The state chronicle., 1893-06-14
A Tribute to Jack Germany.

IdAA6 VI Luo D. OF II. n 8uO, AS III
the death of F. w. Sherwood, I have
sustained a personal loss. About
4 a. m. OF June End, Mr.. Jack Ger
many was instantly killed in wash
out on the @. G. Il A. r. r. near
Ridgeway, s. G. "Jack." as all |
loved to call him, was the only man
[ ever knew who had taken advant-
age OF every opportunity. He went
into the Confederate army as boy,
and fought four years for what he
considered his duty. After coming
out he took the most humble posi-
ton on the railroad-that of hand
on work train. From that he rose
to fireman, then to the position of
engineer. This was the place he
held when I first knew him in 1876;
and since that year I have loved
and admired his character. He was
truly one of natures noblemen." I
lived in the house with him and
knew him intimately, and truer,
more honest man never lived. As
soldier he was brave almost to
reck.essness; as an engineer the
very ideal of care fulness, and as a
man and friend almost perfect.
Truly it can be said of him "the
world is better for having had him
in it" Few men with as strong
character had as many friends. He
was perfect grievance committee
man,, never radical, but at the came
time very positive in his views and
beliefs. The officers always listened
to him, and generally acceded to his
requests; they valued him at his
true worth, and considered him one
OF the very best of their men in
every respect The men loved and
admired him. He was chief of Di-
vision "a, B. of L. E., and for good
many years represented that Divis-
ion in the Grand Conventions. He
was safe and conservative, and al
ways just; and, what can be said of
few successful leaders, his word was
never doubted. He has gone where
there are no grievances, no ingrati-
tude, no pounding, blowing, dirty
engines;" "where the wicked cease
from troubling and the weary are
at rest"
We call man q hero and give
him credit for great nerve and
bravery who faces death with the
band playing, and excited and
cheered on by the sympathy of the
touch of elbows, and under the eyes
of his officers and friends; but never
stop to think of the man who faces
death in the dark and alone. It is
such usual and every day occur
renee for an engineer to die at his
post that Our press dispatches do
not think enough generally to find
out the name of the man who has
deliberately remained at his post to
push the air-brake handle saround
to emergency" and throw the re-
verse lever in back gear with the
hope that be may lessen the loss Of
life and property that has been en-.
trusted to his care.
Little did the passenger in the
elegantly upholtered Pullman or
that ill-fated train think of the risk
OF the man in front who watched
while he slept. With every faculty
strained to it's utmost to catch the
slightest intimation of danger
, while the rain came down in tor
! rents and the headlight only seemed
to intensity the darkness and gloom
the man who, for twenty-five years
had been on the lookout for others
! rather than himself, could not hav.
possibly detected anything wrong
with the two bands of steel that b,
9 was watching. They looked al
Q usual, with every crosstie in it,
4 place; but the solid bank that hat
been there only few short hour
q before was gone, and the deceitfu
: track was left swinging trap.
= Jack had been running at high rat
8 OF speed the probabilities are tha
A the engine would have gotten over
r and the mourning would have bee.
o at the homes of the conductor 81,
: passengers; but he had orders t.
d run slow and look out for washouts
and, true man that he was, he wa
It obeying orders; and in less tha1
9 twenty-five miles from home, wher
II one of the best of wives listened TO
d every whistle and waited for hin
J. who had left her only the day be
|. fore full of life and hope, but VIII
s would never see him again in tn;
J. world, without a moments warnipe
l. he was taken.
y will not try to describe tL
heartrending grief of the wife an
y children. They have lost their he
# ro, their ideal of all that was nobl
q in man. No two people look alik,
b and none suffer alike; 3 vessel onl
o holds certain amount; and whe
IS PERSONS affections are divided be
It tween earthly possessions and pc,
u sonal love, love suffers by the d
d vision. Mr.. Germany was their al
n True, by economy he has lei
IL enough to support them, but nc
is enough to crowd out their love.
le The Brotherhood Of Locomotiv
Engineers has lost the stronges
le thinker it had in the South; and M
st only has the loss fallen on the B. {
y l. b, but all organized labor hs
le been indirectly hurt.