The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-21
IN A SIGNAL STATION.
COMMENTS or SOME TIRED AND DIS
GUSTEo PASSENGERS.

GuSTED PASSENGERS.
| Stranded for Half Hour in = Tiny Box
/ of Railroad Waiting Room-Strange
| Feelings That the Most virsuous viii
/ Owe Up 70 Having Felt.
/ A little red oblong box, with an opening
| at one end for a door, at the base of a
mountain; a diminutive room, with three
! fourths of the space inciosed by an iron
/ railing for the use of the telegraph oper-
ator only; bench that wriggles Is il
with the palsy every time one is brave
| enough to sit upon it, a stove that resent
| bles whitewashed pumpkin surmounted
by dingy beaver; a row OF bayonets, or
at least, to an inexperienced observer,
something of the kind; a gayiy painted
water pail on an improvised washstand; ar
its side goblet minus its foundation and
resting upside down; dozens of wires
stretching across the wooden ceiling
continuous thunder, seemingly immedi-
ately beneath and shaking the boards of
the floor; apparatuses attached to different
parts of the siding and breaking out with
startling frequency into such a series OF
noises that one wondered involuntarily
and uneasily whether anything was likely
TO go off and blow up.
People with even the slightest acquaint-
ance with the Erie railroad will recognize
the description and locate IL at Newburg
junction, about forty miles from Jersey
City, where accommodations are provided
for the convenience of travellers. Half an
hour in that isolated hut is sufficient for
the observation of interesting exhibitions
of the popularity OF human nature.
Ten or fourteen passengers left the south
bound train ut the junction one evening re-
Gently to wait for the Newburg train,
among them two women who Gazed after
the retreating locomotive as al a fast re-
ceding possibility Of rescue. The chilly
southeast wind drove all TO seek shelter
within the diminutive building, where the
majority stood packed literally.
The stove, in an effort to give all a warm
reception, grew red in the face. The bench
creaked under the pressure of an overload,
the rumbling beneath seemed louder than
usual. the box shaker, the apparatuses
near the ceiling buzzed forth distractins
din, the winds without whistled a dismal
medley, while behind the iron railing the
telegraph operator hauled down the bay
onets with bang. then clicked a machine
with one hand and attended TO something
else at the opposite end of the table with
the other, now and then grasping and wav-
ing a red, white and blue or green lantern
at train rushing by-all with an undis-
turbed serenity that suggested degree Of
order even in the midst of chaos.
THE GRADUATE SPEAKS.
stir in the crowd directed attention to
an elderly woman laden with bundles.
Are you going far" she gssped, over
come by the contact with elbows, and de-
posting her satchel on the feet of passen-
ger, who regarded the question as satirical,
and merely looked an uncomfortable re-
ply.
When does my train come" she asked.
six fifteen" was the answer of a pas
senger who managed by dexterous move
ment to vacats a rickety chair in her be-
half
Pm dreadfully nervous about trains;
never knew which one TO get on. there's
one now" seizing her grip and preparing
to fee doorward. She was treasured and
advised to speak louder if she desired to be
heard.
Another break in the dense mass was
made by the younger woman, with every
movement signal of distress.
What time does the Newburg train get
herei" she asked in shrill voice.
six fifteen" the obliging passenger an
swered as before.
What a horrid place" she exclaimed.
81 was in hopes | could get something to
eat here. Haven't had nothing but cup
of coffee that | got at Port Jervis not fit
to drink. My head is nearly bursting
Pve done nothing but come from Buffalo
eu I'd 70 tn kau
tonight Ma wanted me to come back 10
graduate I'm so afraid of tramps always
when travel, and ma told me not 70 speak
to any one but policeman. I've seen five
conductors since left home, and all told
me different; one said had only tive min
utes to wait here and another said an
hour. guess none of 'em knowed much
about it. I'm so tired CT the cars. grad
uate in June, but had the grip
pIsGUsTED COMMENTS.
whats all this noise about" the
elderly woman interrupted, somewhat to
the younger ones embarrassment. I'm
deaf. but hear an awful roar"
This is signal station" was the reply.
"a what9" placing a hand behind her
ear The information was repeated in
shrek
What's going on under the floor, What's
that boy pulling over them spikes for"
indicating the bayonets, or something.
what time did you say the train got hsre7'
six fifteen, the obliging passenger re-
piled somewhat heatedly
During the intervals between the mysti-
fed woman's queries and her sudden sal
lies for the door, these remarks by the
male occupants Of the room were over
heard: Il say, Jim. feel deuced shaky in
this concern. What's this Internal racket
is that a katydd up theret-I bet five
it'll go of before long Pm
hungry, awful hungry. Would you mind
standing on your oYyn feet, Charlief-We
made mistake in leaving that train az all
should have gone on 70 Jersey City and
taken the train we're waiting for-This Is
sweet place to touch after spinning
through the air five dsys-hsi hs'-Nics
place TO die IN, though; this jar would set
my heart going again. say, operator. will
you wire a word 10 Newburg for met
Want TO tell the folks nofhinz's the mat
ter I'm only waiting AZ the junction-I'd
like 20 be operator IN this hole just for ore
DAY Wouldn't click OF thing or two.
Ny dots would be cannon balls and my
dashes all begin with big o's." And
so forth, until the Newburg train rumblei
in and brought relief 10 the walters IN the
little red house-New York SIM
Changed Her Mind.
A poor Hebrew woman, with sick
child, and herself nearly III, received
through her physician some much needed