The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-01-30
A DANGEROUS DOZE.
Result of Nap Taken by Tele-
graph Operator.

In the fall of 1850 was employed as
a telegraph operator on 4 leading West
ern road. and located in the thriving
little town of y. l was young 1T the
business then, and did not possess the
judgment or presence OF mind that nine
long years of railroad experience has
since given NE. I;ut to my story
1t was cold, stormy night in the lat
ter part of December. The snow, which
had been falling necessarily since morn
ing, still continued when, lunch basket
in hand, made my way down the quiet
village street toward the depot
Upon my arrival the day man ex-
planned to me all the unfinished bust
ness, chatted pleasantly on various
town topics for little time, then donned
his ovcrcOat, and On bidding me good
night, said:
Charlie, old bog, this storm is rails
ing old Ned with railroading, the trains
are all late, and unless it stops soon you
will have busy night 1T. Keep your
wits about you"
The night express No 81, which was
due at y at 2:2O a. m, was reported one
hour and thirty minutes late, and
the east-bound passenger No. 10,
the flyer, as it was called among
the railroad boys, was due at two a. m.
and was reported one hour and ten
minutes late. This being a singlc-track
road, these two Trains usually met and
passed at Coal Switch, n small station
ten miles east.
As the clock struck the hour of mid
night, and my sleepinesS increased, /
foolishly resolved 10 take short nap
before train time, thinking l could cas-
lily rouse myself when occasion called,
for many had been the night that had
stretched myself full length on the
office desk with my.coat for "A pillow and
dozed the long hours away, never fail
ing to respond when my sounder called
me.
But I was uncommonly tired that
night, and l slept on much longer than
| intended. When | woke "a " THAT
stood for the dispatcher's ofice) was
calling me. / rubbed my eyes and,
still half asleep, answered him with Il
IN" He then asked me for No. 10. l
thought one brief second. reasoned that
if it had passed my station the noise
would surely have walked me. then an
swered N. " which to him meant,
not yet.
lie then called Brockton. the second
station esst. and. upon his prompt reply
Il L. b sent the following order ad-
dressed to the operator ut y and to No.
% at Brocllton- II read:
No. q viii run TO X regardless OF No. 70.
Operator AZ Y viii hold No 70 until No q ar
riveS."
My readers viii readily understand
that the order was given to help 27
along, and upon the strength of my re-
porting No. 10 as not having passed my
station. Not more than ten minutes
after the order was given heard Brock
ton send in the signatures of the con-
ductor and engineer of No %, heard
the order corrected and knew that they
had left Brockton and no night office be-
tween US.
Then for the first time commenced
seriously TO consider :he matter; and
one after another in quick succession
these questions arose: Why don't 10
come? Had No. 10 passed, and if so,
what would be the result? My head
was spinning like top.
To ease my mind, and, perhaps be-
cause did not know what else to do, /
went out and examined the rails. The
storm had ceased and here and there a
twinlSlinC star could be seen. The
moon was trying to shine from beneath
a great bank of wavy clouds, and by its
dim light | could see them and they told
the story but too well. The rails were
clean from snow, and as il had been
showing when / lay down to rest i
knew that No. 10 had passed while i
carelessly slept
NY brain seemed on fire. / staggered
back into the Office. The dispatcher
was again calling me.
With trembling hand / grasped the
key and answered him. Again his
former question was asked: Has No.
10 arrived?" What should say? Fear
advised me to again reply IN " and in
the time that would elapse before they
could arrest me make good my escape.
Duty whispered: BE man" needed
il and told him all. He had no time to
chide me even had he desired. 1t was
time for action then i heard him send
this message to the superintendent Of
fee:
near Coal Switch. Send wrecking crew and
physicians at once"
paced the office like a madman, and
prayed that God would in his mercy
spare those poor helpless passengers;
that He would not stain my hands
with their blood; yet all the time know
ing how impossible such thing would
be. The minutes seemed hours
Twenty of them passed, then thirty,
forty, and still no news from the
trains.
i could stand the suspense no longer.
1 seized my hat and started for the
door; there / stood undecided, when my
practiSed ear heard Brocb btOn calling the
dispatchers office He answere and
again, half dazed, listened. The old
sounder ticked on withou realizing that
" was speaking TO me words OF life and