The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-01-04

Master mechanic of the New Haven an,
Derby, has name and fame known il
other lands and the mention of ''Olt
|. Kit" will bring Il smile to the faces o
, thousands.
THE HoUsAgoNIc CONDUCTORS
WHO THEY ARE AND WHATEVER GA FIHI
a BODY OF MEN.
Not every man Is fitted to become 4
successful conductor. Many that aspire
to this position find that the duties grow
irksome, the pleasure wanes and the per
petual trips through the cars are fraugh'
with anything but joy. These are mer
who have mistaken their vocation.
| To be a ''good conductor" as the
world goes, comprises great deal. One
of whom this may justly be said needs
a great deal of patience and every day
common sense, for he has occasion, daily,
to use more than falls to the lot OF most
men.
OF course he knows all about railroad
matters. But he must also, in order to
answer the numberless questions hurled
at him by cross, impatient or curious
passengers, be walking cyclopedia OF
nearly everything. He must needs be a
student of human nature and will become
we'll acquainted with its various phases
and types, as manifested in a railroad
car.
These and many other incidentals are
OUTSIDE his regular duties, which of
themselves are not light.
TO railroad man, one who has adj
vanced from waterboy or brakeman to
the position of passenger conductor, the
constant change of scenery and people,
encountered on n train during days
run, is full of interest. 1t becomes part
of his daily life. Few such men leave
this field for any other, until increasing
age or physical infrmities render a
change necessary.
The possibility of an accident in which
his own as well as other lives may be
lost seems not to worry him in the least,
for he knows that all precautions are
taken.
Some of the privations or inconyen-
fences of a railroad mans life are found
in the fact that he must go on with his
daily duty, whether storm or sunshine
| greet him; that he is at home irregular
ly and that he is constantly carrying the
responsibility of the train upon his shout
ders. Sudden calls are liable to come at
any time and deprive him of rest or sleep.
On the other hand, the work gives him
| plenty of pedestrian exercise, brings him
into contact with all classes of people
and, II of n studious turn of mind, gives
him an insight into the mysteries of hu.
man nature.
As a rule, conductors and railroaders
are a jolly class of men, particularly
when ofr duty. The Housatonic men are
no exception, but rather a confirmation
of this rule. In giving a brief sketch OF
them, the BEE records its conviction that
each is admirably suited to his work and
expresses hope that they may, one and
all, live long and prosper.
Henry D. Thomas
Is the senior conductor In the service OF
the company, having begun railroad life
May /, 1865, after his return from the
war. lie began as brakeman, advanced
to baggage master and then to conduct.
or. For years, he was on the mail and
express train which left Bridgeport al
10 30 m, returning from Pittsfield the
next day. This is the train which now
leaves at 10 05 M and returns at 8 q
and Mr. Thomas is still conductor. Fol
the last four or Ave years, he has doub.
led the road daily, making run of 22t
miles. The train already spoken of was
the only regular passenger train that rar
| the entire length of the road, save 4
special train that ran up to Pittsfield
Saturday night and returned, Monday
morning.
During the 20 years in which Nj
Thomas has been conductor, he has Ilat
many curious and amusing experience:
and has not been through one serious &C
cident. The worst disaster that he ever
witnessed was in 1865, soon after he be
gan braking. An extra freight had lief
Bridgeport at m with heavy LOAD
and became stalled near Trumbul
Church; one of the cylinder heads burst
and the train remained stationary unit
the express came along and started tt
tow 1t back to Bridgeport, as il was i'm
possible to push it up the grade. TIL
engine Fairfield, which had gone through
the New Milford bridge not long befor'
and had been sent to the shop for repairs
was following the express on a trial trip
the first since 1t had been repaired. NJ
Thomas was rear brakeman on the ex
. press and was one of the first to see tn
! rapidly approaching Fairfield. He Sc
the brake, while Conductor Plumb AM
President Charles Hunt, who were on tn
train, jumped from either side. The
Thomas started up the car on a dead run
but had hardly reached the center whel
he felt the crash. With the momentum
already gained, he dove head frs
through the car window, striking tn
ground on his chest and escaped unhurt
The train was capsized and the rear car
which was not built as strongly as tn
, passenger coaches of to-day, was splin
tered and shivered. This was one OF tn
most disastrous accidents that ever hap
pened on the lower end OF heroad. BE
sides the standing cars, which were tele
scoped and smashed, the Fairfield wa
badly injured and returned to the shop q
: once The loss of life was also heavy
: were killed and IL injured.
Il During his long career, Mr. Thomas ha
; served under Presidents Charles Hunt