Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-06-14
A BOTTLE OF OIL
Tho Watchman's Adventure with
Train Wreckers.

nhe small station of B.. and hav-
ing nothing to employ my attention
about tho village, went early to the
Is alton, and was ushercd into the wait
in groom by the watchman, q stout.
.good-naturcd 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. Ipassed
The time chatting with the watchman,
and he told me the story of the ad-
venture in which he lost his arm
repeat his narrative as nearly as pos
sijle in his own words:
Before l was intrusted with the
might 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 hun
.dred miles west of here, in the rough
est and most lawless part of the Ter
rtory. Oar duties were to keep in
thorough order the track upon our
section, and we were held responsible
to the company for any thing that
would endangcr or delay the trains
while upon it.
Oie section began at Summit Sta
ton, and ran east seven miles. Thence
10 Brewster's the next station east of
Summit, and fifteen miles distant
from it, was another section eight
miles long.
The night duty of q section hand is
not pleasant. In rain or shine, snow
or sleet, the section must be patroled
by one man-who employs in good
weather light hand-car for the pur-
pose-ahead of our overland Pullman
train. This train passed over our
section at midnight and our departure
was timed so as to inspect 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 thought to the men who, since
darkness settled upon them. have been
pluuging through the snow-for hand
cars are useless in such weather rs
this-swinging their lanterns from
s.de 10 side. examining carefully every
cut for fear OF falling rocks, every
bridge for broken rails. thus enabling
them to ride in safety.
As l said before, the men from each
section having patroled fifteen miles
of track, meet at little shanty situ-
ated beside the track, just large
enough to hold small stove and q
few necessary supplies, 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 engineer may know all is
we'll. F allure to do this would result
in report to headquarters, and pos
silly in discharge from the service.
One night it came my turn 10 run
the section. Before starting. it oc-
Cured to me that our supply of
lantern oil at the halfway house was
low. so procured and filled quart
bottle of lard oil, the kind which is
used for the purpose. put it into the
inside pocket of my heavy coat but
toned it snugly about me. and started.
1t was stormy summers night, as
black as ink. My car ran smoothly
over the rails, and soon l had trav-
eled about hah the distance, and ar
rived at bridge crossing Snake
river. Here / dismountel from the
car. and pushing it ahead of me as
passed, gave the structure careful
examination. found every thing all
right and was about mounting my car
again, when / received violent blow
upon the head which stretched me
senseless upon the rails.
Recovering consciousness after few
moments, l found myself bound.
gagged and lying e few feet from
sgang of masked M whom l saw,
as well as the darkness would permit
nj work with bars removing one of tn,
rails just at the entrance of the
bridge.
Train-wreckersl Ihad heard great
deal about the desperate character OF
these ruffians. but was now making my
first acquaintance with them. As they
worked, they discussed the situation.
and how they shoull dispose of me.
i tell yer, SsmI' oae big fellow