The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-04-18
NO. 20.


Engineers
1t is getting to be anqdestionably
admitted that the locomotive driver
of today is one Of the bravests as
Wen as one of the most responsible
men in his country. As he stands
upon the tootboard, besides
his dust begrimmed fireman; let MS
look at bis duties. He is about to
make d run of perhaps seventyfive
miles, guiding Il freight Of human
beings; and the slightest error on
his part in the Interpretation of
switch and signal colors, may re-
suit in catastrophe. He is perfect
ly we'll aware of this, and yet daily
he cheerfully takes the heavy re-
sponsibility upon his shoulders. and
there it rests from the moment he
takes his engin ON his first trip,
until he has returned tito the round
house, on his last.
AS he thunders through deep
cuts, whirls over high bridges, jars
over switches, his heavy machine
bounding along with trightful veil
ocity, the momentum is necessary
terrific, and should wheel brake, a
parellel rod unioint, tire slip, or
the rails be spread, his train would
be dashed aside, and perhaps mang-
led, dismembered forms be buried
beneath the wreck AS his engine
rushes blindly through the night he
is perfectly we'll aware that he is
hand in hand with a horrible death,
and as he stands with his hands on
the throttle, piercing the blaekness
lighted up for few yards ahead,
and then made doubly black; he
knows that his life is in his Creators
hands, and that he can hardly cali
it his own He knows that he may
be hurled into eternity, without the
slightest premonition-that he may
never see home or dear one again.
Still he does not finch, but trusts
in '.luck" as he terms it to carry
him through in safety. The passen.
gers give him no thought, but how
often does he think of them; when
he cannot instantly make ont wheth-
er the track ahead is clear or oh
structcd. A switchman may have
left switch open after a freight
train has passed out upon the main
ira TX, and ten to one he cannoe
check his train in season to avoid
running over it, and crashing into
the cars beyond. The engineer
thinks of such things as these and
they weigh upon his mind; and con,
slant anxiety makes him haggard
and careworn, long before nature
would have him so.
And when he sees danger ahead,
does he jump from his engin, and
let the train crash into the obstruct-
ion2 No. He does all that he can
to check his speed, and then awaits
the moment which he we'll knows
may be his, last, or may see him
crushed or tfaimed beneath his
struggling engine. And he does
this to save the lives entrusted to
his care, and not merely to save
himself The writer of this article
is personally acquainted with ladies
and gentlemen, who, whenever they
leave train either thank the en-.
gineer or bow to him for taking
them through in safety, and they do
it in heartfelt sincerity, All things
taken into consideration; the rail
road driver, no matter whether run
ming shifter or tho Flying Dutch
man, is rightly termed the bravest
man among us; and when years
have rolled away into the mists of
oblivion, and when safer methods of
transit can be devised, his deeds of
daring at the voluntary risk of his
own life, will be better appreciated
than they are at present.
Moron.