The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-06-10
MARTINS FIREMAN.

Did you ever hear Of railway presf-
dent running as fireman on an engine?
Well, know of one who did. and, il
you've got time to listen to it, I will tell
you the story now.
1t was in the summer Of 1885 that I
was firing on single track line that runs
up from Junction City through George
town, matter of one hundred and ten
miles. The line was owned mostly by O
man named Thedford. who was presi-
dent and superintendent all in one.
I had been firing on the line for two
years back all the time with one driver,
Bob Hunter by name, and finer man
never lived. suppose it would be only
natural for me to speak we'll of Bob, any,
way, for I was clean head over ears in
love with his pretty daughter, Mollie,
and was only waiting for bit of rise in
my pay to make her Mrs. Jim Martin.
Though / didn't see any chance for that
rise where I was, didn't like to leave
and 60 on another line, for that would
take me away from Mollie.
One day Bob says to me:
"Jim, amt you and Mollie never going
to get married? ?"
"Just as soon as can get my rise,
says I "but don't see how Pm going to
get it here"
"Why don't you 60 and ask Billy7"
says he.
You see, Billy was always what we
called Mr.. Thedford-behnd his back, Of
fo,. ,yo rra nj you AZ, ,vara ", yh "
polite to his face.
"He won't do anything for me, says
"for you know either one of the cleaners
up to Georgetown would be glad enough
to jump into my place, and he amt going
TO give me rise just to please me-"
"Well," says Bob, "it won't do any
hurt to try it..
So next day washed up and went to
the company's office. and asked for Mr..
Thedford. After few minutes he sent
word to me that he would see me, and in
went. There he sat-a large, heavily
built man, with big side whiskers and a
pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his nose.
"What is it, my man? Pm very
busy" says he.
"How much are you getting now?"
says he.
"Forty-ive dollars month";" says I.
Then he pursed up his lips. aud hem-
med and llawed little, and says:
II don't see how we can give you
anything mo-a, my good fellow. You
see yours is not very responsible po-
sition ,noraly opo tLaf rao,,iraS n l;ttla
bodily strength. And we can find
plenty of men who would be only too
glad to take your place at that salary.
With that he turned to letter lie was
writing, and knew had no more
business there. tell you felt sore to
be told it didn't take much to know how
to fire an engine, and I came mighty near
throwing my job up and trying to get on
another line. But Mollie persuaded mo
to hold on little longer.
Now, before come to the particular
point of this yarn, want to tell you a
little about the line. have said it was
a single track one running from juno
ton City to Georgetown. The latter
place was a little town of five hun
dred inhabitants; but in summer great
many Chicago people camp up there,
and so suppose the line paid. Anyhow,
Thedford, who had summer place
there, was rich enough to run it for him-
self alone if he wanted to.
Bob lived at Georgetown, and
boarded with him. Our trips began at
eight in the morning, and we generally
ran the one hundred and ten miles in five
hours. Then at three in the afternoon
we came back, getting home at eight.
AS soon as we reached the roundhouse
at Georgetown our days work was
over, for the cleaners took the engine
then, cleaned and polished her, and laid
.he fire already to start the next morn
ing.
Well, as said, hung on to my job,
hoping that something would turn up
that would give me lift, till one day in
August. The whole summer had been
uncommon hot, but that day went ahead
of anything ever saw. OF course while
we were running we had breeze. but
the minute we stopped it seemed as il we
were in furnace, and, naturally, work.
ing as we were near hot fire didn't i'm
prove things.
On the home trip Bob was taken sick.
and had all he could do to hold out till
we got to the home station, when he got
home as soon as possible. After the train
was empticd 1 ran the engine to the
roundhouse, expecting to go straight
homo and wash up. But when ran the
engine in, the first thing I saw was my
two cleaners laid out on heap Of ashes
dead drunk.
Here was pretty mess, for it would
certainly take me until midnight to get
the machine in proper trim for the next
days run; and hot, greasy job it was
in any weather, but on such night as
that it was frightful to think of it.
! However, there was no help for it, and
I started in. -.