The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1890-10-03

bpccu ih'o tnat lnanimate pile Of iron
and steel was my fondest hope. ana 10.
day, were IL not for other til ). nv life
would be In an engine cab. Whom
boy my seat at school was frequently
vacant, while the happy occupant Wa
perched on place Of vantage watchino
with eager eyes the backward and for
ward trips OF switch engine. nv
and BY l began TO make advances
toward the switchmen and engine men
Several sharp rcbuffs and WARNINGS
failed 70 daunt me. and finally The men
became accustomed TO seeing me around.
became somewhat OF a fayoritc and M
last The proud moment camo when /
was allowed 10 share the fircman's so,t |
on trip from one end OF the switch |
yard 20 the other. a distance OF abont
three miles
From that moment my life OF toll be-
gan. Early and late | was on the en-
gine as II was vacation then. ana
soon became fixture. The fireman
was inclined to shirk little and from
-w'ping' the engine and cleaning the
IRE gradually took his place with the
shovel IT was then learned how 10
PVT ~ fire and it gave me the priv
iicgc IN after years OF participating IN 4
thrilling run.
~ grew older my parents succeed
20 aiscrting me from my purpose and / /,
entered other work. but kept IN nv :
faiiroad acquaintance. One dav
snanced TO be at the depot when Al an
ginecr' who was an old acquaintance OF
mine, came in aboard OF a nassenyar
rain. little surprise had been
Planned for him at the end OF bis tr;n
and had been selected as an accom- j
piicc His wife and children wera ~
board the train at the station ana e
without his knowledge accompany Mn, g
- N" ehu 81 the run. where the sur -
f'iSe was 70 DC sprung. As luck would
nave ~ the nrcman had taken sick
coming In As walked towards the
Engine after seeing my charges safety
Due 81 SIGHT IN the train. was met bv
me engineer. who was known 10 every
'ne a. wild Bob on account Of tho
ast runs he had made.
Well" said he I'm in a AZ Az
lreman Is sick and there ISM = man
.cre that would trust on this run.
don't know what I'm going to do
mere was the unlooked-for opportu-
'''y- Ny old love for an engine came ,
'Ack with rush and almost before I
ca'izei 4. was asking Bob in a timid
'or' o. way whether or not I would Z
nit him. "o1'1
"fou?" he exclaimed, "whv. thar
" you're fireman. had forgotten
~ course III take you and be
Mighty glad OF it."
! rushed back to notify nv charces
'opping an excuse to Bob. and returned
'ne engine. Bob had already OH sho
'hed permission to take me. IL ~ ing
agment was relied upon, ana IN las teri
~ IMAM u takes to tell il, | had ali cam
's'cu myself Of superhuous clothing stoc
= covered my boiled shirt Mir NJ the
4 nreman's blouse. ready for work. 81
were out OF the station on the ing
100 quick as the train was ten min. from
= ia'c and Bob was on nettlcs pn,i, no l,
~ made up the time again. It i ed K
o;a y mater to fire" passenger 70 II
x,ne and ] was little used ~ bard As
q PIT my old training served mo : close
IT, sseu 70 keep her thru
~ and
."n aoout nifty miles with a stagl
~ q stops and had reached a. IN. miss
san' station where we were 70 ret to Sc
We against special. When the con- light
''or brought the orders "a tbo cc,-,.a TO an