The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-06-11
A Brakeman's Experience.

1t was damp, foggy night in early
had in charge "wild" freight, which we
had been most of the night-lor it was
nearly morning now-in getting al in
significant distance toward our destina:
ton. We had been side tracked several
times for trains to pass US; the last time
for several hours, SO that when I'VE got
under way and thought everything was
clear for q good ruiz, It MAS only about an
hour before daylight-the very darkest
time in a very dark night, however. |
think I never saw a blacker, thicker
atmosphere than we had that night
even the lanterns could not be seen more
than the length of a half dozen cars.
When we got under headway l started
to 60 up to the engine for something, and
was cropping my way over the tops of tue
cars very cautiously--for it was danger
Gus work, ou uccount of the darkness,
for even an experienced brakeman, while
I was green and awkward-when hap.
peniug to throw the light of my lantern
down between tAo cars, I 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
ride. He had his hat pulled down over
his face, and, more asleep than awake,
was keeping in an upright position by
clingins to the steps Used for getting up
on the car. The light had thrown
about him and the noise l had made
reused him ups When he saw he had
been discovered he put the best possible
face on the matter and expressed his de.
termination to stay on the tfaib until we
reached the end Of TIE route. l told
him that he could not do this, and ne
sooh got into an angry dispute. BE then
climbed upon the car, and as he did so l
moved to the other end. In this posi-
tion 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. did not like his
impudence aud knew that somehow we
would have to get him off the train ; but
with the indications of Drawn and muscle
which he possessed, did not care about
getting into close quarters alone on the
top of freight car.
As I was about to move away the train
gave lurch rs she struck an imperfect
rail, which almost threw me off my feet.
At Tho Eatte time I saw my unwelcome
passenger make avid 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 aud frigh ht 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.
On more piercing wall reached my ears,
and then all was drowned in the roar of
the on.speeding train.
It was not manly thing to do, l am
aware; but tainted on top of the car.
It must have been about half an hour
afterward, for it was by this time day
light, when l came to and began to real
ize what had happened. AS soon as
possible l got back to the caboose and
detailed 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 re go
back and pick up the remains. of that
fellow it'll take 'an hour. The only thing
I can see that we can do is to 60 on to
the next station and send for orders"
This we did and got permission from
headquarters 10 run back.
The train had to back down, ofcourse,
and when we came within couple of
miles of the point near which we sup
posed 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 clump of blackberry
bushes, in the corner of rail fence,
sorie one sang OUT
"Gents,. if you'uus cum clean back
here fur me, simply want to say thet |
'preciate it. 'Tisn't every road'd do it.
l amt no pressin' engagements at the
end o. your line; but 'preciate your
kindness in comm back fur me, any.
howp
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 l 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 moth.
ing but heap abuse upon me until we got
our train in; and / believe he considered
me as great a criminal because the accl'
dent did not prove fatal to the fellow as
though he had been killed and | was the
direct cause of it.
It 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 l, somehow, was
the cause Of the thing missing fire, and
was not to be trusted in consequence.
So a-few days later got my discharge.
Detroit Free Press.