The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-13
OLD PATRICK SWEENY..
Sixty Years q Switchmou on the
New York Central
Although 10 Is Wholly I.iitcrato His
Mental Powers Ii,vo Remarkable
Natural vi-or-Jow IIo Onco
Dcilod Two Iscsiments.

Down ut Stuyvcsant, on tho Central
hudson road, says tho Albany IN. W
Express, there is stationed switchman
VINO has been ut his post over since tho
nrse train passed over tho rails. and had
been in tho company's employ bcforo
That, almost from tho day Wen tho first
tic was laid and tho first spike was
driven.
Although no Is wholly illiterate his
mental powers have q natural vigor that
Is remarkable. Once tho company
issued an order directing that all switch
mon who could not read or write wore to
quit Its service. Pat Sweeny got boy
in his shanty to teach him how 70 rcad
che numbers Of the engines SO that he
could report tho time and number OF
trains that passed his flag shanty every
day. Tho old man had apparently
passed tho ago whom the mind can vet
DO turned back and made to grasp what
it has outgrown, for he discharged the
boy, but his car was still kcen. In less
than month no had learned tho num-
Dor OF every engine on the road by the
sound OF Its bell, and never mado =
single error in his reports This Is
'O'O'SN AV' W PSOPhC WIZ law knOHn
Swccny half y century.
| lie docs not know what fear is, and q
story Is told how he once dcfied two
rcgimcntsof soldiers because ho knew
what his duty was and they did not. 1t
was In April, 1859, during war limos.
Swccny was ut his post on tho road,
which was then donblc-trackcd north Of
Stuyvcsant, but had but ono track be-
tween that town and New York. Fiji
tccn carloads OF soldiers on a special
train, bound for New York, reached
Stuyvcsant carly one morning, and
Sw"cny, who was on tho lookout,
stopped the train, because the train
which had Immediately preceded it car
ricd no signal to give warning that tho
special was behind it. 1t was before tho
days OF block signals, and much depend
cd on remembrance OF orders as to
how trains were to be run. The COM
mandant Of the troops could not under
stand why the train had como to n
standstill. Lcaping from the train ho
began making inquiries, and found
Swccny standing at tho switch, which
no had locked.
"What docs this mcan?' Numbered
tho officer. Don't you know these arc
Federal troops under orders from Wash
inSton to proceed to New York without
delay? What do you mean by stopping
this train without orders?"
| Swccny pointed his thumb over his
shoulder in tho direction of the single
track
The train ahead carried no signal for
yez," said ho, land there bees an uu-
train on its way"
Unlock that switch instantly" com
manded tho officer, drawing his sword.
mot moments delay now Unlock
it,
"l'll not" said Swccny, and tho
words were scarcely out OF his mouth
before dozen soldiers, in obedience to
all order, hustled the switchman into
tho shanty. One thrust his bayonct into
tho boards alongside of Swccny's neck.
Tho others pinned him in similar man
ncr under tho arms. Half Il dozen 9th
crs placed tho muzzlcs OF their loaded
musicts within few inches of his
head.
Give up that key and let this train
proceed, was the command, and whilo
no hrcataccompanicd it the switchman
know that the next order would bo to
pull the triggers. llo mover ninchcd.
Not wan foot docs this train move"
! he said, without y trcmor
| 81 will give You one min"
AZ that moment 4 Hhrill whistle was
/ heard, and before tho officer could finish
/ his order the train from ALBANY came
/ flying along ut the rate of forty miles an
! hour. Swccny's wntchfulncss had pre-
vented terrible disaster. Ito know
wei! that tho first train should have dis
/ played signal lags TO indicate that thcro
was another following. Had ho permit
ted the train carrying tho soldiers to
! prccc d there would have been Il fright
full collision at about Stockport. whcro
curvo through 4 rocky cut shuts out
all view go yards ahead. 1t didn't talo
either tho officers or tho men long to
rcaizc what narrow escape thoy had
made and to appreciate tho bravery OF
the switchman who was ready to givo
| up his own life rather than permit 900
men to put theirs in danger.
Famous Sam Sloan was president OF
tho Central in those days, and when no
heard OF Swecny 8 courageous act he sent
him check for generous amount and
summnrily discharged tho engineer and
crew OF tho train that had run through
I without signal. And, strange to say,
no strike was ordered because OF their
discharge nor was President Sloan
asked to specify reasons.