The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-02-05
A DANGEROUS Doze.


as telegraph operator on a lead
g western road, and loo ated in th
thriving little town OF X. | wa
young at the business then and die
not possess the judgment or presenc,
OF mind that nine long years OF rail
road experience have since given me.
But to my story.
1t was a cold, stormy night in the
latter part OF December. The sn ow
which had been falling necessarily
since morning, still continued. when
lunch-basket in hand, l made my way
down the quiet village street TOWARD
the depot.
Upou my arrival the day man ex
planned tom me all the unfinished bust.
ness chatted pleasantly on various
town topics, for little time, then
donned his overcoat, and on bidding
me goodnight said:
Charlie, old boy, this storm is
raising old Ned with railroading;
the trains ara all late and unless it
stops soon you will have a busy
night OF it. Keep your wits about
you"
The night express No. "a, which
was due at x at 2:20 a. m; was
reported one hour and thirty min
utes late, and the eastbound pas
senger No. 10, the flyer" as it
was called among the railroad boys,
was due at 2 a. m, and was reported
one hour and ten minutes late. This
Icing a single-track road, these two
trains usually met and passed at
Coal Switch a small station ten
miles east.
As the clock struck the hour of
midnight and my sleepiness increas-
ed, L foolishly resolved to take q
short nap before train time, think
ing | could easily rouse myself when
occasion called, for many had been
the night that | had stretched my
self full length on the office desk
with my coat for pillow, and dozed
the long hours away, never failing to
respond when my sounder called me.
But | was uncommonly tired that
night, and | slept on much longer
than | intended. When | awoke
"a Y" Chat stood for the dispatch
er's office was calling me. rubbed
my eyes, and still halfasleep an
swered him with 81 TX" He then
asked me tor No. 10. | thought one
brief second, reasoned that ii it had
passed my station the noise would
surely have Weakened me, then an
swered an y" which to him meant
not yet.
He then called Brockton, the sec
ond station east. and upon his
prompt reply 81 p ''B" sent the fol-
lowing order, addressed to the oper-
ntor at N-and to No. 81 at Brock
ton. 1t read:
mo. 81 will run to V regarde.s
ofNo.19. Operator at X will hold
No. 10 until No. 81 arrives"
My readers will readily understand
that the order was given to help No.
n along, and upon the strength of
my reporting No. 10 as not having
passed my station. Not more than
ten minutes after the order was civ
en- heard Brockton send in the sig
natures of the conductor and enyi-
neer of No. 81 heard the order cor
rected, and knew that they had lett
Brockton with non light office between
us.
Then for the first time commenced
seriously to consider the matter; and +;
one after another, in quick success
sion, these questions arose: Why |
doesn't Become? Had No. l 9 passed. |
and ii so what would be the result? |
My head was spinning like top.
10 ease my mind, and perhaps be-
cause | did not know what else to /
do, L went out and examined the
rails. The storm had ceased and
here and there a twinkling star could
be seen. The moon was trying TO
shine from beneath q great bank of
wavy clouds, and by its dim light
could see them, and they told the
story but too WELL The rails were
clean from snow, and as it had been
showing when l laid down to rest |
knew that No. 10 had passed while
carelessly slept.
My brain seemed on fire. l stag
gered back into the Office. The dis
patcher was again calling me.
With trembling hand Igrasped the
key and answered him. Again his
former question was asked: HAS
No. 10 arrived" What should
say? Fear advised me to again re-
ply IN Y" and in the time that
would elapse before they could ar
rest me make good my escape. DUTY
be a man. | Needed If
and told him all. He had no time
to chide me even had he desired. 1t
was time for action then. | heard
nm send this message to the SUPER
intendent's office:
No. 10 and No. 81 will meet in a
collision near Coal Switch. Send
wreckIilng crew and physicians at
paced the office like madman
and prayed that God would in His
mercy spare those poor helpless pas
iengers; that He would not stain nv
hands with their blood; yet all the
Time knowing how impossible such a
hing would be. The minutes SEEM
ID hours. Twenty of them passed.
then thirty, forty, and still no news
rom the trains. !
could stand the suspense no
onger. l seized my hat and started
or the door. thera stood 81 a:.,I