Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-03
Tie Traim-Disphtclic''" siurS.
TlpfrDN Free Press,l


Several years ago ! sas employed a.
trsin.dispatcher on southwestern
American railroad. As usual, there
were three Of rs in the office. ! hal
what's called the "second trick" mg
hours Of duty being from 4 p. NJ. to y
2. NJ. The third man, Charlie Burns.
Uh0 came on at midnight and worked
TIL 9 4. NJ, was a particular friend Of
mine. lie was a young man OF high
character, fine dispatcher, and very
popular; and when, during the burning
days Of July, i. became known among
the men that he was confined to his
room by severe attack of malignant
fever, many were the expressions Of re-
greet and Of hope for bis speedy re-
coveTy.
During the trying days Of Charles
illness l spent ell the time | could
spare by his side, but on account Of his
absence from the Office il was neces-
sary for the remaining two Of us to
double up tina, is, work twelve
hours each--ny watch being from 3 ?.
NJ. to s A. NJ.
came on daty one evening feeling
very bad. The weather vas 50 YARN
| could rot sleep well in the daytime
besides, | had spent = considerable part
Of the day with Charlie, whose illness
had now reached critical stage and
seemed to show little prospect Of in
prOYement.
Hence. as YOU may Imagine, was
not at all pleased to find that I was
likely to have busy night Of it. A
wreck on the road during the day had
ihrownal the regular trains time, and
besides the usual number Of special
freights there was special passenger
train TO leave Linwood, the eastern
terminus of our division, at Ii p. NJ,
with large party of excursiOnist5 re-
turning from a picnic. For several
hours | had my hands full. There was
a special train of live stock bound east
which had to be kept moving, bat was
being delayed by hot journals; never
theless, | hoped to get them into Lin
wood before the excursion train started
west.
AS usually happens in such cases,
the excursion train did not get ready to
leave on time, aud it was ll:40 p. II.
when they reported for orders OF Lin
wood. | fixed up their orders, got the
report of their departure from Linwood
at Has o'clock, and entered it on the
t1ain.sheet. Then having for the first
time that night few minutes breathing
time, ] rose from the table and went
over and seated myself by the window,
where it was cooler than under the
heated gas.jets over the table. | was
alone in the Office, and as | sat there
enjoying the cool breeze which came ia
through the open window neighboring
church clock rang out the hour Of II.
From force of habit | glanced at the
door, almost expecting to hear Charles
light footstsp on the stair, and see the
door open to admit him as Of old.
Poor fellow" | thought, sit will
be long time before he enters that
door again, if he ever does" Just at
the last stroke Of IL, and while my eyes
were still fixed on the door, it opened
and Charlie Burns entered. NY aston
ishment may be imagined better than |
can describe it. My first thought WAS
that in the delirium of fever he had es-
capped from bis nurses and made his
way to the office, but when left him q
few hours before | could not have be.
lieytd that he had strength to get out Of
bed. | sat and watched him in speech
less surprise, which was increased by
his stiaree manner.
Instead Of his usual hearty greetin:
ne took no notice Of me at all, bu.
walked directly to the table and sa,
down. Placing his hand upon the key
be began calling so" which was the
sign of Elm Grove, the first station, six
miles west Of LinwoOd. 81, I, O."
came the response. "PGt out signal