The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-05-28
THE MAN IN THE CAB.
A VIEW AT CLOSE RANGE OF TIE
MEN WHO GUIDE TRAINS.

Tho Cab-what It Means to the Amera-
can Engineer. Though His Enxlish
Brother Rides in the Open Air-rhe
Whistle and It's Individuality.
The average American engineer and
his fireman would think themselves very
i'll used if an order were issued for the
adjustment Of the cabs-that friendly
retreat from inclement weather that is
now considered an absolute necessity on
all engines And yet in civilized Eng
land, on majority Of the railroads, the
engines in use are built minus the cab,
thus forcing the operators to work with
out shelter in all kinds Of weather. It
sounds inhuman, and yet in refutation
the railroad companies ask whether the
soldier should carry an umbrella when
it rains or the sailor be allowed to work
under an awning? The claim Is that the
railroad employees become Injured to &C.
we're weather and the absence Of cover
ing keeps them alert, 80 that the posi-
bility Of danger from inattention to
duty is reduced to minimum. Subtle
argument, perhaps, but hardly tenable.
Ii this practice was adopted on some of
our western roads where the temperature
ranges from 90 to so dogs. below zero,
how many engineers would live to carry
their trains from one station to the next?
The objectionable sin in an engineer
Is to let tho water get out of the boiler
Of the engine in his charge No matter
what excuse he may offer, If he lives to
make his report in turn, his dismissal
will be peremptory, for by this action
he has proved himself incompetent and
unworthy of future responsibilities 1t
is better for an engineer that he had
| never been born when he reaches this
stage Of self torture. Fortunately such
cases are rare. The man on all well
conducted railroads must have shown
himself to be trusty and true before he
is given charge Of an engine. and the
rigid inspection to which he is sub
jected before an engagement is a guar
antee Of future conduct
| One weakness nearly every engineer
has, and that is penchant for doctor
ing the steam whistle on his pet engine
Every boy in \ country town familiar
ICES himself at an early age with the
different ''toot s" that by day and night
wall through. the unhappy village He
can detect No. As whistle when the train
is five miles distant, and in like manner
the approach Of Nos. and are herald
ed to his keen ear. OF course all whis-
ties are alike when they leave the shops,
but the engineer fills In the sounding
bell with a piece Of turned wood that
fits snug and changes the tone to ashort,
sharp scream or an angry, impatient
howl, as his fancy may dictate.
The close observer may lie snugly in
his bed and yet be able to detect the
passing Of either freight or passenger
train. The engine on the former an
nounces its approach by emitting a
sharp, shrill scream that is soul piercing
enough to waken the dead, while the
passenger engine, with due respect tn
the living freight 1t carries, sounds a
long. deep warning note that does not
bring the occupant of a berth to his feet
all standing" ready to curse the CON-
pany In general terms and the engineer
In particular ones for such an act Of
folly and inconsiderateness On the
freight train a sharp. shrill scream is es-
sential, for it notifies the brakemen, who
are perhaps forty cars in the rear of the
engine and separated from the occupants
OF the cab by many ways Of ear piercing
sound, just what work Is required at
their hands.
This whistle is to them what the cry
OF the call boy on the Thames steamboat
used to be to the engineer down below
before the advent of electric bells
Ease her" the captain would remark
in his ordinary tone Of conversation to
the small boy that followed him like
shadow, and Ease herr the youngster
would scream in his sharp, shrill STAG
cato down the companionway. "Stop
'erI" Turn er asternr' "Go ahead!"
would perhaps follow In rapid success
sion, and In this decidedly crude fashion
the London steamboat captains did their
steering by proxy only q dozen years
ago One wonders what has become Of
those call boys. Perhaps they spend
their hours in spinning yarns to tho
younger cockneys Of the past glories Of
steamboating in much the same manner
that our dethroned stage drivers Of the
west now regale the tenderfoot with
glimpses of bygone acts Of heroism and
feats Of impossible horsemanship This
Is somewhat Of depression from the
topic under discussion, but perhaps the
reader will excuse it's insertion. One
thought naturally suggested the other.
AZ q class engineers are usually good
natured, kind hearted, though o bit
rough; deep thinkers, due to their fixed
habits OF attention and long hours Of
enforced silence. and Of good morals
An engineer who drinks cannot hope to
hold his position long, for no master me-
chanic will tolerate confirmed tipping
In subordinate whose duties are 90 re,
sponable as those Of an engineer. He
must be abstinent, prompt at his post OF
duty, and ever vigilant II he hopes to
maintain his position. His hands may