Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-02-27
JUSTICES!
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOLONS OF OUR
STATE TO SURROUND WORTHY GLASS
OF MEN WITH THE PROTECTING
ARM OF THE LAW,

the term, and yet withal how significant
and how nearly impossible it is TO realiz,
the smallest measure OF it. The legisl a
ture of our great commonwealth has i
in its power to mete out 10 most worthy
class of men al least fragmen; of W hal
is called Justice, and surroun with the
struna aud protecting arm oi the law those
men who daily, yea, even hourly, face the
grim mons,er-ieath. Sometimes it oc-
ours through criminal carelessness, iucom-
potency, cowfrdice, or perchauce from
| the overworked toilers on the engine al
the brake, or at the deadly switch. In
our own com fort and pleasure, lying back
on tie soft and downy cushions OF beau
tiiu palace car, we are forgetful of the
severe strain on the brain and muscle OF
the intrepid engineer. We indulge in
the delightful anticirations OF happy
greeting from a loving fsther and mother,
a doting wife, All affeclonate sister or
brother, trusting sweetheart, or, mayhap,
q party OF dear frien,s who pleasantly au-
ticipate eur coming. But suddenly we
hear the ominuus rolling of the distant
! thunder, aH6 soon we are painfully aware
that wild and furious storm is about
to break over our heads The horizon is
overhuug With cnrtan "a black as the
pail of death itself We are almost dec :
ened by the rumbling, roaring thunder;
serpeutine streaks OF forked lightning
dart here and there, and the whole At
mosphere is surcharged with enough cleo
tricity 30 lick up and destroy another such
wurl.l We shudder AS we dare to wen
think of what might be. For yer fear we
dare not give expressit n to our thoughts.
Again, our thoughts are of a merciful
Providence, anon our minds revert to the
daring and fearless leader who stands at
the helm, ready. If needs be to save his
precious cargo, to vault into the jaws of
death. The veteran conductor moves I'M
easily to and fro; the tired and sleepy
brakeman rouses himself from his mo-
tntary stupor, and is preparing for any
emergency. AT the throttle stands the
engineer; with his hand firmly grasping
the lever, he peers ahead into the murky
darkness, but the occasional flashes of the
cracking, lurid lightning assures him the
track is still clear. No sleep or drowsi-
ness in those already overworktd and
heavy eyelids, for is he not carrying be-
hind him hundreds at precious lives
whose coming ire anxiously awaited by
devoted ones? Little needing himsrlf
his thoughts are OF duty and OF others.
In his Imagination he sees a wash out, a
broken culvert, a disabled bridge All
these thoughts come and 90 with the ra-
pility of the lightning's fash. On they
speed, aud yet no harm has hefallsn the
trusting hearts in the rear. But sudden
ly, on rounding curve, he discerns a
bright lig ht approaching with the veloci-
ty of the ungovernabIe wind. An almost
terror-stricken engineer stands at his post
Of duty In another moment the approach
ing trains will meet face to face. Jump
and save Yourself. his prudent monitor
saws But the noble engineers manhood
quickly reasser,s itself This is my duty
to face the grim monster in all his hid
eousness. He reverses bis engine, but
alas too late; the fiery fien'ls clinch and
struggle for the mastery. The seething,
hissirg steam breathes its heated and
fateful breath over the imprisoned inmates
of the cab Their legs or arms, or some
portion Of their bodies are clutcbed in
the iron grip of some part OF the mach;n-
cry, which seals their DOOM Those be-
hind experience terrible shock by the
core ussior a few of the coaches may be
deraIled; few bruises and worse fright
may be the extent of their calamity. ,Some
go forward TO look upon the awful wreck
wrought without hardly a moments
warning. They peer into the darkness,
and with the aid of lanterns taken from
the train, they look With awe-strickeu
wonder on death and ruin. A dead en-
giEeer, a Ifeless fireman. brakeman wi b
an arm off, tells the tale The passengers
are soon transferred to other coaches and
are carried to their destinations, where
they are received with delight by the
anxious but now happy friends. But
what earthly power can assuage the sor-
rows of the grief stricken widow, or the
orphaned children. Besides the loss of
husband and father, poverty and the
makes such condition of affairs possible
in this enlightened age? Re'renchment
was necessary that larger dividend might
be declared The bead Of some luckles
train dispatcher feil into the basket here,
some watchful guardian of the com pany's
property was switched off the road else
where, and thus it went on until the eff
ficiency Of the service was impaired to
such an extent that little security was af-
fnrded those who were compelled to pat
ronizeit. But the real sufferers for the cor
poratioD' 8 avariciOnsness are the men who
operate the system. When crippled for
life they are turned out, like an old horse
to grass. to subsist as best they may. The
cold charity of a pitiless world affords
them but slight consolation.
Why do men bare their breasts and
go forth to battle at their country's call !?
Because they know a wise and bene6cent
government will care for the widow and
orphan, and the manned and wounded
soldier. Should not rich and powerful
corporation be just as bene6cen'? While
these men are not going to war, they fire.
quently go forth to meet their death liz
the performance OF noble duty. Where
pa-simony steps in and makes accidents
LII 4 Al L Al