The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-06-04
THE MAN IN THE CAB.
A VIEW AT CLOSE RANGE OF THE
MEN WHO GUIDE TRAINS.

can Engineer, Though His English |
brother Rides in the open Air-The |
whistle and It's Individuality.
The average American engineer and /
his fireman would think themselves very
III 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 a majority of the railroads. the
engines in use are buff 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 Sc
we're weather and the absence of cover
ing keeps them alert, so that the possi-
bility Of danger from inattention to
duty is reduced to a minimum. Subtle
argument, perhaps, but hardly tenable.
If this practice was adopted on some Of
our western roads where the temperature
ranges from 20 TO 80 degs. below zero,
how many engineers would live to carry
their trains from one station to the next?
The unpardonable sin in an engineer
is TO let the 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, II
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 n country town familiar
ICES himself at an early age with the
different "toots" 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. 1 and 2 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 t1
the living freight it carries, sounds a
long, deep warning note that does not
bring the occupant of berth to his feet
"all standing ready to curse the COM
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 herr the captain would remark
in his ordinary tone of conversation to
the small boy that followed him like a
shadow, and Ease her!" the youngster
would scream in his sharp, shrill stac-
cato down the Nompanionway "Stop
ERR Turn 'er astern!" $50 aheadr
would perhaps follow in rapid success.
sion and in this decidedly crude fashion
the London steamboat captains did theiI
steering by proxy only a dozen years
ago. One wonders what has become OF
those call boys. Perhaps they spend
their hours in spinning yarns to the
younger cockneys of the past glories OF
steamboating in much the same manner
that our dethroned stage drivers Of thC
west now regale the tenderfoot with
glimpses of bygone acts of heroism and
feats of impossible horsemanship. Thi,
is somewhat Of a depression from the
topic under discussion, but perhaps the
reader will excuse its insertion. One
thought naturally suggested the other.
As class engineers are usually good
natured kind hearted, though bit
rough; deep thinkers, due to their fixed
habits of attention and long hours oi
enforced silence, and of good morals
An engineer who drinks cannot hope t
hold his position long, for no master me
chanic will tolerate confirmed tipplinl
in a subordinate whose duties are so re
sponsible rs those Of an engineer IL,
must be abstinent, prompt at his post oi
duty, and ever vigilant if he hopes Il
maintain his position. His hands may
be black and his face gIimy, but tina
his heart is all right was evidenced no
long ago in a railroad terminus on
the Pacific coast when the engine
putting and laboring from its dizzl
ride over mountain passes and along
dangerous precipices, was approached
by golden haired miss of six, VIII,
patted one Of the huge driving wheel
caressingly and lisping, "Nou dear, biz
black thing, how l love You for bring
ing my sweet mamma and papa home I,
me trom across those horrid mountains
and you too, she exclaimed, lifting he
pretty face 10 the black bearded engin
eer, who had been watching her frou
his cab, The tear that sprang instantly
to his eye was not an evidence of weak
ness, but of warm, impassionate heart
and the father of the little girl that OC
casioned this touch of human natur
furtiyely reached for his haudkerchie
just as the engineer drew his grim
sleeve across his sooty face.-Chicag
Herald.
Fly Fishing.
There is no doubt that certain flies an
best adapted to different seasons, time
Of day and conditions of weather. but