Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-06-23
A BOTTLE OF
BY II, d wALDRON.

Wishing to take the night tra'~ at the
small station of B, and having
nothing to employ my attention about
the village, went early to the station,
and was ushered into the waiting room
by the watchman, stout, good
atured-looking man in the prime of
life, who wore, pinned across his breast,
an empty sleeve.
As had an hour or more of leisure
before my train would arrive, | passed
the time chatting with the watchmap.
and he told me the story of the adven.
ture 10 which he lost his arm. | repeat
his narrative as nearly as possible in his
own words.
Before was intrusted with the night
duties of this station formed one Of a
crew of three section men, who had in
charge seven miles of track upon our
road, some three hundred miles west of
here, in the toughest and most lawless
part of the Territory.
Our duties were to keep in thorough
order the track upon our section, and we
were held responsible to the company
for anything that would endarg ger or de-
lay the trains while apon it.
Our section began at Summit Station
and ran east seven miles. Thence to
Brewsters. the next station east of Sum
NIT, and fifteen miles distant from, it
was another section eight miles long.
The night duty of a section hand is
not pleasant. In rain or shine, snow or
sleet, the section must be patrolled by
one man-who employees in good weather
light hand car for the purpose-ahead
OF our Overland Pullman train. This
train passed over our section at midnight.
and our departure was timed SO as to in
spect the track Immediately ahead of it.
So, taking turns at that duty. we
started from Summit at ten o'clock sharp
and usually arrived at the "half-way
house" about ten minutes ahead of the
train. Here we met one of the men from
the section east of us, who had started
about the same time, and for the same
purpose. You see the precaution taken
by all well managed roads for the safety
of its patrons.
How many of the passengers on the
Overland tonight know, or knowing.
give a thought to the men who. since
darkness settled upon them, have been
plungng through the snow-for hand
cars are useless in such weather as this
swinging their lanterns from side to side.
examining carefully every cut for fear of
falling rocks, every bridge for broken
rails, thus enabling them to ride in
safety.
As said before, the men from each
section having patrolled fifteen miles of
track, meet at little shanty situated be.
side the track, just large enough to hold
small stove and few necessary sun
plies, and allow the men to enter. Here
they stay until the train comes in sight.
then outside, and display their two white
lights, that the eng neer may know all is
well. Failure to do this would result in
report to headquarters, and possibly in
discharge from the service.
One night it came my turn to run the
section. Before starting. it occurred to
me that our supply of lantern oil at the
halfway house was low, so 1 procured
and filled quart bottle of lard oil the
ki3d which is used for the purpose. mt
it into the inside pocket of nv heayy
coat, buttoned it snugly about me, and
started.
1t was stormy summers night. as
black as ink. My car ran smoothly over
the rails, and soon had travelled about
half the distance, and arrived at bridge
crossing S-ake Liver. Here dismounted
from the car, and pushing it ahead of me
q passed, / gave the structure a care
ful examination, found everything all
right, and was about mounting nv car
again, when received a violent blow
upon the head which stretched me sense
less upon the rails.
Recovering consciousness after a few
moments, l found myself bound, gagged
and lying but few fee: from gang of
NAKED men, whom saw, rs well as the
darkness would permit. at work with
bars removing one of the rails Just at the
entrance of the bridge.
Train wreckers! Iohad heard great
deal about the desperate character of
these rufFians. but was now making my
firss acquaintance With them.
Az they worked they discu I'd the
situation, and how they ahoul6 dispose
q ~