The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-18
HANK sMALL's NERVE.
An Engineer Who Delighted In Long
Runs Against Time.
Ffonl the Son Francisco Eraniner.


Ffon the Son francisco Erdminer.
Henry 8. Small, the wsll-known Southern
Pacific locomotive engineer, who died on
last Sunday at the Oakland railroad hos
pital from heart diseass, probably made the
longest continuous trip behind the throttle
OF any engineer In this or any other ooun-
try, the occasion being the trip of Jarrett
g. Palmer's famous continental train"
from Ogden, via Sacramento and Stockton,
to the Oakland pier, distance OF SS1
miles.
"HankS Small, as he was Familiarity
called by his associates, entered the employ
of the Central Pacific as engineer Of a con-
struction train when the road was being
built east from Cisco, and later on was
selected TO take the pay car on its monthly
trips to every part Of the system on account
of his GOODNESS and excellent judgement,
combined with fondness for making fast
runs. 1t is said of him that he never showed
the least bis of concern or excitement on the
many mile-a-minute trips he has had be-
tween here and Ogden and Los Angeles, and
across New Mexico and Arizona, and
possessed a charmed life that enabled him
in spite of several serious accidents to die
peaceful death at the age Of So years.
When arrangements were being made to
bring Jarrett g. Palmer's train from Ogden
in June, 1876, Small was selected as the
engineer to bring it west, both on account
of his familiarity with the entire road and
because Of his ability to always make re-
markably fest time. He was given engine
149. that has recently been KILLED" and put
in the old scrap iron pile, and instructed by
General Manager Towne and General Su-
perintendent Fellows to run as fast as he
could and keep his place at the throttle
until Oakland pier was reached.
The tall raw-boned, snowy engineer was
equal to the occasion. Pulling out Of Ogden
with the train, he never left it for twenty
three hours and thlrty-eight minutes, aud
while the average speed for the long trip of
8S1 miles was only 81. l2 miles per hour,
there were many sections OF the road along
which more than a mile a minute was
made. Going up the grade from Ogden to
Promotory, he made the first tifty-three
miles in an hour and nine minutes, going
around curves and up and down grades
in 30 rapid manner as to almost make
the passengers on the train seasick at times
Passing Monument like flash of lightning,
he made the thirteen miles from there 20
Kenton in twelve minutes. Still he was not
satisfied at the rate of speed. and, although
his fevOrite locomotive was rocking and
putting and painting, as II were, ike some
great giant, he pulled the throttle wide
open, and in seven minutes ten miles of track
between Rye Patch and Oreana were at
the rear of the train.
AS the train sped over the Humboldt di-
vision ia Nevada eight miles were run in
exactly eighty-one minutes, and so great
was the cloud Of alkali dust that enveloped
the cars that Small, looking back from his
cab window, could not at times see the end
of bis train.
Arriving at Truckee at dusk, it was found
that the brakes on the cars we're almost USE
less, aud two other cars were put into the
train, so that their brakes might be used
in going down the mountains TO Saora>
mento.
The bell IN the cab TO which the bell cord
was attached was also broken from the
violent use it had been put in making Small
slow up il bis great speed now and then; 50
the cord was tied around his body, instead.
The ride down the mountain in the dark
ness of the night was the fastest ever made.
Mr.. Jarrett. Lawrence Barrett, and other
prominent passengers on the train presented
Small with a diamond badge q few days
after the arrival of the train here. He
priced 1t very highly and has wllled it to
his grandchild.