the straw between the rails,
| struck match and showed it into th,
bundle. 1t flickered ar instant and thei
went out. I felt and found the straw
damp just then a dull, faint, rumblins
sound came down the wind, and | knew
she was coming. The train would sool
be there.
/ struck the second match and If touch
ed off the straw. A blaze, a little smoke
and it was dark again, and, raising m.
eyes | saw the headlight of the approach
| bA1AA III lAiS oAotalAOCs bu
trains don't crawl, and the buzzing alon,
the rails told me to be lively. The rec
light was burning but family; five min
utes more aud it would go out. For a
instant I stood paralyzed, when a shril
scream from the engine brought me t
my senses, and | saw that in two minute
more she would be on the spot.
Seizing the lantern with one hand,
struck the last, match, and, bendin
down, laid it carefully inside the straw
and then dashed forward, waving the re
light. The glare from the headligt
; shown down the track, and the enginee
saw ME, but did not notice the red ligt
i the sudden waving had put it out
only screeching, he came straight on
"nen the train was almost on nae,