Telegram-herald., 1890-11-23
OLD PATRICK swEENY.
SxSy Years = SwssohEaan on tie
New Yark Caosnal
AAtheegA Hs l. wh~ky sfztlesFess als
NssS@i fos.vrs ave = nszs.skxpis
k.sErsa Nlsss-Hs~ Hs oaxe
DeGlsa fWs ns za.-sAt4


Dsnsa f~- Ksza1-sAt&
povn 81 rpuyxessnL o. ths Cens<1l
Hudson roaa. says the AleAzy ~ "
kxpreas. there u stationed e s~ltchnsn
who has lien at his pest ever since -
nrst train passed over the n~iis. sn6 / Al
been ia tue oompGnys esapioy before
Laat. almost frou the dzs wkea tie first
ue Wa laid and tie hrst sBlke w1s
driven
Althsngh he is whoAy iiliteeate his
mental powers have natsral sigos that
Is remarkable once the company
issued "a order directing thai az switch
men vac sould not read vt write were 70
qust les service. Pzt Sweeny got BOY
in his sAanty - toAeh hik now 70 read
the numbers Of the engines 80 that he
could report the time and nun boz q
trains that passed his Aas shanty every
tAr. Tie old nan had apparently '
passed the age when the uaine can yet
30 turned back and made D. grasp what
IL has outgroNn, for he discharged the
boy, but bis ear was still keen. In less
than month hs had learned the nEm-
Der of eveTy engine on the road hy the
sound OF IT'S bell. and never made a
single error IN bis reports This is
vouehed for by people who have known
Sweeny hall a century.
He does not know what fear is. and q
story is told how he once defieG two
regiments % soldiers because he knew
what his duty WAS aud they aid not 1t
was n April, 1859, during war timeA
Sweeny was at his post on the road.
which was then double-trackea norts ef
Stuyresant bnt had but one track b.
tween that town and New York FIJI
teen carloads OF soldiers on q special
train, bound for New York, rescbed
StuyVesant early one morning. and
Sweeny. who was on the lockout.
stopped the train, because the train
which had immediately preceded II car
ried no signal to give warning that the
special was behind it. II was before the
days OF block signals, and much DEPEND
ed On a remembrance Of orders as 10
how trains were 10 be run. The com
mandant Of the troops could not snder-
stand why the train had come TO a
standsnll. Leaping from she train be
began making inquiries, and found
Sweeny standing at the switch, which
he had locked.
What does this mean?- thundered
the officer. Don't you know these are
Federal troops under orders from Wash
ington TO proceed TO New York without
delay? What do you mean by stepping
this train without orders?"
Sweeny pointed his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the single
track.
The train ahead carried no signal for
yez," said he, and there bees an up
train on it's way
Unlock that switch instan ntly." COM
manded the officer, drawing his sword
Not moments delay now. Unlock
IT,"
"I'n not said Sweeny, and the
words were scarcely out OF his mouth
before dozen soldiers, in obcdiaace 70
an order, hustled the switchman into
the shanty. One thrust bis bayonet into
the boards alongside of Sweeny's neck.
The others pinned him in similar nan
ner under tho arms. Half dozen 9TH
ers placed the muxzles OF their loaded
muskets within a few inches OF his
head
"Give up that key and let this train
proceed" was the command, and while
no threat accompanied it the switchman
knew that the next order would be 20
pull the triCgers He never finched.
Not wan foot does this train move"
ne said. without tremor.
81 will give you one min"
Az that moment q shrill whistle was
heard, and before the ofioer could finish
his order the train from Albany crme
Gying along AZ the rate OF forty rniles sn
hour. Sweeny's wstchfulncss hod pre-
vented a terrible disaster. he knew
well that the first train should have dis
played signal Gags to indicate that there
was another following. Had he permit
ted the train carrying tho soldier. to
proceed there would have been a fright
fui collision at about Stockport. where
a curve through a rocky cut shuts out
all view 600 yards ahead. IL didn't tako
either tho officers or the men long %
rsalize what narrow escape they had
maee and to appreciate the bravery o.
the switchman who was ready to give
up MS own life rather than permit l. 900
men 20 put theirs in danger.
Famous sam Sloan was president OF
ne Central 10 those DAYS. and when he
leard Of Sweeny's courageous oct he cert
aim check for generous amount ans
summsrilY discharged tho engineer ard
,rew of the train that had run through
without a signal And. strange to saT.
20 sxike WAS ordered because Of their
discharge. nor was President Sloan
asked % specify reasons