New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-07
A DIeENCHANTED ENGINEER

Sr: FOR years the life OF an engineer on n railroad
had appealed TO my youthful Imagination rs the most
desirable occupation In which a could engage
To sit In the cab OF a passenger locomotive and CON
troll It's movements as 1t went dying the rails
drawing Its load OF human freight In the behind
was the dizzy height around which clustered all my
ambition. I have been thrown In the society Of
engineers and rallronders Of all classes good deal
and their stories OF life the rail, with the thrill
Ing tales OF harbreadh escapes from collision or
disaster Of various kinds, due to the nerve and quick
decision displayed by the engineer Of fast train
served to Intensity my longing | looked upon an
engineer as the very embodiment of a hero. I plct-
ured to myself again and again how, when had
passed my apprenticeship and become the engineer
of the lightning express. would perform deeds Of
hcrosm in trying crises that would win for me the
applause OF my fellows and how I would be pointed
out among them as the one who never knew fear.
have one particular friend among the engineers,
n man about thirty Years OF age. who bears
reputation for rccklessness In his calling that
dcrs his friendship d0ubly dear to me. To him
have often unbosomed myself asking for his aid
and advice In securing position where couli hope
to realize my ambition. lie gave any
words Of encouragement, bat has often told me that
the life Of engineer not all imagined II TO
be- that unless man was fortunate or OF cNccp-
tional ability lie had little chance OF getting to be
more than the engineer OF fright train, and that.
he assured me. with It's long and uncertain hours.
~
me. for had doubt but that would be one OF
the fortunate ones. Meeting him upon the street
one day short time since he delighted me beyond
measure by saying:
Tom. you still to be possessed with the idea
of becoming engineer. Come down tonight at
half past and take trip with me, and see how
you like It."
his invitation. FASTENED home TO make INV prepare
lions In such excitable state OF mind that my
mother became seriously alarmed as 10 my sanity.
but | Quetcd her fears best | could, and awaited
lmpatently the time for starting on my trip. The
minutes seemed to drag along with provoking dcibcra-
ton, but at last o'clock and found me ut
my friends house unable to restrain my Impotence
any longer. He was inst getting out of bed, and
assured that there lots Of time. lie dressed
himself lcisurely and then partoOk OF hearty meal.
inviting TO JON him: hut the food seemed TO
choke me- and drew back from the table and waited
Impatienty for him 10 finish. At last he got up
from the table. put on his hat and overcoat. and.
lighting his pipe took up his dinner pail.
- suppose You brought along something 10 eat =
he asked
No. answered: u never thought OF that
"Wcll. then I'm afraid you'll be hungry before
you have chance to get anything to eat
ooh. never mind that; guess can stand it,
for 1t seemed sacregoHs 10 mention such vulgar
thing hunger on the very threshold OF my new
venture In llfe
We soon reached the depot where we found his
engine I'm waiting In charge Of the fireman The night
was bitter cold the wind coming from the northwest
In icy blasts that penetrated my thick clothing. !
was glad to seek refuge In the engine cab while the
engineer and fireman looked the huge locomotive
over carefully TO see that everything was In orier
When they were satisfied that all WAS right they
cambered up and Us they entered the cab the engineer
introduced me to the fireman.
"pr this Is n friend Of mino who thinks he'd
like to be an engineer
Bill gave mo plying look as he acknowledged
the introduction BY saying curty
IL guess he'll have that idea ooken ont o him
before he gifts beck home again.
I gave the prophetic Rill a scornfil smile as !
slowed myself away In small space as possible.
The conductor jumped aboard just then. and giving
the engineer some directions. he started tile cngn"
up the yard TO make up lis train After what
seemed an intcrmnable length Of time, AM no end
OF backing and switching we at length started for
Jersey City with long train Of coal The engine
seemed to creep along at a snas pace, and finally
asked the engineer what the trouble that made
| them run so slowly.
"why," said he, we're making first rate time. II
we have good luck this all the way wen be IN
| Jersey City before daylight
After going about five miles red lights ahead
| and slowing UP came 10 n stop In the rear Of
another freight train. Bin jumped off, and after being
gone few moments came back and reported that
| there was freight train "stsled' some distance
| ahead The night grew colder and az the engineer
constantly kept opening his window and p"eTng out
| the cnb vas not much protection from the keen air
| and my teeth Chartered with the cold The bralemcn
came stealing up 10 the engine, one by one, TO Try
and get a little warmth In their bcnumbed fingers.
As l looked at their sblvcrng forms huddng around
| the furnace door ! thought Of the horror OF their
positions the open, icy cars In the bitter night
where misstep In the dark would prccpltate them
to horrible death under The wheels. Alta tedious
| nalf- hours walt again In motion. keeping
close to the train ahead and In time Middlcown was
| reached. Here Switched of on side track |"
let On express train PASS. This nccesstatcd another
| twenty minutes walt before the track was clear
and again steamng slowly along. WAS
| cold and sleepy. Ny rosy nncipations OF life on
the rails were receiving chilling setback at the very
| outset, and as thought OF my snug bed at home
heaved a lugubrious sigh. But never mind. thought
we will be In Jersey City III good time, and then
will get my friend to take over to New'lork ana
show me around the city. Tie night passed Slowly
along and er nrG ra iI pa nu we cd the
bergen tunnel last as the sun was lighting up ,Ss
eastern sTess sc" and 'en for good time
The Fstes In the person Of train OF aspa,c. ,oG
sed as ne ,ns s Hna cars rs o oD So de
make up n train OF complies ana start pacH liihc
S Whel was loverihs around the mark cCd
| and sleeps, and oh, so hungry ana my ahucipa."a
no onDcai from the auocrh,-s mandate and in hall
| an hour the engines pilot pointed toward nome.
| Never mind,p said the engineer, We II reacI..
Turner's in two or three hours and then ysu can gc'
This was poor consolation to nlf'fnmished yon,h
| I tried to steal nap, hut sudden iuich VI ,,e
engine or a shrek from the whistle wonid rouse III
| mn and gave mp the attempt. We were stopper
IL seemed TO me. at side track at distance
a dcpot to do some switching but we haa no sMi,.n
| inc 10 do where We would he able to get ahy'h
| ,n cat Turner's was passed without stop. nnu
| Caste, Goshen and Mddletown had no switchlne
| m he done Put we Lad TO pull ont on sac u ac'
in the open country time after time to let passehGc
,roins 20 tearing by. Just as the sun was slii,,-
| IL, Tho west VIC came rolling down the mountain su'
and once entered the Port Jrrvs yard nec,mnr
90 humanity as one often meets rs clamherch sums
down from the engine. The ,oine arg ponha in,
| ~ The hinge machine lad made me 20 SIM ana so,'
| + could hardly make my way home N'er heaI.
i NV"'N Cd md slcnI mill The neNt nllcr