The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-30
APPARITIONS ON THE LINE.

spectres that Haunt An Overtaxed Loco
motive Engiaecr.
To an ordinary observer tho life Of Z To-
connective engineer may sesm easy, but ap-
pearances are deceivinR, says the Kansas
City, Star. There are few harder positions
to fill than that of master Of the throttle.
Il requires not only experience aud brains,
but great endurance.
Railroad companies are careful Of their
engineers. az a rule, and only in emergen-
cies overtax them. This is especially 60 in
respect to passenger engineers. During the
'trush'' freight engineer on some roads is
regarded as part of his machine, and
worked accordingly. Rest is as fur away
as the golden streets. The first man in
is the first out, and often the engineer and
his fireman do not have time to eat at the
end of trip. but are started
the instant their engine ia un-
coupled from the one brought in. It is not
for one trip only, but q dozen at time,
that this occurs. and the engineer, the man
of all others on train who is supposed to
be awake and watchful, is obliged to snatch
his sleep while his engine is being coaled or
turned, or while waiting for his train to be
made up. The conductor and brakeman
can take turns at sleeping between the sta
lions when not able to get any sleep at the
awake.
The incessant Watching, loss of sleep and
the physical wear and tear incident to an
engine cab can only be endured BY men of
iron constitutions, hardened by long years
Of service. Many engineers cannot stand
the terrible strain. and unless they are able
to get q switch engine or something of the
kind are obliged to abandon the cab alto
gether. The stories that are told of engi-
neers seeing ghosts or uncanny sights while
on their runs are believed bv some and
laughed at by many. The ''visions'' are no
doubt seen. and can be attributed to the
overwrought nerves and disordered imag-
days and nights without rest.
+. 10 the man whose nerves are not steel,
the night rides across the country are q lit
tie worse in their ultimtte effect than ex-
cessive use of alcoholic drinks. From the
first turn of the wheels until the last stop
the engineer must hold himself in
that state OF alertness and watchfulness
which cannot fail to produce an injurious
effect.
An engineer on an Illinois road, Daniels,
had been on the same road for number Of
years, and had made the run from one end
to the other night and day SO often that
WIN VA; nothing IN the way he could make tic
os..sssOsSAC~A
Ct least he said he could. He was radical
brotherhood man, and, like most Of his
brothers, made the sun rise and act in
Chief Arthur. It was at the time of the
engineers strike on the Burlington, 90 the
story goes. 1t was looking pretty blue for
the boys and every Brotherhood man in the
country was on nettles and wishing be was
IN the strike. Daniels about this time was
IN perfect fever, and it was all he could
do to hold his run instead of going up to
Chicago to help the boys out. His money
was hardly ont of the pay car before his
share went into the relief fund. He talked
strike every waking moment, and when
there was no one else around would load up
his fireman between stations.
One day he received one of the flaming
posters sent out during the strike, and it
tlckled him 30 much he could hardly sit on
his seat. He showed it to everybody he
could ind and kept it constantly before
him on the run. The road was doing a
heavy business at the time, and Daniels
was compelled to double up on the passen-
ger runs until completely worn out. It was
one dark night when he was on the run
that his overtaxed nerves gave way, and he
was compelled to turn over the engine to
his fireman while he went to the other side
and laid down on the seat for awhile. He
happened to raise his head and look ont Of
the cab window and-Rreat Scott! what A
sight! There within 20 feet of him. direct
II opposite the cab window and moving at
the same speed and in the same direction
as the train, was mammoth white poster
bearing on it the skull and crossbones. and
the startling but we'll remembered word:
THE ROAD
~ ~ 2rAx Dor