Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-05
sawed RY 4 sCRATCh.
An Engineer who Oboyo orders.

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Chicago Herald
A group of men stood near the
ticket Office window at one Of the raul
road depols Thursday morning. One
of them had Just bought paper Of a
newsboy, and was glanclng over it's
columns. Another accident on the
Buffalo & Southwestern Road, y he
said. and commenced reading the
headlines aloud Those who stood
around him listened with deep inter
est INDUCING IN such comments as,
"Tut. tut Infamous" Nobody
10 blame, OF course.
81 tell YOU the officers Of ro7d
where such an accident is posi-
should be tried for murder This u
tone Of indignation from middle
aged travelling man.
A representative of the i+,rald
CHANGED TO overhear these WORDS lie
turned away and sought the Office of
prominent railroad officer, IN an
other part Of the building. The gen
tleman was at his post at a much
earlier hour than usual and was him
self absorbed ia the morning paper,
Did you see the account of the &C
cident on Buffalo d Southwestern VI
Just finished reading it, he re-
piled, pushing the paper from him
and lighting a cigar. Sad affair
sad affair.
81 just heard a man express the
opinion that the officers OF a road
where such an accident is possible
should be tried for murder
The official leaned back ia his
chair and looked thoughtful Il
have sometimes heard people talk
like that, he sand, "buti never could
believe that they gave the subject
much thought At any rate, think
they're wrong. Why, instead OF be-
ing startled AT such casualties, / never
travel on "A railway that | am not
amazed at the security of them. just
think Of it, Thousands of trains
running yearly on each road, with
but a minute TO spare between safety
and destruction, the safety of these
trains depending on conductors tele
graph clerks, brakemen, men of
every Grade and intellect, their
brains subject to every kind
of mood and disease of temper.
The engineer takes a glass of liquor;
the conductor sets his watch half a.
minute too fast; the nagman falls
asleep, and the train is dashed INTO
ruin. Ii is not the accident that is to
be wondered at; IL is the escape that
is miraculous.
II presume this conclusion is the
result of your long connection with
of
mentg'
Not exactly; although my expert
ence has certainly strengthened and
confirmed my opinions, An accident
which occurred a good many years
ago made me feel as do in the mat
ter happened To be an eyewitness
TO the whole affair If your time isl
not 100 precious | will tell you about
it
lets hear about il. by all means.
"WclI, when / was a youth of nine
teen l lived with my parents in
Pennsylvania town. ] had a taste for
railroadng, and a boyish ambition to
become an engineer, although / mad
been educated for lofuer pursuits.
During my college vacation / lounged
about the station almost constantly,
making friends with the traiumen, and
especially with au engineer named
Slaa Mmkley. L became much at
tachcd TO this man, notwithstanding
he was forty years old and by no
means % sociable fellow He was my
ideal of q brave. sKilItul, thorough.
bred engineer. and looked up tohim
as something of hero He was not
a married nm, but lived alone
with hls old mother / was q
frequent visitor at their house,
and think they both took quite a
fancy to me. in their quiet uudcmou-
stratlve way When Marklcv's fro
man left him ] induced him To lot me
take his place during the remnant of
my vacation He htsiated for some
time before he consented to Wum0r
my boyI.h vhiln, but he finally
yielded, an d / was in great glee. The
fact was that i'm my idleness and the
overworkod state of my brain,
Craved excitement as confirmed
drunEdrd does liquor, and, besides j
had had such longing dreams 0I the
fiery ride through The hills mounted
literally ON the roam horse. So be-
came an amateur fireman and liked 1t
exceedingly, iorlne cNatement more
than compensated .or the rough work
/ was required 10 do Bat there
came q time when set my Gil of cX-
element
"Mrs. MarkIey one day formed i
little plan which seemed To give her
a good deal Of happiness. Il was her
sons birthday, and She wanted to 20
down 10 Philadelphia ON his tram,