Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-01-02
SWINT0N'S LAST TRIP.

EhllFOhu Hccluentb hfe ClJen cuuseu
by disregard or disobedience of orders,
and the loss of life and damage TO
property are sometimes fearful. When
such disasters may result from careless
ness IL Is not strange to find rules and
regulations TO guide those employed in
the train service as rigid as those EN-
ployed in efficient military forces
Operating "a single track railroad
and particularly one over which the
traffic IL frequent, requires great skill
and long experience on the part Of
trainmen, rs well rs on the part Of the
train dispatchers.
The train dispatchers regulate the
movements of all trains from the gen
eraltor head Office by means of special
telegraph wires to the various stations
along the line. The head Office is In
communication with every train run
ming over the road; but so long as a
train Is moving upon its regular sched-
ule time it does not require any special
order TO govern It,
Only in time of an accident, perhaps,
or for some unusual cause, or In the
case Of extra trains, which, not being
down on the printed time table, are
called wild trains are the good judg
ment and ingenuity of train dispatch
er brought into full play. To avoid
collisions'under such circumstances It
Is necessary to issue explicit orders and
TO have them positively obeyed.
John Swinton was one of the Oldest
and best engineers on certain road.
He had been in the service for years;
had begun as fireman on switch EN-
gine, received his promotion as engi-
neer and finally ran engine 1876, haul
ing the fast express He was always
on time, unless something beyond his
power prevented; he was never in bud
humor, and was altogether careful and
trustworthy.
John might have had this "run" still
II It had not been for an accident which
so upset his nerves that he became unfit
for the regular service, and was put on
the extra list" He ran specials when
the president went over the road, or
some other dignitary had occasion TO
travel in that way, when haste was
especially necessary, and was always
called upon 10 run the pay car on its
regular monthly trips. lie had way
of blowing his whistle so that one might
easily imagine that II meant more than
Look out for me-" Hecould sound it
for the crossings or blow for station
with musical thrill and finish that was
really pleasing
While he was still running the fast
express and whirled II across the plains
at forty miles an hour, there were few
people along the line who were not able
10 detect Johns hand at the throttle
by the very manner In which tho cross
ings were announced, and the peculiar
swirl of the dust behind the train rs Il
llew along the rails
He was good fellow; every one
liked him. lie had way that made
him popular with the boys on the road,
as well us with his snperlors. IIo was
not at all cranky as most express en-
gineers are, and II called upon 10 run
an extra after his regular days work
was done he was on hand promptly,
and did not waste time before the start
by olllng around aud tlnkerlng with the
piston rod packing or the nuts ON tho
steam chest
But he ran into the rear end of local
train No, 2S one night Ii was not a
very bad smash from the point OF
view Of damage 10 property, because
he reversed his engine In time, and the
shock was mild, but brakeman was
killed. lilo was 'laid or pending an
investigation aud although Il was
clearly shown that the local did not
ret FAR enough back with Signals 10
give him sufficient warning, after that
he Seemed to lose his grip" as the
boys said, and never fully recovered
from the shock.
There arc many such instances among
the brave men who drive the iron
horse,
Il was deemed best at amy rate 10
put him into the extra service, When
he was called upon To get down from
he lootboard of express engine lSS
and hoeome the master of Number .,
le really preferred H. because, as he
aid. "he hadn't the heart TO haul the
,apness; the responsibility weighed him |
loWn"
After that ho never missed trip ia I
unning the pay car The trackmen
nd station agents said they always
new 10 minute when 20 expect their
as. for he was always on time
Once he was laid oit' for exceeding
le regulation speed Of forty miles an
our, the limit for all special tEainsi
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