West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-05-24
A BOTTLE OF OIL
by H. d. wALDRoN.


Wishing to take the night train at the
small station of B, and having
nothing to employ my attention about
the village, l went early to the station,
and was ushered into the waiting. room
by the watchman, stout, good
natured-looking man in tho prime of
life, who wore, pinned across his breast,
an empty sleeve.
AS l had an hour or more of leisure
before my train would arrive, | passed
the time chatting with the watchman. q
and he told me the story of the adyen.
ture in which he lost his arm. reneat
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 i'm
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 endar ger or de-
lay the trains while npon it.
Our section began at Summit Station
and ran cast seven miles. Thence TO
Brewster's, the next station cast of Sum
NIT and fifteen miles distant from. il
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 patrollcd bv
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 80 as TO in
spect the track Immediately ahead OF IL
so, taking turns at that duty. We
started from Summit at ten o'clock sharp
and usually arrived at the "half-wav
house" about ten minutee ahead OF tho
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 10 the men who stnce
darkness settled upon them. have beon
punging 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
hgnts, that the engineer may know all is
well Failure to do this would resultin
q report to headquarters. and possibly in
discharge from the service.
One night II came my turn 20 run the
section. Before starting. IL occurred TO
me that our supply Of lantern oil at the
halfway house was low, so 7 procured
and tiled q quart bottle Of lard oil. the
KIDD which is used for tho purpose. put
u into the inside pocket Of my heavy
coat, 6uttoned it snugly about me, and
started
IT was q stormy summers ni0ht. "a
black as ink Ny car ran smoothly over
the rails, and soon had travelled abouf
half the distance, and arrived nc n bridoo
crossing Sake River Here dismounted
from the car, and pushing it ahead Of me
as ] passed, ] gave the structure n care
fui examination, found everything all
right and was about mounting my car
again, when J received violent blow
upon the head which stretched me sense
less upon the rails
recovering consciousness after few
moments, 7 found myself bound. gagged
and lying but q few feet from o gang of
masked men, whom ] saw, as well as the
darkness would permit ct work with
bars removing one OF the rails lust at the
entrance Of the bridge
Train wrcckorsl had heard q great
deal about the desperate character OF
these ruiiians, but was now making my
first acquaintance with them.
As they worked they discussed the
situation, and how they should dispose
~ noe.