Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1891-04-10
OLD PATRICK SWEENY.
Sixty Years q Switohman on the
New York Central.
Although He IL wholly rIiiiterats His
Mental Powers Have = Remarkable
Natural vigor--How He Once
Dsfisd Two Regiments


Dehsd 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
arst train passed over the rails. and had
been in the companys employ before
that, almost from the day when the first
tie was laid and the first spike was
1riven.
Although he is wholly illiterate his
mental powers have natural yigcr 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 month no had learned the mum.
ber 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 century.
He does not know what fear IL. and .
story is told how he once defed two
regiments OF soldiers because he knew
what his duty was and they did not. II
was in April, 1852, 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-
teen carloads OF soldiers on o 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 1t car
ried no signal to give warning that the
special was behind IT, 1t was before the
days of block signals, and much depend
cd on remembrance OF orders AZ to
how trains we're 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?' thundered
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
mot q moments delay now Unlock
It,"
"Ill not" said Sweeny, and the
words were scarcely out OF his mouth
before q 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
ner under the arms. Half q 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 1t the switchman
knew that the next order would be 10
pull the triggers. He never f!nched.
mot wan foot does this train move"
he said, without tremor.
II will give you one min"
At that moment q shrin whistle was
heard, and before the otficer could finish
his order the train from Albany came
dying along at the rate of forty miles an
aour. Sweeny's wstchfuness had pre-
vented a terrible disaster. lie knew
well that the first train should have dis
played signal flags 10 indicate that there
was another following. Had he permit
ted the train carrying the soldiers 10
proceed there would have been fright
full collision at about Stockport, where
a curve through a rocky cut shuts out
all view 200 yards ahead. II 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
men TO put theirs in danger.
Famous Sam Sloan WAS president OF
the Central In those davs and when he
heard of Sweeny's courageous act he sent
him check for generous amount and
discharged the engineer and
Grew 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
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