The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-06
ZEB'S EXPERIENCES.
No. s-Force of Habit.

Hearing the term "force of habit
used brings to my recollection an Incl
dent that occurred some years ago of
brakeman who was thoroughly saturated
with railroad. Knowing he was i'll, one
day concluded to call on him. On en-
tering the house realized it was serious
case, for the doctor had left but few
minutes before my arrival. My heart
smote me for not calling before. In
leaving the doctor told them plainly to
prepare for the worst. There lay my
comrade, with the raven hued wings of
death tanning his fast changing features,
telling that their work was nearly done.
Approaching his bedside | called his
name. With an effort he turned his face
and recognized me. He worked his fng
ers-I understood the movement. Tax
ing his hand, seating myself on the bed
side, we gaZed a few moments into each
others eyes. / broke the silence with
tWell, Darby chat was his nickname),
old man, you seem out OF gear; you have
been in the shop SO long | thought you
nearly over hauled and ready for the
paint shop
mo, Mike (my nick 1ame) the lids
kept coming off my journal boxes, letting
the dirt and dust in. They kept running
hot in spite of the packing they have had
packed into them, besides oil, dope,
blacking, salt, ETC., no good. Journals
must be rough or brasses cracked. I tell
you, Mike, by the time they jack me up,
take out my trucks and line them up, re-
place the threaded and broken bolts, that
1t is time and money thrown away. My
| brake ieaver is no good, the couplings
are all bent out of shape. On my last
| trip my chain broke and the car got away
with me and ran me into this side track. /"
srt, Of n
he tried to see me- stSay, Mike, old
man, pick up the wicks bit, the lamps
are burning low. There's plenty OF oil,
but can't hardly s3e you. Tell the con
to telegraph Tor coal and water at the
next sJation.'
Chow is your reservoir, Darby, plenty
of air?''
ssNo, Mike, the air pumps don't work
the release is bad, It leaves the brakes
part on; won't bleed worth cent. All
chambers must be foul; have drained
put oil in but no go. Had to cut out the
automatic and use raight air. Mike.
old man, there goes one of the lamps ont.
Take my lantern and hang it in the
coach so the passengers can see to strike
matches.
"How are your wheels?"
$50 crystalized, the shoes don't bite,
in fact the shoes are SO thin they WON
sell for old iron.
'sDarby. how are your brake bars?''
"Washers and burs lost off, the ey'
, bolts pull through, besides, the hanger
are set too high, throws the shoe abov,
J, the bulge of the wheel. No good"
ssDid you report regularf'
Eyes, until they put me on thes
blocks. The M. M. says if l eve
, do get round will have fat wheel OF
right hand, and that is SO crystalized it i
| liable to fly at any time. Say, Mike
, drop some of those windows, it's gettini
J cold in here. Stir the fire. That heate
! is a bird when she gets to blushing
Mike. tell the boys when l am switches
from here it will be to the scrap heap
Hold on, Darby, take up your slack o
! you will run in ahead OF time and
! 'sHark, Mike, listen, there goes tn
/ home whistle, good by, twenty minute
for -, put out the danger signals in tn
rear, cut the engine loose, good blythe
, l-want-me-on the-carpet upy onder-
And Darby went. q. JACOBS.