The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-10
OSE.ARMEN HAIaKuADERS,
A Terrible Eight Ola tho Piedmont Air
Line.

Icrrlbie hight Ola tho Piedmont Air
Line.
Exchange.
IA one.armed-man for emergencies
evcrytime," exclaimed an old railroad or
fetal in the heat OF an argumen. on the
prevention Of collisions aud other acct.
dents. II never knew one 10 fail in lime
Of danger. Tho loss OF an arm seems to in.
crease their Wits, and l can name several
instances Of their display Of nerve and in.
vention when other men were Of no use.
Do you remember Ress Maychman No.
Well, I'll tell you the kind OF fellow be
Yves when he worked under me on the
Piedmont Air Line road. .s] ..5.
"lhere is, not far from the South Carroll.
ma line, small town called Sewaues. II
is several hours ride from Atlanta, Ga,
and coalaina about 500 people. The tele.
graph operator at the depot is station agent,
express agent, ticke. agent, truckman and
porter. In fact, he runs the whole bust.
ness, and his is responsible position. He
often works all day and all night, and it is
q strain 10 keep up with the work in the
busy eeason. Ross Marchman was tele.
graph operator and,so-iorth at sewance.
lie was about 80 years old, and. had lost
his right arm. How in the world he ever
managed TO perform. his multiplicity OF du.
ties is q mystery, but he was meyer found
wanting in any OF the qualifications nc
cessaIy 10 sucCessful accomplishment OF
every task. We oil had confidence in
Alarchman. One nightin November, 1872,
he was sitting half asleep over his key,
worn out with fatigue, when he was aroused
by hearing himself called by tho train
dispatcher. Ho answered, and tho fol.
loving order came over the wire: Side
track No. IL, north-bound, Sewanee, A NJ.
Hold for extra No. 3, south.bound, Oh A,
NJ There was nothing unusual in the
order, Matchman %. KID it and made the
necessary preparations Tor tagging down
No. -, which being through freight did
not stop at way stations unless signaled to
DO so. The night was dark and stormy,
and tho wind blew in gusts, driving the
rain into every crack and creyice. The
track from the north past the station had a
heavy down grade, and II was The custom
lor engineers to blow lorg blast on the
whistle when their trains crossed the sum.
Init, some half mile away. No. 12 was
on time, and when Marchnian heard the
blast he took his lantern and went out on
the track. The headlight roso over the
summit like fall moon climbing the hills,
and flashed down the rails. The rain came
down in torreutP, the wind whistled past
the coruers OF the station with an ominous
sound, the train came laundering on. Mar.
Gilman raised lis lantern and swung it
across the track, but before the signal
could be given iitiul gust Of wind put out
tho Light. The train vas not 200 yards of
and had not slackened its speed. There
was no time to get another lamp. 1t was a
moment oil horror 10 the poor operator,
No. 8, with its freight OF passeugers was
coming just beyond tho towr-!he two
trains would meet--collision -destrrctioa
-death-all. passed before his mind like
flash Of lightning. lie felt the saiyerinp
Of the ties beneath hiB feet as he stood in
the full glare Of tho light, now ieariully
close. Suddenly his baud sought his
pocket; there was flush, sharp report Of
pistol, and bullet went crushing through
the headlight The lamp was extinguished,
and as tho engine passed him Marchman
threw tho pistol into the cab window.
swell, the train YVES stopped, and tho
conductor coming forwsft. to see what WAS
wrong, reached Marchman just in time to
receive his orders, when the latter, over.
come BY tho terrible strain, fell to the
ground. The Train was run into the siding.
and No. 8 dashed BY ut about forty miles
an hour. Not u passenger dreamed Of what
had happened.
"Of COURSE" continued the official, I'VE
remembered Marchman in a substantial
way. That ono arm, though, was the max
INK OF him." - -