The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-11
HIS NERVE.
How a Locomotive Fireman Won
a Reputation for Bravery.

Eyes, I've been pretty badly scared sew
eral times since l began rairoading fifteen
years ago." said an old freight conductor,
'and don't really know which one was the
worst, although, l always thought the last
was. We're all Of US human, and if man
tells you he doesn't get scared railroading
don't you believe him. I've seen lots in the
papers about heroic engineers who stayed
at their posts and sacrificed their lives try
ing to save others. When you show me one
man tn at takes those chances for humanity's
sake, as they say. I'll show you a hundred
who stayed just because they were too
scared to Jump or didn't have time.
"A man thinks mighty quick sometimes,
but he doesn't always nave time to think
of ANYTHING that's behind him. When a
fellows running across the country at
mile minute IN pitch dark ard all of a
sudden big headlight flashes in his face
or pair of red lights show up in front he's
mighty apt to forget what the papers will
say about a hero at his post. If he can
move at all he shuts off and throws her
over and plugs her with one hand working
the air Just because it's second nature and
he can't help himself It's what they call
mechanical and a man who will do it with
out really knowing what he's doing. Then
he'll jump t he can.
L
them myself Eve a big reputation up
North as a man who'd stick to his post. 1t
was when | first wen TO railTOading. Ia
been raised in my superiutendents family
and when | got old enough / went TO firing
on the Milwaukee. About three months
after I'd got a regular run | was out on
freight over night. We'd had a rush and |
was pretty tired and about y the head
brakeman took the fire Tor awhile and | went
to sleep. | was sitting on the front end of
the seat, dead to tie world, when a couple
Of rel lights on the tail of caboOse showed
up. The freight ahead of Us had broken IN
two and We caught the hind end In cut.
The engineer shut off, bu I he didn't have
time to throw her over and plug her and he
and the brakeman both Jumped without
even waking me up.
I'VE hit the caboOse pretty hard | tell
you, but instead of breaking herup or ditch
ing, the pilot went under tine car and raised
il right up tli 1t slid half way up the boiler.
The shock woke NE up, but | was only half
awake then. She was moving along slow
yet, and when | saw the red lights on the
cabOoSe the first thing that struck me was
that We were on a siding and that the en-
glneeT had got of, leaving the engine in for
ward motion. and she had leaked or sprung
her throttle and gone into another freight
on the siding ahead OF US.
81 jumped over 10 the engineers side and
threw her over and plugged her hard. 1t
Qldn take nucn 10 SlOIs ana L StOOQ tnera
for a minute commenting prOfanely on the
engineers leaving her in forward motion
and another tram ahead IF us. 1t
didn't strike me what it was until some
one came running up and asked me If
| was hurt. | said no, and asked
what was the matter. Say! when |
found out what ii was you could have
knocked me out with finger. | couldn't
talk, and by the time got my senses back
the boys began talking about my nerve.
didn't say anything, and when we got in the
papers had il written up and made me a
hero from way ba k. The engineer and
bI akeman jumped, and one broke his ribs
and the other his arms. My wonderful
nerve is sticking to the engine when they
jumped was talked about by everybody.
The Superintendent took me up 10 the
General Managers Office and introduced me
and told him that was the kind Of boys be
raised. | was only a Kid then and didn't
know much, but | knew enough to keep my
mouth shut when they talked about the
young hero who had stuck 10 his post and
saved lives aud property by stopping the
engine
"If they'd just given me half chance to
jump though you bet your sweet life some
other fellow would have been the hero and
I'd tried TO beat the engineer and fireman
out Of the cab window. kansas City Star