The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-14
A PLUCKY ENGINEER.

la PLUCKY ENGINEER.
am civil engineer, or rather j
was one until I retired few years ego
with comfortable fortune. Many men
in our profession have had exciting ex-
periences, but I doubt whether anybody
but myself has ever travelled &c the rate
of 90 miles Nm hour, suspended beneath
railway carriage.
was never man to seek adventure
for it's own sake; neither was I inclined
10 be timid when o task attended with
danger had TO be performed. My work
often brought me into great peril; but,
except ON the occasion of which am
about 20 write, / had, fortunately, kept
clear of accidenta
twas i'm tha seventies that received
the appointment Of chief engineer 10 one
Of the big railway lines connected with
Boston. Twas Of an inventive turn and
had recently taken ont patent for o
radial axle frame for six wheeled
coaches. This was device that enables
the wheels Of carriage TO adjust them
selves TO sharp curves and 30 obviate the
friction of the rail and consequent dam
ger that attached 10 the ordinary fixed
axles.
This patent Of mine was applied ex.
perimentally to several coaches ON my
line, and the results were to all appear
ances very satisfactory. However, / had
q technical dispute with o brother engi-
neer, an old friend in whose opinion
generally had the fullest confidence, re-
specting rather important detail AS q
matter of fact, we held different opin-
ions as to the behavior of the mechanism
when In actual operation, and my work
ing model did not help us much.
''I'll tell you what Twill do, = said.
"I'll satisfy myself by seeing how 1t
works. =
''How do you mean?'' he asked.
Why, I'll travel underneath the
coach, hang myself mp In hammock
and watch the whole thing. .
My friend smiled incredulously.
"Win you accompany me? ann i'm
earnest, I continued.
mo, thank you, y was his reply. ST
must decline TO embark ON such q hare
Drained adventure. ] have wife and
family dependent ON me.
But was determined to settle the
point. If what he said was correct, the
sooner the modification was made the
better. So made arrangements for my
journey ON the Boston express next day.
When Preached the railway station,
found that my instructions had been
carried out A large piece Of sacking
was suspended beneath the carriage by
four stout hempen ropes, passed through
wrought iron staples and properly tied
and dashed. ] examined it carefully and
found everything secure.
A few minutes before the train start
ed T crept into my hammock, assisted
by my friend, who had come to see me
OH ON my strange journey. He wished
me bon voyage, the whistle blew, and
we began TO move ont Of the station.
Lying as was ON my back, smoking at
. cigar, the motion was at first decidedly
pleasant, but as we got up steam and
increased our speed my position became
one of considerable discomfort was
rocked from side 20 side with ever I'M
violence and soon became COW
cred with dust and ashes, which, with
the tremendous draft, were driven
against my face in . manner that was
at times quite painful Ny eyes were,
however, protected by suitable pair Of
spectacles that had taken the precau-
tion 10 provide myself with.
was able from my position to watch
closely the behavior OF the axle frame
I was acquainted with the position and
character of every curve ON the line,
and consequently knew Just when TO be
specially watchful. My qualification
was complete when found that I'm
every respect the views had advocated
were correct Every swivel and lever
worked splendidly, and the undue strain
ing that my friend had insisted must
occur at certain points did not exist
There was absolutely no way of improv-
ing the mechanism that could see.
We had passed the worst curve ON
the line and were now greatly increas-
Ing our speed. We were entering ON
the fastest bit of the journey, and
things were getting lively for me- The
pitching and rolling Of small boat in
midchannel In 'schoppy" weather were
not to be compared 10 the motion ex-
perienced. It was more like being vio-
lently tossed in the blanket.
One jolt sent me flying upward, and
struck my head against the framework
with such force that the blow nearly
stunned me. At another time / was
nearly rollea ont beneath the wheels.
was compelled to hold on to the sides Of
the sacking for dear life, and my hands
were battered . good deal. To make
matters worse, q giddiness and nausea
were coming over me-4-a virtual seasick-
ness and ! kept asking myself why
had been mad enough TO embark On such
q foolhardy undertaking.
Suddenly turning my eyes tt one az