The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-06-12
STRUGGLE TO DEATH.

Cinnau, Hamilton x Dayton Road, when
got such setback one night as few FIRE
men ever lived through, The inciden
happened about fifteen yearsago, but ever
feature OF it comes to my mind as clear a
II the affair occurred last night. My en-
gineer was named Bob Ripley. He was
iovial, whole.soulsd fellow, never goiu
behind glass Of beer, and was known al
along lifeline as sober and truaty man
Well, all OF a sudden, bad luck struCI
him, He had a little home which wa
taken away by land shark. He left Gin
cinnati one night for Toledo on his usua
run, and returned to find his wife dead
She had some heart trouble and died with
out moments warning. Within fort
night his boy baby sicksned and died, aaC
that left Bob without home or family,
tell you 1t made an awful change in him
He was of two or three weeks, and Wher
he came back 10 the cab could sCarCel,
recognize him, He had a wild, queer looL
to his eyes, a strange sound to his voice
and he was 80 sullen and morose that
almost feared to speak to him on natter
OF business. ! made two or three trip
with him, and but for the fear OF hurtin.
his feelings should have made applica
ton to be changed.
1t WAS the third or fourth trip after he
returned TO the road when he left OinCin
natl one November night for the North
II was wild, stormy night, and as we goI
out into the country caught Bob smiling
and chuCkling, The witness OF the nigh
seemed 10 strike responsive chord In hi.
soul. Old '63 seemed to be in uncommon
spirits, too, for she was sliding right along
with heavy train, and making no iusl
over II. made some remarks about il
but Bob had no reply. Indeed, he acted
as II he was alone IN the cab, | didn't
like the situation a bit, for had q sus
piclon that he wasn't quite right in hit
head, and be was also squirting her be.
yond schedule time. We were to pass &
side.traCked accommodation about thirty
miles out OF Cincinnati, She ought to b.
In eight minutes ahead Of our time, but
SO was overreachlng schedule time SO fast
that | feared collision. The conductor
had his eyes open, however, and at q stou
about twenty miles out he came forward
and cautioned Bob to slow her down.
We had oyereaChed Eve miles In that
short run. Bob answered Burly enough,
but as we pulled out again ne obeyed
orders and checked her down to lose the
extra minutes gained.
We had passed the siding all right when
l noticed that his nervousness increased.
He would whistle for crossings where
none existed, and he would toot supposi.
tious cattle oil the track. Once, seeming
to ignore my presence altogether, he
opened the furnace door and piled In the
fuel, although we were carrying more
eteam than had ever seen on.
At Hamilton l was fully resolved Ia
speak to the conductor II he came forward
and gave me opportunity, but he did not.
II was when l returned to the cab after
oiling up that Bob looked up at me with q
start, as II surprised to see me, and said
"Jlm, I'm thinking Of lhem."
ayes, Bob, but they are better off,"
soothingly said. "You must bear up like
q man. It's sad enough, God knows, bui
you must meet II brayely."
"Did you see-P
"WhatP" | asked as he suddenly
checked himself.
He did not answer. lie looked at hil
watch, signaled me 10 ring the bell, and In
moment more we were of. The night
was growing wilder, and we were not ten
minutes out Of Hamilton when | made up
my mind that there was trouble close Of
hand. Bob turned to look at me now and
then in way to prove that he medltated
evil, and, from the way he kept the whistle
going, the passengers behind must have
supposed the track to be swarming with
living distractions. We were about hall
way to Dayton, and had just replenished
the fire, when Bob suddenly gave her all
steam. 1t seemed TO lne that old 03 tool
a clean jump OF ten feet as she felt the ex.
ira steam, and | shouted my alarm. The
words were hardly uttered before he wal
upon me.
"You've got to die with mel" he
screamed as he ClutChed my arm, and I'm
not exaggerating q bit when l tell you
that his eyes looked like Goals OF FIRE.
l was by far the stronger man OF the
two, but In his first rush he darhed me
about In q dreadful way, and had almost
pulled me TO the steps before / called up
my muscle, Then l did my best TO save
him. He was bound to get oil, and was
bound 10 prevent, and as we pulled and
tugged at each other, the train was run
ming 30 close 10 a mile minute that none
OF the passengers cared 10 reduce the
fraction. think our struggle lasted about
Ave minutes. was gradually drawing
him back into the tender, and was won.
dering how could Becure him, when he
suddenly shut his teeth on my right
wrist, and bit and tore like q dog. had
10 let 10 my clutch, and as did 90 be
turned and leaped OF, uttering a cry
which rang 10 my ears for weeks after.
II was high time the steam was shut of
As | afterwards learned, every passenger
was hanging on and praying To heaven, fol
the dullest Of them knew that something
had happened on the locomotive.
brought her 10 a standstill as soon as pos
sible, and when the conductor reached the
cab we backed up 10 look for poor Bob'i
body. WefOund II about two miles back
and Il was shocking sight. Ha had
struck q stump head frat, and head and
face were simply bloody mass oil flesh.
t.fAn the train into Dayton, and we hat
scarcely come 10 a standstill before wa
seized with a chill, aud had to be helpet
10 the hotel, 1 was Just clean broken down
under the mental strain, and II was pl1mI
six weeks before l Ctept out OF my bed.
was determined never to step foot on at
engine, but when health came back | 60
my nerve again, and result was that hu
ished my apprenticeship and took tht
other side oil the cab,
Some yeats $40 was running No. 90,
passenger engine, on road out oil Obi
caRo, had a tifstClass fireman, q we'll
behaved engine and the conductor, who's
name was Anderson, was one Of the bes
fellows living. YOU may net know that
A conductor wants TO show his mean hldI
Ne can make II very uncomfortable for tn
men In the cabin ! dozen different ways
He can report gains and Losses oil tine
failures 10 signal crossings, aud gool
many other things which would bring
Tebfimand or discharge. in TACT, | knot
Of plenty Of cases whore engineers VIII
aid not bitch with conductor have beef
transferred on his complaints.
Il.ia.aa.. ,Naa a hiduln man nhntt