The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-05
ONE-ARMED MEN.
Men Who Are Valuable in Great and Dam
gerous Emergencies.


Men Who Are Valuable in Great and Dam
gerous Emergencies.
New York Tribune
IA one-armed man for emergencies 1eyerV
time" exclaimed an old railroad official IN the
heat of an argument on the prevention of coils
ions and other accidents. Il never knew one to
fail in time of danger The loss of an arm
seems to increase their wits, and I can name
several instances of their display of nerve and
invention when other men were of no use Do
you remember Ross Marchmanl NOT Well,
III tell you the kind of a fellow he was when
he worked under me on the Piedmont Airline
road
There is not far from the South Catolna
line, small town called Sewanee. 1t is several
hours rde from Atlanta Ga, and contains
about 800 people. The telegraph operator al
the depot is station agent. express agent, ticket
agent, truckman and porter. In fact,
ne runs the whole business, and
his is responsible position. He often
works all day and all night and il is a
strain to keep up with the work in the busy sea-
son. boss Marchman was telegraph operator
and-soforth at Sewanee He was about twenty
two years old and had lost his right arm How
III the world he ever managed to perform his
multiplicity of duties is mystery, but he was
never found wanting in any of the qualifications
necessary to q successful accomplishment of
every task We all had confidence in March
man. One night in November, 1882 he was sit
ting half asleep over his key, worn out with IA
tigue, when he was aroused by hearing himself
called by the train dispatcher He answered,
and the following order came over the wires
Side-track No. u. north bound. Sewanee l A.
NJ Hold for extra No. g. south bound L04 A. M
There was nothing unusual in the order March.
man % KID it and made the necessary prenara,
tions for tagging down No IL, which. beng q
through freight did not stop at way stations I'M
less signaled to do so The night was dark and
stormy, and the wind blew in gusts, driving the
rain into every crack and crevce. The track
from the north past the station had a heavy
IL l.
to blow a long blast on the whistle when their
trains crossed the summit. some half a mile
away No. u was on time. and when Marehman
heard the blast he took his lantern and wen out
nit like full moon climbing the Ids, and
flashed down the rails. The rain ca.1e down in
torrents, the wind whistled past e, corners of
the station with an ominous SOU; the train
came thudering on. Marchman raisu ms lantern
and swung it across the track, - oeIofe the
signal could be given dtfu gust ks WlI5lld put
out the light The train was not two hui7drad
yards of and had not slackened its speed There
was no time to get another lamp 1t was q mo-
ment of horror TO the poor operator Ne 8 with
its freight of passengers. was coming
Just beyond the town--the two trains
would acknowledgements tructon-death-all
passed before his mind like flash Of lighting.
He felt the qulverng of the ties beneath his feet
as he stood IN the full glare of the light now
fearfully close. Suddenly his hand sought his
pocket; there was a fash a sharp report of a
pistol and bullet went crashing through the
headlight The lamp was extnguished and rs
the engine passed him, Marchman threw the PTS
tol into the cab window.
We'll, the train was stopped and the con
ductor coming forward 10 SEQ what was wrong,
reached Marchman just in time 10 receive his
orders when the latter, overcome from the terri
bic strain, fell to the ground The train was run
INTO the siding, and No. dashed by at about
forty miles an hour. Not passenger dreamed
Of what had happened.
Il, A.,
membered Marchman i'll substantial way. That
one arm though, was the making Of him"