Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-02
SwINTON'S LAST TRIP.


and tho loss Of lilo and damage to
property are sometimes fearful. When
such disasters may result from careless
moss II Is not strange to find rules and
regulations 20 guide those employed in
tho train service as rigid IA those om-
Boycd In efficient military forces
Operating single track railroad,
and particularly ono over which the
traffic Is frequent requires great skill
aud long experience on tho part Of
tralnmon. as well as on the part Of the
train dispatchers.
The trnif\ dispatchcrs regulate tho
movements of, all trains from the gen
cral or head Office by means Of special
telegraph wires 10 the various stations
along tho line. The head Office Is In
communication with every train run
ming over tho road; but 80 long rs q
train Is moving upon It's regular seized
ulc time It does not require any special
order to govern u.
Only In limo OF an accident perhaps,
or for som. unusual cause, or In the
case 81 extra trains, which, not being
down on tho printed time table, arc
called wild trains. arc tho good iudg-
ment aud ingenuity Of a train Dispatch
er brought Into full play. To avoid
collisions under sgeh circumstances Il
Is necessary TO issue explicit orders and
10 have them positively oboyod.
John Swinton was ono Of tho oldest
and host engineers on certain road.
Ho had been In the service for years;
had begun "a fireman on switch On.
cino. received bis promotion as ongi.
ncor, md fnaily ran engine 1876, haul
Ing tho last express. He was always
on tune. unless something beyond his
power prevented; ho was mover In bad
humer, and was altogether careful and
trustworthy.
John might have had this run" still
II Il had not been for an accident which
40 upset his nerves that he became unfit
for the regular service. and was put on
tho extra list" lilo ran specials when
tho prrsidont went over tho road, or
some other dignitary had occasion to
travel In that way, when haste was
especially necessary, and wg always
called upon 20 run tho pay car ON its
regular monthly trips. He had n way
Of blowing his whiatlo so that one might
oaslly imagine that Il meant more than
Look out Tor me-" Hecould sound Il
ior the crossings or blow for u station
with musical thrill aud finish that was
really pleasing.
While he was stu running tho fast
express and whirlcd 1t across tho plains
at forty miles an hour. there wero few
people along the line who were not able
60 detect Johns hand at the throttle
by tho very manner Ia which the cross.
ings were announced. and tho peculiar
lwlrl Of the dust behind tho train as Il
new along the rails.
lie was n good fellow; every ono
liked him. He had way that made
him popular with tho boys ON the road,
~ well as with his supcrors. lie was
not at all cranky" ns most express en-.
ginecns are, and II called upon to run
Rn extra after his regular days work
was dono he was on hand promptly,
md did not waste time before the start
by olling around and tinkering with tho
piston rod packing or tho nuts en- tho
steam chest.
hut he ran into the rear end Of local
train No. % one night. II was not a
very bad smash from the point OF
View Of damage to property, because
he reversed his engine Ia time, aud tho
tlpock was mild, but brakeman wa,
killed. lie was "laid Of pending an
investigation, aud although II was
clearly shown that the local did not
get far er'bugh back with Signals q
give him sufficient warning, after that
he seemed TO lose his grip rs thu
boys said, and never fully recovered
from the shock.
There nre many such instances among
the bravo men who drive the iror
horse.
1t was deemed best at any rate 3,
put him into the extra service. WhoI
he was called upon to get down from
tho iootboard Of express engine 49,
and become tho master of Number Q,
ho really preferred II, because, rs h
said, "ho hadn't tho heart TO haul III,
express the responsibility weighed hin
down.
After that ho never missed n trip it
running tho pny car The trackmol
and station agents said thoy alway
know to q minute when To expect thel
pay, for he was always on time
Once he was "laid or for exceeding
the regulation speed Of forty miles al
hour, the limit for all special trains
bet ho was urged To do That by tli
pnymns,ar for particular renson1 III
ohenso was subsequently overlooked
aud he did not io,c any wagcs by l,.
u was said by SOHO Of John's frirnd
that lac had a pro'outimegt that somc
thlng was going 70 happen on that day
lAst wlnier, wien he ran the pay ca
out OF the main alton Tor tho last tinio
II had been showing aud bioe.n
with great fury for some hours, am