Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-03-06
THE ENGINEER'S STORY.
Why Martins Fireman" Recon-
mended His Engineer.

Did you ever near Of a railroad presi-
dent running as fireman on an engine?
Well, know of one who did. and, if
you've got time to listen TO it, I'll tell
you the story now while | smoke
this cigar You were kind enough to give
me.
1t was along in the summer OF 50 that
l was firing on single track. one-hOrse
road, that runs up from Junction City
through the woods to Georgetown, a
matter Of 4 hundred and ten miles The
road was mostly owned by man named
Thedford William K. Thedford who
was president and superintendent all in
one. | had been firing on the road for
two years back: all the time with one
engineer, Rob Hunter by name, and a
finer man never lived. ! suppose it
would be only natural for me 10 spea ak
well of Bob anyway, for | was clean
head over ears in love with his pretty
daughter Molly and was only waiting
for bit OF raise in my pay TO make her
Mrs Jim Martin. Though | didn't see
any chance for that raise where | was,
j didn't like TO leave and 90 on another
road, for that would take me away from
Molly
One day Bob says to me:
Jim, amt you and Molly never goin'
to get married."
Just as soon as can get my raise"
says /; but don't see how I'm going to
get it here.
why don't you 60 and ask Billy?7
says he.
You see Billy was what we always
called Mr.. Thedford behind his back,
of course, for ! warrant you We were
mighty polite to his face.
He won't do any thing for me" says
/, for you know either one Of the
cleaners up to Georgetown would be
glad enough to Jump into my place and
he amt a-going to give me a raise just
to please me
"Wen, says Bob, 1T won't do any
hurt to try it,
SO next day washed up and went TO
the company's Office and asked for Mr.
Thedford After "A few minutes he sent
word for me that ne would see me, and
in l went There ne sat-a large
heavily-built man, with barge side
whiskers and pair Of gold-rimmed eye
glasses on his nose.
What is it, my man? I'm very busy, =
says he.
So up and told MIN what wanted
How much are you getting now?"
said he
"Forty-fve month, says l.
Then he pursed up his lips, and hem
med and hawed little, and says;
do,,st enc hon, ,,-e, an >, ,r;,.e ,.o,,
thing more. my good fellow. Yours is
not a very responsible position: merely
one that requires a little bodily
strength. And we can find plenty of
men who would be only too glad to take
your place at that salary.
With that he turned TO letter he was
writing and knew had no more busi-
ness there.
tell you | falt pretty sore to be told
it didn't take much to know how to fire
an engine. and ! came mighty near
throwing my job up and trying to get in
on another road. But Molly persuaded
me to hold on little longer.
Now before [ come to the particular
point in this yarn | want 10 tell you a
little about the road. | have said it
was a single track road running from
Junction City to Georgetown The lat
ter place was little town Of five or six
hundred inhabitants: but in summer a
great many Chicago people came up
there, and 50 | suppose the road paid.
Anyhow, Thedfo who had Summer
place there. was rich enough 10 run the
road for himself alone. il he wanted to-
Bob lived atGeorgetown and boarded
with him our trips began at eight in
the morning. and we generally ran the
hundred and ten miaes in five hours
Then at three in the afternoon we came
back. getting home at. EIGHT. As soon
as we reached the round-house at
Georgetown our days work was over,
for the cleaners took the engine then,
cleaned and polished her and laid fire ali
ready to start next morning
Well. as said, hung on to my Job,
hoping that something would turn up
that would give me lift, till one day in
August. The whole summer had been
uncommon hot. but that day went ahead
of anything | ever saw. OF course.
while we were running we had breeze,
but the minute we stopped it seemed as
working as we we're near hot fire.
didn't improve things any. On the
home trip Bob was taken sick and had
all he could do to hold out till we got to
the home station, when he got home as
soon as possible. After the train was
emptied | ran the engine to the round
house expecting to go straight home and
wash mp
But when had run the engine in the
first thing ] saw was my two cleaners
laid out on heap of ashes dead drunk.
Here was pretty mess. for 1t would
certainly take me until midnight to get
the machine in proper trim for the next
days run; and not, greasy job it was in
any weather, but on such night as that
was it was frightful to think Of How
ever, there was no help for it and
started in. | had barely made begin
ming when heard some one coming in
the door. Looking up. saw il was