Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-23
DANGER SIGNALS.

An Old Railroad Veteran Talks About the
Use OF the different Signals.
ST. Nicholas: "What is the danger
signal?" asked Hal, who was beginning
to consider these railroad signals al
most us important and well worth
knowing as those in which he drilled
his football team.
''Red for danger, green for caution,
and white for safety; flags Ivy day and
lanterns at night" replied the railroad
uncle, adding: Il am sure you must
have noticed men at road-crossihg
waving white flags to show that the
track was clear, as your train rushed
by"
"Of course / have" answered Hal
Cor the watclimen on sharp curves
and bridges, waving green fegs us
much as to say: You may so ahead.
but you must do so with caution|"
81 don't remember seeing them.' re-
sponded Hal; ''but I'll look out for the
green flags the very next time l 30 in
the cars"
GA red flag or red light is impcra-
tive" continued Mr.. Holden, "and
means Sound the call for brakes and
stop at once There are other danger
and cautiOnary signals / think YOU will
I've especially interested in" added his
uncle, "tOrpcdOes and fusecs, for in
stance. A torpedo upon the rail is one
of the most used and most reliable OF
all the danger->ignals."
"But l should not think it would be
loud enough" objected Hal. "Why
don't you use something louder,-say,
cannon crackerS?"
ooh, you are thinking Of the little
paper torpedoes such as chill
dren play with: but they are not the
kind / mean. A railroad torpedo is n
round tin box. just about the size of a
silver dollar. filled with percussion
powder. Attached to it arc two little
lcaden strips that can be bent under
the edges Of the rail. so as to hold the
torpedo firmly in position on top OF it.
In this position. when Il locomotive
wheel strikes it with the force Of a
slcdgc-hammer. it explodes with re-
port. fully rs loud rs cannon-cracker.
that can be plainly heard above all
other sounds of the train. IT is Il warn
ing sufficient to arouse the cngineman,
and to render him kconly alert.
eff train meets with any accident
or obstruction that bids fair to cause a
delay of more than few seconds. tho
cncincman sounds five short whistle
blasts (----@. On hearing this
simal the rear brakeman must immodi-
ately run back quarter Of mile or
so. and place torpedo on one Of the
rails that his train has inst passed over.
Then, going back about two hundred
yards farther. he places two more tor
pedoeS. rail's-lnr 9Th apart. He then
returns to the first torpedo. and. with
his rcd flag in hand. stands there until
the recall signal is sounded from his
own train On hearing this, he picks
IN and takes with him the single tor
redo but leaves the other two where
they are.
"These two torpedocs thus form 4
/ cautionary signal; and. translated by
! the next following engineman, mean,
! The train ahead of you has met with
a delay Move cautiously. and keep q
sharp lookcHt' The single torpedo Is
an imperative warning to apply the
air-hrakes. Shut off, and Reverse: -
in other words. STOP mt once: for there
! is danger Immediately ahcad.'
eff trnin Is delayed ut night. the
rear brakeman sometimes leaves AT
other bit Of fireworks behind him when
called in. 1t IL fnsee.' which Is q
paper conc containing enough red fire
inextinguiSllable by wind or rain. tG
burn exactly five minutes. which Is the
| shortest length OF time allowed he
tween two running trains. The engine
man Of following train must stol
| when he comes to f,isee. and not move
}ahead again until It has burned out