Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-06-04
9listellaueuns &eadiug.
A RRAKEMAN,s EXPERIENCE.

A BRAKEMAN'S EXPERIENCE.
1t was damp, foggy night in early
spring, and was one of the crew which had
in charge "wild" freight, which we had
been most of the night-for it was nearly
morning now-in getting an insignificant
distance toward our destination. We had
been side tracked several times for trains to
pass us, the last time for several hours, SO
that when we got under way and thought
everything was clear for good run, it was
only about An hour before daylight-the
very darkest time in very dark night,
however. I think l never saw blacker,
thicker atmosphere than we had that night;
even the lanterns could not be seen more
than the length of half dozen cars.
When we got under headWay started to
20 up to the engine for something, and was
groping my way over the tops of the cars
very cautiously-fori it was dangerous work,
on account of the darkness, for even an ex-
perienced brakeman, while was green and
awkward-when happening to throw the
light of my lantern down between two cars,
saw dark mass of something against the
end of one of them. I stopped to look
closer, and swinging my lantern between
the cars saw it was some poor fellow stealing
q ride. He had his hat pulled down over
his face, and, more asleep than awake, was
keeping in an upright position by clinging
to the steps used for getting up on the car.
The light had thrown about him and the
noise [ had made reused him up. When he
saw he had been discovered he put the best
possible face on the matter and expressed
his determination to stay on the train until
we reached the end of the route. l told
him that he could not do this and we soon
got into an angry dispute. He then climbed
upon the car, and as he did so l moved to
the other end. In this position we contin-
ued our war Of words, he, meanwhile, stand
ing very close to the end of the car. soon
concluded to leave him and find out of the
conductor what should be done. l did not
like his impudence and knew that somehow
we would have to get him off the train but
with the indications Of Drawn and muscle
which he possessed, 1 did not care about get
ting into close quarters alone on the top of
freight car.
AS I was about to move away the train
gave lurch as she struck an imperfect rail,
which almost threw me off my feet. At the
same time saw my unWelcOme passenger
make wild grasp in the air, as his body
swayed backward with the shock through
which it had been so hard for me to Keep
nv position on the car, and as dimly as |
could see his face the expression of horror
and fright was one of the most painful sights
ever saw then he uttered wild shrek,
and half swinging around on one foot upon
which he was trying to balance himself, he
fell headlong out of sight between the cars.
One more piercing wall reached my ears,
and then all was drowned in the roar Of the
on-speeding train.
It was not a manly thing to do, am
aware but I tainted on top Of the car. 1t
must have been about half an hour after
ward, for it was by this time daylight, when
I came to and began to realize what had
happened. AS soon as possible got back
to the caboose and detailed to the conductor
what had occurred. BY this time we were
ten or twelve miles from the scene of the &C.
cident, so he said:
"We're running wild, and if we 60 back
and pick up the remains Of that fellow it'll
take an hour. The only thing can see that
we can do is to 60 on to the extstation and
send for orders"
This we did and got permission from head
quarters to run back.
The train had to back down, of course,
and when we came within couple of miles
of the point near which we supposed we
would find at least portion of our man, the
train slackened its speed and the conductor
and myself began to keep careful watch
along the track.
Presently from a clump of blackberry
bushes, in the corner of rail fence, some
one sang out:
"Gents, if you'uns cum clean back here
fur me, simply want to say thet pre-
ciate it. 'Tisn't every road'd do it. amt
no pressin' engagements at the end o. your
line; but 'preciate your kindness in comm
back fur me, anyhoWW
We peered in the direction indicated by
the voice. There, upon the top rail of the
fence, with one leg thrown over the other,
and calmly smoking short pipe-a picture
of impudence-sa the fellow we had ex-
pected to gather up in fragments, safe and
sound, scarcely a scratch worse OFT than
when I first saw him between the cars.
The conductor grasped the situation at
once, and our train was soon again going for
ward. His feelings were so outraged to
think the man hadn't been killed-hadn't
even been hurt-that he did nothing but
heap abuse upon me until we got our train
in and I believe he considered me as great
a criminal because the accident did not prove
fatal to the fellow as though he had been
killed and was the direct cause of it.
1t seemed to me that was an entirely in
nocent participant in the incident but eve
ry one appeared to think that by all laws Of
nature the man ought to have been killed,
and that I, somehow, was the cause of the
thing missing fire, and was not to be trusted
in consequence. So few days later l got
my discharge.-DetrOH Free Press.