The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-04-19
Snimes at Jalapa.

Jalapa is a right smart chunk OF a
place. I went there last week, on one
of my periodical visits, and got there
by the 4.40 express fast train. Pre-
cisely at the minute, the entire train
being hitched to the locomotive start
ed, without blowing or fuss OF any
kind. and made fine run for nearly
two miles, when she stopped, | suppose
to see if any OF the couplings had be-
come loose. I Istopped also, always DO
stop, when there is occasion to stop.
| wanted to ascertain the nature OF the
difficulty. if there was difficulty, and
if it had nature, but mystery always
hangs around railroad troubles, and
the difficulty in this case was hard to
find. The conductor was out, engaged
in the same arduous effort, but in half
an hour he had found it out. Like the
good little boy. he ''tried and tried
again. until successful; lesson was
here learned, "that there is nothing so
difficult but search will find 1t out.
In that half hour / variouSly conlec-
tured as to the cause. thought that
the GOOD conductor wanted to gratify
his passengers with prolonged view
of the scenery which meets the vision
in that locality; then l thought that
the engineer saw signs of 1.-THE wild
woman. - and was afraid to 60 any fur
ther. My blood grew chilly, but in a
moment my attention was diverted by
the four wear old Sniffies who asked if
the engine was tired. told him that
only wagons and buggies got tired, that
some were badly tired before they
LETT the mandatory. l had not time
to say any more on this subject, Tor my
attention was drawn to & noise outside,
a heavy pounding noise, and looking
7 saw the fireman, Bub NJ, and all the
train hands with fence rails belaborlng
the unfortunate smoke-stack. That
wild woman had evidently crept into
it to get out of the weather, and efforts
were making to dislodge her, and get
her back to her ''lodge in the wilder
ness.'' The fight lasted half an hour,
and the rail road men were victorious.
The conductor then came into view,
and cried all board, and got aboard
himself. it was my opinion that we all
had been bored for thirty minutes. i
asked him to tell me all he knew about
the fight, and if the woman was dead.
s'What woman,'' he asked. leNplain-
ed. You ought to have seen him then,
he showed symptoms Of disgust all over
his face. ssNo, SIR" said he, ''there
was no woman in the case, but simply
an aggregated accumulation OF red
hot particles of infiamed pine vulgarly
known as cinders, in the stack-smoke."
He was angry at my insinuation OF a
woman being in the smoke-stack. 1t
would never do to let such tale get
out. Conductors are proverbially mo-
raj you know-when on duty-and will
not tolerate women about the engine.
They are right, for one woman might
demoralize the whole rail road force.
His explanation was satisfactory, and
the smoke-stack clean, we started at
the rate of miles to the hour, and soon
sighted DR.. Clark's mansion, the lar
gest and most imposing edifice in the
place. Jalapa is not populons, conse-
quently men are scarce. DR.. Folk was
there. when not absent he is always
there, and on this occasion he had just
come in with brace OF squirrels; w.
C. Sigh another inhabitant had just
left with brace of the same. Jalapa
was therefore supplied with meat for
time at least, and would be able to
brace the main-stay OF every inhabi-
tant. I joined the game next morn
ing on broiled squirrel, hanked by
spring chicken. Willie Swittenberg,
j. B. Campbell and c. F. Waters, with
the two already mentioned make up
the working force Immediately round
the depot, but should not have denomi-
mated them as the working force, for
they toll not, nor do they spin, but sit
in the shade and rest. This glorious
inactivity took me captive, l always
liked to rest, rest is restorative, at least
have always so considered it, and a
consideration of prime necessity to a
man born tired as was. 1t was not
my fault that I was so born, and | have
fought against the disposition to rest,
until would be tired and have to lie
down by my work and sleep. | like
this feature of Jalapa life, and think
of buying a lot there, there are lots OF
lots there, and building, and casting
my lot in that happy community.
submitted the idea to Campbell, who
in his capacity of trial justice, is a
judge, and his Judgment, judging by
the legal bending OF his head, and the
opinion expressed, has added to my
Judgment that the idea is good one.
shall consider the matter, and in the
90 down to Charleston, and
tell all about what see there. That |
will be next week. I forgot to say
that I saw W. 81. Eddy, he was at
work, hence he does not occupy front
place in the picture.