Telegram-herald., 1891-11-23
PERlLS OF BRAKEMEN.'

The Reward That Canne for Saving the
Life OF Green Railxosd Hand.
'T don't believe good action goes unre-
warded," said an old railroad man tha
other day to the writer.
"Abont twenty years ago was shovel
ing black diamonds to boil the water ia
locomotive on the Wabash railway bo-
tween Lafayette, Iad., and Danville, Ills.
Near Attica, Ind, there was an overhead
wagon bridge across the track that had
killed no less than dve brakemen In Eve
years, aud one dark. stormy night, in COM
Ing down the hill, l happened to remember
that we had green brakeman ahead who
was unaccuainted with the road.
II spoke to the engineer about it, but he
said. 'Oh, let him 60; he's all right But
/ dian't feel like letting q fellow mortal
take any such chances. and started back
over the train. crawling from car to car in
the Egyptian darkness, and came near be-
ing blown OF several times, as Ii was blow
ing great guns and old No. IS was tanning
that train fifty miles per hour down the
summit. Back twelve cars from the en-
gine found 'Brakesy,' who WAS as tall and
handsome a young man as you could Ind
in q thousand. and he was twisting mp the
slack Of those brake chains with neatness
and dispatch, while tho wheels made a
regular torchiight procession along the
rails. He was badly scared when he first
discovered mo by the light Of bis old Ian
tern, crawling along the running board,
with my face as black a. tho ace OF spades
from the dusty diamonds.
"'Sit downi Sit dowpr cried 30 loud
that almost imagined the whistle WAS
sounding for Attica; and down he sat so
hard and quick that he bit his ton que, and
the next moment we dew under the bridge,
while his lamp seemed to burn brighter az
IL disclosed those heavy timbcrs over our
head that killed many poor brakemen.
He came Bear fainting when he claSped
my hand, and we sat for several moments
on the wet deck OF the car and neither Of
us spoke . single word, but We were ~
white around the eyes a the ghost OF
Hamlet's father.
SIX yeass Afterward was In Fort
Wayne, lad. at the Wabash depot, one
morning. the most disconsolats mau on
Gods earth. / had been hurt on the road
several years before, was unable 10 work
and was trying to get back home to old
Lafayette, Ind, ~ / thought, 70 die 1
was hungry AID tirsd and didn't hsvs q
cent In the world, and 70 - people step
up to the lunch counter and call for hot
coffee that was smelling to heavsu Wa
enough to set poor, dat broke invalid
crazy. / hsd begun 10 think that I'll my
| friends hsd been conveniently tanslassd
| bodily from earth to heaven, when Q tall,
| handsome conductor. with . silver lamp
and gold banded cap, approached me and
inquired:
s.psdnv you frs IN engine shout I'VE
| ysars ago on the wsstsrn Aiviaisa ef the
| wabashr
-sYo,' replied. and ~ w~s . sorry day
| that ever went to raiiroadiag.'
s'Do rou recognize mer
emo, sir and Jet shoughs his fass b.
| eap 20 assume the angelic
"sWsl. I vs7l fsfrssh your memory. Ds
| you rseoilecs Of nskins your Iifs ene dark.
| stormy right N crawling over . frsishs
| ty,ia % warn q green brakeman about =
| d.nsvrcus evsrhead brsdes bs,ew As.seas'
| ~sYou Set dsi Bat ysa'S ass naily.
| ths brakeman!
s'No. sirt No msre Billy n nise: it's
| W1rI-Sv~s4 Wiil--the condac>sF ca the
| through pAareusss.' and be brshs out into
| : uusical laugh tbss nearu rast3sd Ne
| disb~s On the lunch coanses.
| -Tbs sssrs came 10 ny 60 u suess II
n. Ar vss wsak. weary and hearsstok-
| He pS<scsd teen. Esd eissptae ny hasds
| ea,A /, s~.rsess words 49, ssss IN %
| mortal Gnrps
| "Cosa ssnel Shut - ~ 80 Oh ths
| vaIvs>. snd ae - - - . ssos - The
inscA cennfsr ard said;
sRow zen ~ hers ss4 eH sp Lss .
| f~w N1,erisa Ass tse canls - 30 v1h h
eli rsshs sspfn.'
-He ssepDeA ssss ssss 1inpsksAer's s1sns
IN e-f ~ ss<lnrs whsse pwxsh ds~s nos-
fe> sha< ~easA 1iscssnt TO oscees ~ tie
z~sa Hs xrp<~r>S In shess ~ ntsutes
azs1 sssS. Aa ahnr1 fes rAonvxeees sopk
/ - - - - - - 0nnAmmDu0o1