The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-11-05

n lhAlN DlSfhlCHEk ACCOUNG OF A RAIL
ROAD ORDER AND IT'S HISTORY.
From the Detroit Free Press
Several years ago l was employed as
train dispatcher on a Southwestern Ameri-
can railroad. AS usual, there were three
of us in the office, l had what is called
the 'second trick" my hours of duty be-
ing from p. m. to u p. m. The third
man, Charlie Burns, who came on at mid
night and worked until a. IN was a par.
tlcular friend of mine. He was young
man of high character, fine dispatcher
and very popular; and when, during the
burning days of July, it became known
among the men that he was confined to his
room by severe attack of malignant fever,
many were the expressions of regret and
of hope for his speedy recovery.
During the trying days Of Charles ILL
ness spent all time l could spare by his
side, but on account of his absence from
the office it was necessary for the remain
ing two of us to "double up"-that is.
work twelve hours each, my watch being
from Sp IN. to 8 a. m. came on duty
one evening feeling very i'll. The weather
was so warm could not sleep well in the
daytime besides, had spent consider
able 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 may imagine, 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 mum.
ber of special freights there was special
passenger train to leave Linwood, the
Eastern terminus of our division, at II p.
m. with large party of excursionlsts,
For several hours 1 had my hands full.
There was special train of live stock
bound East. AS usually happens 10 such
cases the excursion did not get ready to
leave on time, and it was II. 40 p. m. when
they reported for orders at Linwood.
fixed up their orders, got the report OF
their departure from Llnwood.at 11.45 and
entered 1t on the train sheet, Then | rose
from the table and went over and seated
myself by the window, where it was cooler
than under the heated gas-jets. l was
alone in the office and as | sat there enjoy
ing the cool breeze which came in through
the open window neighboring church
clock rang out the hour of 10. From force
of habit 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
"Po0r fellow" thought, "it will be 6
long time before he enters that door again
if he ever does" Just at the last stroke of
twelve, and while my eyes were still fixed
on the door, it opened and Charlie Burns
entered My first thought was that In the
delirium of fever he had escaped from his
nurses and made his way to the Office but
when left him few hours before could
not have believed that he had strength to
get out OF bed. sat and watched him in
speechless surprise, which was increased
by his strange manner
Instead of his usual hearty greeting he
took no notice of me at all, but walked di
rectly to the table and 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 Linw rood
II, l, O." came the response, "Put ou
signal for special passenger west anC
copy" "Ro," "Ro," "Ds," rang out tn,
sounder with Charles nimble fingers upor
| the key. "Ro" was the call for Rosedale
the second station from Linwood, eigh
miles west of Elm Grove. II, I, Ro," cam,
| back the answer
Then, as | sat by the widow as one para
| lyzed, the awful truth flashed across m,
mind. had overlooked the stock train
laundering es stward twenty miles an hour
and made no provision for its meeting tn,
excursion train. My blood seemed turnet
to ice as heard the reply;
| They are at the switch. Ro"
| Another minute and it would have beer
too late. Still apparently obllvious of IN,
presence, Charlie reached for the oIde
book with his left hand while his Figh
continued to manipulate the key, and
heard the sounder click out the order tina
held the train. Quick as a flash came bacl
| the response from each station and in les
time than it takes me to write it the orde
had been repeated and signed by the con
| ductor and engineer of each train, Will
Charlie copied it into the order book AM
returned his 80. X" Then, as l realize,
that was saved and great disaster avert
ed, the revulslon of feeling was too nue.
for my over-strained nerves and lost con
sciOusness.
An hour after l was awakened by IA
roiliar voice, and looked up to find Fran
Dwyer, one of our conductors who ha
volunteered to watch that night with Char
lie, standing over me, "Wake up" oil
man." said he 81 have bad news for you
Charlie died just as the clock was strikin
49," | reused myself and went to the ts
BILE. There on the order-book was the Of
der just as had heard it clicked out b
the sounder, aud "Ron was calling me I
report the two trains safely by. Had
been dreaming and sent the order in m
sleep, or had my friend redeemed his prom
ise The writing in the order-book was
his hand and have never been able 10 a