Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-02-02
NID PATRICK .SWEENY.
Sixty Years q Switchmen on the
New York Central

Hudson road, says the Albany IN. W
Express, there is stationed switchman
who has been at his post ever since the
first train passed over the rails, and had
been In the company's employ before
that, almost from the day when the first
tie was laid and the first spike was
driven.
Although he is wholly illiterate his
mental powers have natural vigor that
Is remarkable. Once tho company
issued an order directing that all switch.
mon who could not read or write were t.
quit its service. Pat Sweeny got boy
in his shanty to teach him hc.v to road
the numbers Of the engines so that he
could report the time and number Of
trains that passed his flag shanty every
day. Tho old man had apparently
passed the age when the mind can yet
be turned back and made to grasp what
it has outgrown, for no discharged the
boy, but his ear was still kccn. In less
than month ho had learned the num-
Der Of every engine on tho road by the
sound of its bell, and never made a
single error in his reports. This is
vouched for by people who have known
Sweeny half n century.
NJ
story is told how he once defied two
regiments 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
Stuyvesant, but had but one track be-
tween that town and New York. Fiji
teen carloads of soldiers on special
train, bound for New York, reached
Stuyvcsant early ono morning, and
Sweeny, who was on the lookout.
stopped the train, because the train
which had Immediately preceded it car
ried no signal to give warning that the
special was behind it. 1t was before tho
days Of block signals, and much depend
ed on a 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 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 mean?" Numbered
the officer. Don't you know these arc
Federal troops under orders from Wash
ington to proceed to New York without
delay? What do you mean by stopping
this train without orders?"
Sweeny pointed his thumb over his
shoulder in the direction of the single
track.
The train ahead carried no signal for
yez," said he, land there bees an up
train on it's way"
unlock that switch instantly" COM
manded the officer, drawing his sword.
mot moments delay now. Unlock
it."
"Im not" said Sweeny, and tho
words were scarcely out Of his mouth
before dozen soldiers, in obedience to
oil order, hustled the switchman into
the shanty. Ono thrust his bayonet into
tho boards alongside Of Sweenys neck
The others pinned him in q similar man
ner under the arms. Half dozen 9th
ers placed the muzzles Of their loaded
musGets within a few inches of his
| head.
"Give up that key and let this train
| proceed" was the command, and while
no threat accompanied it the switchman
knew that the next order would be to
pull tho triggers. lie never flinched.
| mot wan foot does this train move"
he said, without tremor.
| II will give you one min"
| A. that moment shril! 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. Sweeny's watchfulness had pre-.
vented terrible disaster. He knew
we'll that the first train should have dis
played signal flags to indicate that there
was another following. Had he permit
ted the train carrying the soldiers t.
procerd there would have been a fright
full collision at about Stockport, where
a curve through rocky cut shuts GU
all view 200 yards ahead. 1t didn't take
either the officers or the men long K
realize what q narrow escape they hat
made and to appreciate the bravery O
the switchman who was ready to givt