Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-03
rae LOCOMOTIVE FIREMAN.



He Holds Position the Responsibility u
which II Unapprsciated-
Il II doubtful il there is a man on the
train who is less appreciated than the fire
man. The public shakes hands with the
conductor who has charge of the train,
thanks the brakeman for many little
courtesies, bows to the baggage master who
looks for its luggage in transit, trusts its
valuables with the express messenger and
talks long and loud Of the .'brave engi-
neer," but the fireman-he who bends to
his work and feeds the fire that makes the
steam-is never mentioned. Sometimes
q purse is made up for the engineer. No
one ever heard of the fireman getting a
purse, but the records show that he has
performed as many deeds of valor as the
engineer. Again, if the train leaves the
track or goes into another train, the fire
man has fewer chances to escape than any
other man on the train, except perhaps
the mail clerk, shut up like rat in a
cage. When the fireman is at work, and
that is nearly all the time when the wheels
are turning, he stands stopped over, shoy-
cling in the fuel or raking the coal in the
firebox. His view ahead is obstructed,
and he cannot see the dagger that may be
dashing upon him. The rattle and roar OF
the machinery may drown the engineer s
warning Gala crash--the tender pins
him to the boiler head, and he dies hor-
rible death. Standing in the narrow gang
way, peering ahead, a sudden lurch around
a curve may throw him off.
Instances have been known when the
coupling between the engine and the tank
parted, and the fireman dropped between
them to be ground to pieces. The records
show that more firemen than engineers
are killed in railroad wrecks. About the
only time the fireman has a little leisure
is when the train is running down grade.
Then "she is shut of, !" steam is saved, and
the knight of the shovel climbs up to
cushioned seat and takes a breathing spell.
But even then one eye is ahead, his hand
on the bellcord and the other eye fastened
on the steam gauge, whose little black
hands, fuctuating back and forth, gauge
his labor as well as the steam. There is q
science in feeding" an engine that Is not
understood by one not in the business
There is way to throw in the coal and to
empty the shovel and close the furnace
door at the same time. It requires nice
calculation that tells how many "scoop-
loads' are needed to send the hands on
the gauge to the proper figure, deft han
ding to keep the deck of the cab clean and
a hundred other little things that go to
make a skillful fireman, one that saves
money for the company by outstanding
the coal. In the old days the fireman on
"wood burners" had hard time of it and
certainly earned the small money he re-
ceived for his services, but he had sine
cure compared with the man in blue over
alls and jumper who ''stokes up one OF
the huge ''moguls'' or ''hogs" of the pres
ent day These engines haul freight and
eat up coal as if it were creased paper.
The fireman is at work continuously, and
about the only time he has to rest is when
his train ''takes siding' to let more
aristocratic passenger train pass.-Ashton
Reporter.