Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-05-09
HOW CLARA WAS SAVED.
1 FEMALE ENG1NEER's ADVENTURE.

Does a locomotive engineer see
many adventurers He does. Does
he pass through many hardships
Empha tically yes. If you care 10 have
rambling chat with me about the
boys Of the throttle, and hear of some
queer and interesting adventures, drop
around 70 my room at the Grand Paci-
fc and II tell you few over good
cigar. Here we are, right side up with
care. A way OF landing that always
pleases me, though I've done a little Of
the other style, too. Now, you needn't
ask any questions, but I'll just tell my
stories right along as l think of them.
First, let me tell you little something
about engineers. They are obliged to
be capable, but are not examined and
given any documents to show that they
are engineers. They rise up from
'horsemen' 10 'strokers,' then 10 fire.
men out on the road, aud then become
engineers. 1t is customary also for
most of them to work in engine.shops
as apprentices for while. These en-
gines are yariously repaired, frequently
by being made over again as good as
new. They work on lathes, forges,
machines Of all sorts, and the work on
the engine itself teaches them all there
is to know about the parts of one OF
these locomotives. Then they learn
about firing when stoking about the
round-house, and learn 10 keep one as
clean as a WIPER They get to be
'hostler,' which means taking charge OF
tbe engine when brought in off the road.
They turn them on the turntables and
put them away in their stalls IN the
roundhouse after drawing their fires
over the smoking ash-pit. Then they
get out for short trips on the road as
fremen, aud finally push along, il
smart and capable, to be engineers
generally extras at first, but they soon
get regular engine. They frequently
run on the road as fireman for only a
year or so before getting an engine, but
generally it is from three to five years.
and have known men to 90 from eight
to fifteen years and then not get any
engine. Why? Well, sometimes be-
cause they can't become proficient
from lack of scientific or mechanical
education, and frequently because they
| are 100 excellent fremen to lose, ant
they are therefore paid as much as thel
would get as engineers and retained Al
fremen. Thus you see it takes time tC
learn the BUSINESS
Some continued the engineer
are on regular 'runs.' Others go ou
on freights IN regular turn, or whe'
, needed, and are therefore called b.
some boy employed by the compan,,
for that purpose. He is given lltti
book with calls 10 and goes abou
night and day at all hours 10 diferen
parts Of the city, Of course generally j
the immediate vicinity OF the round
, house aud shop, and he calls the me
up. have run steadily, seated in th
= no: cab, sharply watching the trac
, ahead, for fifty-seven hours straigh
There are even instances that beat thai
Where they have a light, easy run
whether night or day, they can MAX
arrangements TO fit the time. Whe
his engine is in the shop for repair
tue engineer generally gets to 'ioa
labout for bret time. All SORTS
people become engineers. / have SEE
the son ofa Russian count, with grea'
clothes aud leatbern trousers, sli'li
ii above the drives as cheerily handlIr
ss levers ias though be was holding 60
ID den kniie and fork in Tue Wloler p'
or ace at ST. Petersburg. Thea-l ba
ID seen, a minister who became hrem
% "a to save nis life. He was told by
!. pbysician that he would have to
ma nual, outdoor labor OF some sort