News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-10-21
STORIES OF RAILROAD LIFE.
Ne Train Dispatcher's StOry-A MysterI-
BUS Little Story of Two Railway Trains.

>
train dispatcher on a Southwestern
American railroad. As usual there were
three of US in the office. had what il
called the "second trick" my hours o
duty beng from p. m. to II p. m
The third man, Charlie Burns, who came
on at midnight and worked till a. IN.
was a particular friend of mine He was
a young man of high character, fine
dispatcher and very popular; and wher
during the burning days of July, it be
came known among the men that he wa,
confined to his room by severe attack
OF malignant fever, many were the ex
pressions of regret and of hope for his
speedy recovery.
During the trying days of Charlie,
illness 1 spent ali the time | could spare
by his side, but on account of his alb
sence from the Office it was necessary
for the remaining two of us to double
up" that is, work twelve hours each,
my watch being from p m. TO s a. m
| came on duty one evening feeling
very bad. The weather was SO warm
could not sleep well in the day time
besides | had spent a considerable part
of the day with Charlie, whose illness
had now reached critical stage and
seemed to show little prospect of i'm
provement.
Hence, as you NAV imagine, I was not
at all pleased to find that | was likely to
have busy night of it. A wreck on the
road during the day had thrown all the
regular trains off time, and besides the
usual number of special freights there
was special passenger train to leave
Linwood, the eastern terminus tf our
division, at II p. m. with large party
of excursionists returning from picnic
For several hours had my hands full.
There was a special train of live stock
bound east which had to be kept NOV
ing, but was being delayed by hot jour
nails, nevertheless L hoped to G them
into Linwood before the excursion train
started west.
As usually happens in such cases, the
excursion train did not get ready to
leave on time and it was 40 p. m.
when they reported for orders at Lin
wood. | fixed up their orders, got the
report of their departure from Linwood
at 11.45 and entered it on the train
sheet. Then having for the first time
that night a 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 l sat there enjoying The
cool breeze which came in through the
open window a neighboring church
rang out the hour of II. From force Of
habit l glanced at the door, almost ex-
pecting to hear Charles light footstep
on the stair, and see the door open to
admit him as of old.
"Poor fellow" l thought, cit will be
a long time before he enters that door
again, if he ever does" Just as the last
stroke of 12, and while my eyes were
fixed on the door, it opened and Charlie
Burns entered. My astonishment may
be imagined better than L can describe
it. My first thought was that in his de-
lirium of fear he had escaped from his
nurses and made his way to the Office,
bot when L loft him few nous before
| could not have believed that he had
strength to get out of bed. 1 sat and
watched him in speechless surprise,
which was increased by his strange man
ner
Instead of his usual hearty greeting
he took no notice of me at all, but
walked directly to the table aud sat
down. Placing his hand upon the KEY
he began calling 90" which was the
signal for Elm Grove, the first station,
six miles west of Linwood. Il, l, @"
came the response. "Put out signal for
special passenger west and copy"
.:Ko, " GRO, " ''Ds, T." rang out the sound
er with Charles nimble fingers upon
the key. "Ron was the call for Rose
dale, the second station from Linwood,
eight miles west of Elm Grove. 81, |,
Ro," came back the answer.
SIS special east coming? Ds."
Then as l sat by the window as one
paralyzed the awful truth flashed across
my mind. | had overlooked the stock
train, laundering eastward twenty miles
an hour and made no provision for Its
meeting the excursion train. Ny blood
seemed turned to ice as l heard the re-
ply:
"They are at the switch. Ro."
Another minute and it would have
been too late
Still apparently oblivious of my pres
ence, Charlie reached for the order book
with his LETT hand, while his right con-
Linued to manipulate the key and l
heard the sounder chick:
''Out signal and copy DIS.
"Order No. 734.
e To C. and E. Eng. 81 Ro.
G. and E. Eng. 10 O.:
Especial east eng. 81 Will take siding and
meet special west eng. 10 at Rosedale."
''12 J. w. NJ"
Quick as a flash came back the re-
3ponse from each station, and in less
time than 1t takes me to write it, the
order had been repeated and signed by
the conductor and engineer of each
train, while Charlie copied it into the
order book and returned his 80. K"
Then as | realized that l was saved,
and a great disaster averted, the revul-
sion of feeling was too much for my
nerves, and L lost con-
5ciousness.
An hour after | was awakened by a
familiar voice and looked uD to find
Frank Dwyer, one of our conductors,
who had volunteered to watch that
night with Charlie, standing over me.
Wake up, old man." said he, 81 have
bad news for you. Charlie died just as
the clock was striking twelve"
Iroused myself and went to the table.
There on the order book was the order
just as had heard it clicked out by the
and Ro" " was calling me to
report the two trains safely by. Had |
been dreaming and sent the order in my
sleep, or had my friend redeemed his
promise
The writing in the order book was in
mis- hand and l never have been able to
for Ii