DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-03-06
ENGINEERS STORY.

Martins Fireman" Recon-
mended His Engineer.
VOL ever hear of a railroad presi
rnuning as fireman on an engine;
know of one who did, and, i.
u cot time to listen to it, I'll tel.
the story now while l smoke
rirar YOU were kind enough to give
HAS along in the summer of 'S5 that
firing on a single track, one-horse
that runs up from Junction City
ch the woods to Georgetown, a
pr of hundred and ten miles. The
WAS mostly owned by man named
ford-William r. Thedford-who
bresident and superintendent all in
had been firing on the road for
kears back; all the time with one
beer Bob Hunter by name, and a
man never lived. | suppose it
be only natural for me to spe ak
oi Bob, anyway, for | was clean
over ears in love with his pretty
hter Molly; and was only waiting
bit Of raise in my pay to make her
Him Martin. Though didn't see
ehanCe for that raise where | was,
bit like to leave and go on another
for that would take me away from
\ day Bob says to me:
lm, amt you and Molly never goin'
married?"
hst as soon as can get my raise"
A; shut l don't see how I'm going to
u here"
Why don't you go and ask Billy?"
She,
bu see Billy was what we always
Msa Thedford-behind his back,
purse, for | warrant you we were
Rty polite to his face.
He won't do any thing for me-, says
for you know either one of the
hers up to Georgetown would be
4enOugh to jump into my place, and
dn't a-going to give me a raise just
aeaSe me-" :.
Eell, says Bob, sit won't do any
| to tryit."
Pnext day I washed up and went to
office and asked for Mr..
Hford. After a few minutes he sent
/ for me that he would see me, and
went. There he sat--a large,
Fily'built man, with large side
skerS and pair of gold-rimmed eye
ses on his nose.
Nhat is it, my man? I'm very busy"
Ihe.
| up and told him what | wanted.
low much are you getting now?"
he.
'orty-fve month";" says I.
len he pursed up his lips, and hem
and hawed a little, and says:
don't see how we can give you any
3 more, my good fellow. Yours is
a very responsible position; merely
that requires a little bodily
lgth' And we can find plenty Of
who would be only too glad to take
place at that salary"
tn that he turned to letter he was
ng, and | knew / had no more bust
there.
ell you | felt pretty sore to be told
INT take much to know how to fire
hglne, and l came mighty near
wing my job up and trying to get in
lother road. But Molly persuaded
} mold on a little longer.
" before | come to the particular
IN this yarn / want to tell you a
about the road. | have said it
. single track road running from
ion City to Georgetown. The lat
zee was a little town of five or six
red inhabitants; but in summer
many Chicago people came up
) and SO l suppose the road paid.
ow, Thedford, who had summer
'here, was rich enough to run the
lor himself alone, if he wanted to.
lived at Georgetown and boarded
nlm. Our trips began at eight in
lornlng, and we generally ran the
req and ten miles in five hours.
at three in the afternoon we came
getting home at eight. AS soon
9 reached the round-house at
'etown our days work was over,
ne cleaners took the engine then,
'a and polished her and laid fire all
=, 70 start next morning.
IL as said, I hung on to my job,
! mat something would turn up
you'd give me a lift, till one day in
81 The whole summer had been
pmon hot, but that day went ahead
| ever saw. OF course,
we were running we had a breeze,
e minute we stopped it seemed as
were In a furnace; and naturally,
ng as we were near a hot fire,
! improve things any. On the
"Trip Bob was taken sick and had
could do to hold out till we got to
'me station, when he got home as
as possible. After the train was
gu ran the engine to the round
expecting to 90 straight home and
up.