New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-03
4 CAUTTOCS CONDCCTOR'S TTEUS.

III SHOWS HOW EASILY TRNNMAN MIGHT FAIL
TO FLAG \ TRAIN.
Tho terrible collision on the New York Central
Railway. near 1arIytown has been the subject Of
conversation among railroad employees since it oc-
Cured conductor on the Delaware Lackawanna
and Western Railway, to whom is intruSted Of
the fastest trains on the road the other day said To
n Tribune reporter: Yes: il is very dangerous to
stop train on the main track when the lightning
express Is due. Few people think Of the
responsibility that is placed the who is sent
back TO signal the following train. You see him take
ms red lag or lantern and down the track. and
Won feel perfectly secure. but suppose something
happens 70 that man-suppOsc he should fall in Il
III or suppose he should meet any sort Of accident,
winch happens to dozens of other people in different
stations of life. what terrible collision would be the
result. have thought Of it hundred times, and |
can assure you that no brakeman under my charge
goes back with flag whom | do not watch carefully.
note how fay back he goes and look him over
10 see that he is all right, for know how easy it IL
to miss signalling train and know what the
awful consequence u.s.
Now take ferry boat for instance: there is a law
requiring that two men shall be in the pilot house
all the time the boat is in motion. who would think
81 letting an engine 20 ont with only man her.
even II he were able 20 attend 10 the fire and keep
her running at the same time? II is not an uncommon
hing for an engineer Ia faint while on duty. or TO
strike his head against obstacle tsdc the cab
window willie his train is running along at a high
rate Of speed. which renders him unconscious. but
\on SEE the fireman is always there TO leap TO his
assistance and take charge the locomotive and save
the train from destruction. II seems such a simple
task for man 70 signal approaching train 10 stop.
% II j. simple. very simple. All yOu have 10 do
Is To stand between the rails and wave the fag across
the track and back until the engineer yOu.
l'y the signal from the whistle on M- locomotive
!"u know that you seen and understood. First
ne blows one short blast. which means
down brases.' Then he blows "a long blast TO warn
the train ahead that he Is coming slowly and wont
run into H. But Is | said before how simple ii would
De- for the hagman 10 miss the train. He might
stumble and lift his head on some rock or the
rails. or he might faint from dozen different
causes then who would there BE- 10 warn the engineer
Of the danger No one! Aud an accident Ike the
one ON the Central would be- the result.
I'll tell YOU little story OF hagMan who once
saved my train from being wrecked by presence OF
mind We were on the night line. and II dark.
rainy night, Just like the Christmas exc when the
Tauytown collision occurred The rail-, were slippery
and We wer" nearly hour late getting out Of
Washington. where had changed engines and pre-
pared 10 80 over the mountains. We were some
where the Othe. side OF oxford on our journey. IT
dark Won could not see Your hand before your
face and tho old engine was swinging the train along
at a Tremendous gait when suddenly | heard Billy.
the engineer whistle for brakes. and then heard the
long blast 81 warning The train came q standstill
presently aud jumpcd of and ran forward.
what up Elly.' said. some one has Won =
80 he replied but heard something hit the
side Of the boiler. Just outside OF the cab aud see
pieces Of red gas~ the running board thnlS
some one threw lantern al ne. Better run around
that and See II every thing j. all right
81 started Il jog trot. one Of the brakemen
with me while Billy followed with the engine and
tram when We got around the curve could see
through the mist and fog probably hundred yards IN
front the reflection Of Hrc. and hear the Kissing oi
steam from big fright engine which had gone down
The bank dragging some cars after her There was
A wreck OF the worst knd and came near
running into II at fun speed. ran back TO the rear
Of NV own train b send back signals. while We
nv way met the nacmAn OF the freight. His
lantern had gone ont Just came N light 50 he
stepped back hy the sid" 81 IN" track. and - fllly
rushed by he threw hi lantern AZ the cab window.
Iii, aim bad. bat hi, judgment was good for IT.
than likely TIER" would have been an awful
wreck II had got BY him. The train was crowded
with passengers. but rome Of thcn knew what "A
narrn, escape they had that night
TOrpedOcs good thing>. but uncertain. Th"V
don't ALWAYS explode. The only sure thing /, trust
worthy man. and a widcawakc conductor. who Will
keep sharp lookout tD see that nothing happens -
him when be- l. back with flag. The block signals
Of great assistance, but they sometime, fail a we'll
rs every thing el-e.