The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-27
A MAN WHO D1DN'r STRIKE.

Sixty Years a SWitchna IN on the Gem
tral-He Oncs Def1ed Two Regiment
Down at Stuyvesant, Cd the Central
Hudson road, there is stationed a switch
man who has been at his post ever since the
first train passed over the rails, and has
been in the company's employ before that,
almost from the day when the first tie was
laid and the first spike was driven.
This man did not strike when Lees order
went over the wires on the evening of Aug.
8. He is not made of the sort of stuff of
which they are made that blindlY followed
the beck and call of an autocratic leader
Old Patrick Sweeny remained at the post
which he has faithfully guarded for nearly
sixty years now.
Although he is wholly illiterate. his men
tai powers have a natural vigor that is re-
markable. Once the company issued an
order directing that all switchmen who
could not read or write were to quit its
service. Pat got boy in his shanty to
teach him how to read the numbers of the
engines so that he could report the time
and number of trans that passed his flag
shanty every day. The old mao had ap-
pearently passed the age when the mind
can yet be turned back and made to gras p
what it has outgrown, for he discharged
| the boy, but his ear was still keen. In less
than month he had learned tee number
| its bell, and never made single error in his
report. This is vouched for by people who
have known Sweeny half century
He does not know what fear is, and q
story is told how he once defied two rsgi-
ments of soldiers because he knew what his
duty was and they did not. 1t was in April,
1862, during war times. Sweeny was at his
post on the road, which was then double
| tracked north of Stuyvesaut but had but
one track between that town and New York.
Fifteen carloads of soldiers on a special
train, bound for New York. reached Stuy-
vesant early one morning, and Sweeny, VINO
| was on the lookout, stopped the train be-
cause the train which had Immediately pre-
coded it carried no signal to give warning
that the special was b,hind it. It. was be-
fore the days of block signals, and muca
depended on remembrance of orders as to
how trains were to be run. The command
ant of the troops could not understand why
the train had come TO a standStill Leaping
from the train he began making inquiries,
and found Sweeny standing at the switch,
which he had locked. -
what does this meanF" Numbered the
officer. Don't you know these are federal
troops, under orders from Washington to
proceed TO New York without delay! What
do you mean by stopping this train without
orderss"
Sweeny pointed his thumb over his shout
der in the direction of the single track
1.-THE train ahead carried no signal for
yez," said he, land there bees an up train
on its way"
unlock that switch ms antly," COM
manded the officer, drawing his sword
"Not moments delay now. Unlock it y
'I'Il not, )" said Sweeny, and the words
were scarcely out of his mouth before
dozen soldiers, in obedience to an order,
hustled the ssitchman into his shanty. One
thrust his bayonet into the boards alongside
of Sweeny'S neck. The others pinned him
in similar manner under the arms. Half
dozen others placed the muzzles of their
loaded muskets within few inches of his
head.
"Give up that key and let this train pro-
ceed," was the command, and while no
threat accompanied it tbs switchfnan knew
that the next order would be to pull the
triggers. be never fiinched.
mot wan foot does this train move" he
said, without trenor.
81 will give you one min"
At that moment a shrilI whistle was
heard, and before the officer could finish his
order the train from Albany came flying
along at the rate of forty miles an hour.
Sw eeny's watchfulness had prevented
terrible disaster He knew well that the
first train should have displayed signal flags
TO indicate that there was another follow
ing Had he permitted the train carrying
the soldiers TO proceed there would have
been a frightful collision at about Stock
port, where a curve through q rocky cut
shuts out all view two hundred yards
ahead. 1t didn't take either the officers or
the men long to realize what a narrow
escape they had made and to appreciate the
bravery of the switchman who was ready
to give up his own life rather than permit
thousand men to put theirs in danger.
Famous Sam Sloan was president of the
Central in those days, and when he heard
of Sweeny's courageous conduct he sent
him check for a generous amount, and
summarily discharged the engineer and
crew of the train that had run through
without a signal. And, strange 10 say, no
strike was ordered because of their dis
charge, nor was President Sloan asked to
specify reasons.