Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-23
RAILROAD "REMINISCENCES.
How the Bell Rope was introduced IN
Railway Service, and the Conductor
Became Boss of the Train.

How the Bell Rope was Introduced IN
Railway Service. and the Conductor
Became Boss of the Train.
While talking with number of tram
men at one Of the railroad depots yesterday
q city reporter found an interested audi
ence in relating the following remlnls-
cence of primitive railr0ading, which ne
had acquired in an interview some time
ago with the inventor of the present svs-
tenn of signaling between the engineer ana
train officials:
In the early days of the railroad in TINS
country the locomotive engineer was !he
master of the train. He ran it according
to his judgment, and the conductor nau
very little voice in the matter. COLLECTING
fares. superintending the loading ana I'M
loading of freight, and shouting All
aboard" were all that the conductor was
expected to do. The Erie Railway in the
North was then the New York ana ERIE
Railroad. One of the pioneer conductors
of this line was Captain Ayres. ne
ran the only train then called Tor De-
tween the terminal points. III was
made ND OF freight and passenger
cars. The idea of the engineer, WltnOul
any knowledge of what was gOingOn back
of the locomotive, having his way as 10
how the train was to be run, did not strike
the CaDtain as being according TO the pro-
prietv of things He frequently encount-
cred a fractions passenger who ms sted
on riding without paying his lafe. As
there was no way of signaling 10 the
engineer. and the passenger cOulu hot
be thrown from the train while II was III
motion, the conductor, in such cases, haa
no choice but to let him ride until regu-
lar stop was made. Captain Ayres nhaliy
determined to institute new system III
the running of trains. He procured Il
stout Irvine. sufficiently long TO reach
from the locomotive to the rear car: 10
the end of this string next the engineer
he fastened a stick of wood. he ran thlS
cord back over the ears TO the last one.
no Informed the engineer, who was Ger
man named Abe Hammil, that II ne de-
sired to have the train stopped he would
mill the String and raiSethe SUCK, ana
would expect the signal to be obeyed.
Hammil looked upon the innovation as Il
direct blow at his authority, ana Wnen
the train left the station he cut the SUCK
loose. and told Captain Ayres that ne pro-
nosed to run the train himself, without
interference from any conductor. Inc
next day the Captain rugged up his Strlng
and stick of wood again. ABE" sald
he. s.this things got to be settled one way
or the other to-day. If that stick OF WOOD
is not on the end of this cord when we
get to Turner's, you've got 10 lick me oi
I'll lick YOU" The stick was not on the
string when the train reached Turner's.
The Captain pulled off his coat and told
Hammil to get off his engine Hammli
declined to get off. Captain Ayres climbed
to the engineers place. Hammil started
to lump off on the opposite side: The con-
ductor hit him under the ear and saved
him the trouble of jumping. That settled
forever the question Of authority on rail
road trains, Hammil abdicated as auto
GRAFT of the pioneer Erie train, and the
Irvine and stick of wood, manipulated by
the conductor, controlled its management.
That was the origin of the bell rope, now
one of the most important attachments
of railroad trains. The idea was quickly
adopted by the few roads then in opera
ton, and the bell or gong in time took the
place of the stick Of wood to signal the
engineer. Captain Ayres continued
conductor on this road under its different
managers until he was superannuated
and retired on pension.