The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1890-09-06
ENGINES HALFlHUMAN.
Some of the SuperstiNons of Loco
motive Engineers.
Some Carry Cats In the Cab for Good
Luck and Others Do Not Care to Start
on . Run on Fridny-Presenti-
- ments Of Accidents.

A great many tales have been told
about railroad engineers and the queer
notions they have about their "pets,"
as they call them. Some of these stories
look all right in print, but in reality
they are pure inventions. The Globe
Democrat correspondent resolved to in
terview a number of railroad engineers
in view Of securing their experiences
with locomotives, and to find out, If
possible, whether engineers, as rule,
are superstitious.
Creston is quite railroad town, and
is the end of division. 1t is no trick
gineers, and as they are all good
fellows, an interview is cheerfully
granted.
Tom H is one of the Oldest and
most reliable engineers on the c., b. &
Q. railroad. Being asked concerning To-
comotives and their engineers, he said:
"a locomotive engine is, to my mind,
as near human as any inanimate object
can be. Sometimes | think that they
are more than half human. OF course
that's all fancy, though. l have driven
this engine, No. 4S3, for ten or fifteen
years, and know every inch of her, and
know how to manage the old lady. Some
days she gets cross and doesn't seem to
care about working. Then I have got
to coax her. Other days she'll feel bad
and take on at dreadful rate: then I've
got to doctor her carefully. We fellows
have way OF tending to these little
matters. As a general rule my engine
is in good trim and goes like bird.
She acts like human, trembling with
excitement If there is prospect for fast
running.
do believe in presentiments? Well,
I'll have to say yes. The night we went
into ditch near Malvern, smashing up
things badly, told Jim (the fireman)
half hour before the accident happened
that something was coming, because
never before knew the engine to act so
queer. She didn't want to 60, and when
I crowded her she pounded badly, SEEM
ing to drag like, along the rails. When
the poor girl toppled over on her back
in the ditch l thought she groaned aw-
fully. Ibelieve an engine smells dan
ger ahead, somehow, and then goes to
tremblin' and pounding. Leastwise
mine always did"
Ever see any ghosts?"
"Well, can't say that ever did but
once. We were coming west from OF
tumwa about midnight. 1t was moon
light, and could see ahead pretty we'll.
We were nearing place where young
girl had been killed while crossing the
track on little pony. AS we came up
rapidly l noticed something white on
the track in front, and presently, to my
horror and astonishment, | saw the
shadowy outline of a young girl. She
was holding little pony by the bride
rein, and the animal was prancing with
fright. Both we're square on the track.
l blew the whistle and turned on the
air. At this moment the girl turned
her face toward the engine. A long,
cruel red scar extended from her fore
head to the chin. Her eyes had pitt
full look. But we couldn't have stopped
the train for our lives. We dashed upon
them and-went through the apparition
like it was cloud of mist. l felt
chilly sensation as we passed, and my
blouse was damp, as If dew had fallen
upon it. That was the only apparition
l ever saw. Poor W ran over the
girl, and has never ceased to grieve
about it,"
1t is almost amusing to note the
myriad Of queer fancies that engineers
have about certain things. Yet, as far
as known, these fancies do not debar
them from being brave and trustworthy
men. While they may have many a
superstitious fear that an accident is
impending, it does not unnerve them,
and Is more likely to keep them on
sharper lookout. Many an engineer be-
lieves thath his fate is only question OF
time, while others believe themselves
to be insured against accidents.
1t is said that the engineer on one Of
the express trains that telescoped be-
tween Creston and Ottumwa some wears
ago, when SO many passengers were
killed, had vague forebodings Of i'm
pending disaster for several days. 1t
was feeling that he could not shake
on. His intuition proved correct, and,
through the blunder of an operator,
horrible accident happened.
a n lr1na