The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-23
A BRAKEMAN'S EXPERIENCE.
Discharged Because a Tramp Who
Fell Off the Train Wasn't Killed.

Discharged Because a Tramp Who
Fell off the Train Wasn't Killed.
1t was damp, foggy night in early
spring, and l 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 All
insignificant distance toward our desti.
nation. We had been side-tracked sew
eral 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 a good run, it was only
about an hour before daylight-the very
darkest time IN very dark night, how
ever. l 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 dozep
cars.
When we got under headway l started
to go up to the engine for something, and
was groping my way over the tops of
tbe cars very cautiously-for it was
dangerous work, on account of
the darkness, for even an experienced
brakeman, while was green and awk-
ward-whcn happening to throw the
light of my lantern down between two
cars, I saw a dark mass of something
against the end of one of them.
l stopped to look closer, and swinging
my lantern between the cars saw it was
some poor fellow stealing a ride. He
had his hat pulled down over his face
and, more asleep than awake, was keep
ing in an upright position by clingiug 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. told him that he could not
do this and we soon got into an angry
dispute. He then climbed up on the car,
and as he did so moved to the other
end. In this position we continued our
war of words, he meanwhile standing
very close to the end of the car. l soon
concluded to leave him and find out Of
the conductor what should be done. I
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 getting into close
quarters alone on the top of freight
Car.
AS l 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 l saw my unwelccme
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 my position on the car,
and as dimly as l could see his face the
expression of horror and fright was one
of the most painful sights l 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.
1t was not manly thing to do, am
aware; but tainted on top of the car.
1t must have been about half an hour
afterward, for it was by this time day
light, when came to and began to realize
what had happened. AS soon as posi-
BILE got back to the caboose and de-
tailed to the conductor what had oc-
Cured. By this time we were ten or
twelve miles from the scene of the acci-
dent. so he said.
"We're running wild, and if we go
back and pick up the remains of that
fellow it'll take an hour. Only thing I,
can see that we can do is to go on to
the next station and send for orders"
This we did and got permission from
headquarters 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 sup
posed we would find at least q portion
of our man, the train slackened its speed
and the conductor and myself began to
keep a careful watch along the track.
Presently, from clump of blackberry
bushes in corner of the rail fence some
one sang out:
''Gents, if you us 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 kind
ness in comm back fur me, anyhow"
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-sat the
fellow we had expected to gather up
in fragments, safe and sound, scarcely
a scratch worse off than when | first saw
him between the cars.
The conductor grasped the situation
at once, and our train was soon again
going forward. 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 un-
til we got our train in; and believe he
considered me as great criminal be-
cause the accident didn't 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
innocent participant in the incident;
but every one appeared to think that by
all laws of nature the man ought to have
been killed, and that I, somehow, was
the the cause of the thing missing fire,
and was not to be trusted in conse-
quence. So few days later l got my
discharge. Detroit Free Press.