Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-19
REHIND THE IRON HORSE.

An old engineer said to a Philadelphia
Press reporter: "The public, taking them
collectively, think that an engineer is a
hard-hearted wretch, and that he thinks no
more of running over a human being than
he does of killing a COW or hog. I've
heard people say that we become hardened
to it and don't mind it bit; but that's a
mistake, and very grave one. l, remem-
Der killing a man some five years ago, and
know that couldn't sleep for a month, eX-
cept by fits and starts. / used to have the
most horrible Nightmares that ever worried
mortal man.
zone night" continued the old engineer,
"I had horrible dream. That was an aW-
fll nirht. Nv wife woke me up. 1 had
nv hand on the foot-rail of the bed, just as
if I had hold Of the throttle, and the beads
of perspiration were standing out all over
nv face. My wife told me how l had yell
ed, sfor Gods sake, jump = and how 1T had
wakened her and then she sprang out OF
bed shaking with fear, and when she shook
me and l saw where was, told her my
dream. It's mean thing gtoaccuseu US of not
mindipg killing people" said the engineer,
as he took his Oil-can and started to Oil his
engine.
Not long ago Engineer Knowles stood ex-
amining his engine in the Broad street sta
ton he had just brought the "oWP' train
from Jersey City. There was busy scene
all about him; two Southern expresses and
two Western trains were standing in the
station. 1t was just o'clock in the morn
ing, and a very sharp, biting, chilly dawn
baggage pOrters and men laden with great
bundles of Philadelphia morning papers,
fresh from the press, were hurrying to the
trains. The electric light was splitting and
Kissing and casting weird, fantastical shapes
and shadows about the engineer, who stood
apparently gazing at nothing. A Press re-
porter opened conversation with Engineer
knowles, and, after good deal OF talk, ne
said, as he leaned with one foot resting on
the hub of driving-Wheel
"pve been running for ten years, and
never met with mishap until short time
ago, and then everything seemed to come
all at once. / killed an old peddler at
Princeton Junction one day. He was cross
ing the track by the station in his old wag-
on. l think he must have been asleep, for
he paid no attention to the whistle when
blew, and of course he was killed outright.
The old fellow was well-knOWn in Trenton
Then / struck man over in the meadows,
and right on top Of that | killed man al
Newark"
Another engineer out in the West Phila-
delphia yard told the reporter he knew OF a
few instances where engineers had gone. era
Nv from killing people with their engines
sI knew poor fellow" said the engineer
"who was on the New Jersey Central. tie
killed a woman up by Clinton one night
and that night heard him tell the train.
master, Billy Smith, at Elizabeth, all about
it. He seemed to grow insane right there,
and had queer look in his eye. A week
after that he was put in a straight.jacket
and he's in an insane asylum to-day, moth,
ing short of a maniac, and that happened
nearly fifteen years ago."
1t isvery evident that the whole course OF
an engineers career is not as smooth as the
track he runs over. They are supposed tC
exercise presence of mind, never mind what
stares them inthe face. The engineers on
the Pennsylvania railroad receive $3.50 a
day, or $115 month. For instance, a round
! trip from the Broad street station to Jersey
City and back, 1872 miles, is considered q
days work. Every third day they have
off. Some engineers get through their days
| work in less time than others.
The engineer gets off his engine much
the same as jockey gets off his sulkey
when the race is over. The hostlers take
charge of the engine, which has become
dirty and tired-looking from dashlng owe,
J 1872 miles of road-bed.
When you see an engineer who is run
ming passenger line, you can make uI
your mind that he has worked a long time
on an engine before he reaches that impor
! tant post. First, there are four or tive