The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-08-23
WAITING AT THE JUNCTION.
Glimpses of the Pecullarities of Human
Nature During Half an Hour.

three-fourths Of the space enclosed by
an iron railing for the use of the tele-
graph operator only; bench that wrig-
giles as if with the palsy every time one
is brave enough to sit upon it; a stove
that resembles a whitewashed pumpkin
surmounted by dingy beaver; u row
of bayonets, or, at least, to an inexpe-
rieuced observer, something of the
kind; a gayly painted water pail on an
improviscd washstand; at its side
goblet minus its foundation and resting
upside down, dozens of wires stretching
across the wooden ceiling; a continuous
thunder, seemingly Immediately be-
meath and shaking the boards of the
floor; apparatuses attached to different
parts of the siding, and breaking out
with startling frequency into such
series of noises that one wondered in
voluntarily and uneasily whether any
thing was likely to go off and blow up.
People with even the slightest acquaint-
ance with the Erie railroad will recog-
nize the description and locate it at
Newburgh Junction, about forty-six
miles from Jersey City, where accom-
modations are provided for the convent
ence Of travellers. Half an hour in that
isolated hut is sufficient for the observa-
ton of interesting exhibitions of the
popularity of human nature.
Ten or fourteen passengers left the
southbound train at the Junction one
evening recently, to wait for the New
burgh train, among them two women
who gazed after the retreating locomo-
tive as at a fast receding possibility of
rescue. The chilly southwest wind
drove all to seek shelter within the
diminutive building, where the majori-
ty stood packed, literally. The stove,
in an effort to give all a warm recep-
ton, grew red in the face. The bench
creaked under the pressure of an over
load, the rumbling beneath seemed
louder than usual-the box shaker, the
apparatuses near the ceiling buzzed
forth a distracting din, the winds with
out whistled a dismal medley while
behind the iron railing the telegraph
operator hauled down the bayonets with
a bang, then clicked a machine with
one hand and attended to something
else at the opposite end of the table
with the other, now and then grasping
and waving red, white and blue or
green lantern at a train rushing by
all with an undisturbed serenity that
suggested a degree of order even in the
midst of chaos.
A stir in the crowd directed atten-
tion to an elderly woman laden with
bundles.
"Are you going far9" she gasped, over
come by the contact with elbows, and
depositing her satchel on the feet of
passenger, who regarded the question
as satirical, and merely looked an un-
mentionable reply.
when does my train come?' she
asked.
"Six fifteen" was the answer Of a
passenger who managed by dexterous
movement to vacate rickety chair in
her behalf.
'I'm dreadfully nervous about trains;
never knew which one to get on, 4
there's one now" seizing her grip and
preparing to flee downward. She was
reassured, and advised to speak louder
If she desired to be heard.
Another break of the dense mass was
made by the younger woman, with
every movement signal of distress.
''What time does the Newburgh train
get here?" she asked in a shrill voice.
''SiX fifteen" the obliging passenger
answered as before.
"What q horrid place" " she exclaimed
81 was in hopes | could get something
10 eat here. Haven't had nothing but a
cup of coffee that got at Port Jervis,
30 =.
bur sting. I've done nothing but come
from Buffalo all day, and have got to
get to Albany tonight. Ma wanted me
TO come back to graduate. I'm so afraid
of tramps always when travel, and ma
told me not to speak to any one but
policeman. I've seen five conductors
since left home, and all told me differ
ent; one said l had only five minutes to
wait here and another said an hour. I
guess none of 'em knowed much about
it. I'm so tired of the cars. | graduate
in June, but had the grip"
"What's all this noise about?' the ell
nerly woman interrupted, somewhat to
the younger ones embarrassment "rm
deaf, but hear an awful 'oar."
'"rhis is signal station" was the
reply.
"a what?" placing a hand behind her
ear. The information was repeated in
shrek.
SIS some one telegraphing all the
time? What's going on under the floor?
What's that boy pulling over them
spikes for?" indicating the bayonets,
or something. ''What time did you say
| the train got here?n
"Six fifteen" the obliging passenger
replied somewhat heatedly.
During the intervals between the
mystified woman's queries and her sud
den sallies for the door, these remarks
by the male occupants of the room were
overheard; 81 say, Jim, feel deucedly
shalSy in this concern. What's this in
fernal racket Is that a katy6id up
there? II bet five it'll go off before
long Gentlemen, I'm hungry, awful
hungry. Would you mind standing on
your own feet Charlie? .. We made q
mistake in leaving that train at all