The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-03-15
BUILDING RAILROADS AND RUN
MING TRAINS,

Very few people except railroad en-
ployes know or imagine the thrilling OF
exciting experiences and practical jokes
so intimately associated with some OF
the places over which the swift moving
train makes its daily trip. The writer,
not long since, was deeply interested
while in conversation with gentleman
who had spent some of the best years OF
his life on the lines of railroad in Mime.
sofa and Dakota. He gave an interest
ing account of the life of the read build
ers, their strong attachment to each
other and the practical jokes which were
often INDUCED in.
The following story is true. except
that the real names of the persons are
suppressed. Jack Sharp and John Ben
son, a conductor and engineer on a
Western construction train, were asso-
ciated with Jim Powers and Tom Bur
ton as brakeman and man of all work
The work to be done was building
bridges, pile driving and grading, and
much of the time the caboose was their
parlor, dining room bedroom and kitch-
en-.
Sometimes when working near vii
lage they would occupy rooms in the
public house, and so enjoy better &C
commodations than could be had in the
caboose, One night Burton and Powers
retired to their bedrooms earlier than
usual, and in doing so had to pass thro'
the room occupied by Benson and Sharp
the conductor and engineer,
AS swiftly as possible they took the
bedding apart, emptied out the straw,
and tied hard knots IN the sheets and
pillow cases. They made the room as
uninhabitable as they could, and then pas
sed on to their own room and secured
the door with lock aud key.
Benson and Sharp went to their room
soon after, and with wide open eyes
looked upon their accommodations for
the night. They knew who the guilty
persons were, and, calling the proprie-
tor, asked permission to break down the
door, saying that they would pay for
it,
The proprietor advised them to get
even with their friends in some other
way. and. while they remained undecid
ed about breaking into the room beyond,
the two brakemen, with their windows
raised, stood ready to run if necessary,
The engineer and conductor began
setting things to rights and after an
hour and half of hard labor they part
y succeeded, and then turned in for the
night.
Burton and Powers were wide awake
early the next morning and while their
comrades were asleep they tied up their
pants and coat sleeves in hard knots,
and filled their boots from the water
pitcher.
During that day they were on their
guard against a surprise but the engi-
neer and conductor appeared to have
forgotten, or concluded to let it pass
without notice.
The rogues became Ies5 watchful to-
wards evening. when suddenly Powers
was seized from behind and after short
struggle he was overpowered and Sc
curey fastened in box and stats were
nailed over the top for a cover. The
box was 50 small that there was no room
to exert himself TO burst off the Stats.
and he had to lie in cramped position
on his back, while hundreds of people
from passenger train came to look IT
the Curiosity which was labelled in
large letters Hog Live Stock Mad
man. etc,
He began to explain to them, when
the conductor said, he is crazy and one
of his spells is coming on he is violent,
etc.
In this condition he was sent out
about twenty miles and back; he YVES
tumbled about roughly. and placed in
the doorway of the car at the stations
the observed of all.
Some would throw corn, wheat, beans
and other grain into the box and call,
Pig. pig, pig After being in the box
about two hours he was liberated, and
felt that the conductor and engineer
had Paid him literally with interest,