The Arizona sentinel., 1888-06-02
"A; BOTTLE OF OIL.
The Watchman's Adventure with
Train-W


Wishing to take the night train at
the small station of B, and hav-
ing nothing to employ my attention
about the village, went early to the
alton, and was ushered into the wait
in ng-room by tho watchman, stout,
notwithstanding man in the prime
of life, who wore, pinned across his
breast, an empty sleeve.
AS had an hour or more of leisure
b. fore 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
siblcin. his own words:
Before l was intrusted with the
night duties of this station 1 formed
one of 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
ritory. Oar duties were to keep in
thorough order the track upon our
section, and we were held responsible
to the cempanY for any thing that
would endanger or delay the trains
while upon it.
Ole section began at Summit Sta
tion, 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 a section hand is
not pleasant. In rain OF 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
plunging through the snow-for hand
cars are useless in such weather as
this-swinging their lanterns from
side 10 side, examining carefully every
cut for fear of falling rocks. every
bridgefor broken rails, thus enabling
them to,ride in safety.
As 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
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
well. T allure to do this would result
in report to headquarters, and pos
sibly 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
back as ink. Ny car ran smoothly
over the rails, and soon l had trav-
eled about half the distance, and ar
rived at a bridge crossing Snake
river Here 1 dismounted from the
car. and pushing it ahead of me as
passed, l gave the structure a careful
examination. found every thing all
right, and was about mounting nv car
again, when received a violent blow
upon the head which stretched me
scnseless upon the rails.
Recovering consciousness after few
moments, / found myself bound,
gagged and lying but few feet from
a gang of masked men, whom l saw,
as we'll as the darkness would permit,
at work with bars removing one of the
r.iils Just at the entrance of the
bridge.
Train-wreckersI Ihad heard a great
- about the desperate character of
ruffians, but was now making my
first acquaintance with them. As they
worked. they discussed the situation,
and how they should dispose of me.
i tell yer Saml' one big fellow