The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-08-13
OLD PATRICK SWEENY.
Sixty Years a Switchman on the
New York Central
Although He Is Wholly rIlliterate His
Mental Powers Have a Remarkable
Natural Vigor-How He Once
De1ed Two Regiments.

Defied Two Regiments.
Down at Stuyvesant, on the 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 the company
issued an order directing that all switch
men who could not read or write were to
quit its service. Pat Sweeny 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
trains that passed his flag shanty every
day. The old man had apparently
passed the age when the mind can yet
be turned back and made to grasp what
it has outgrown, for he discharged the
boy, but his ear was still keen. In less
than q month he had learned the num-
Der of every engine on the road by the
sound of its bell, and never made
single error in his reports. This is
vouched for by people who have known
Sweeny half a century.
He does not know what fear is, and
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 a special
train, bound for New York, reached
Stuyvesant early one 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 the
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
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 are
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, ''and there bees an up
train on its way"
Unlock that switch instantly" com
manded the officer, drawing his sword
Not a moments delay now. Unlock
it,"
SRI not" said Sweeny, and the
words were scarcely out of his mouth
before dozen soldiers, in obedience to
an order, hustled the switchman into
The shanty. One thrust his bayonet into
the boards alongside of Sweeny's neck
The others pinned him in similar man
ncr under the arms. Half dozen 9TH
ers placed the muzzles of their loaded
muskets within 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
null thn tpio Ia
Not wan foot does this train move"
he said, without tremor.
II will give you one min"
AT that moment a shrill whistle was
heard, and before the officer could finish
lis 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
well 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 to
proceed there would have been fright
ful collision at about Stockport, where
curve through rocky cut shuts out
all view 200 yards ahead. 1t didn't take
either the officers or the men long to
realize what 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 1000
mon to put theirs in danger.
Famous Sam Sloan was president of
the Central in those days, and when he
heard OF Sweeny's courageous act he sent
him check for generous amount and
summarily discharged the engineer and
crew OF the train that had run through
without signal. And, strange to say,
no strike was ordered because of their
discharge, nor was President Sloan
asked to specify reasons