Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-01-26
IN A SIGNAL STATION.
COMMENTS OF SOME TIRED AND DIS
eUsTED PASSENGERS.

| oI hallrOau waiting lhOOm-StranSo
Feelings That the Most virtuous VIII
Own Up to Having Felt.
A little red oblong box, with an opening
Of one end for door, at the base of
| mountain a diminutive room, with three
| fourths of the space inclosed by an iron
railing for the use of the telegraph oper-
ator only; a bench that wriggles as if
with the palsy every time one is brave
| enough to sit upon it; stove that resem-
bles whitewashed pumpkin surmounted
by dingy beaver; a row of bayonets, or
at least, to an inexperienced observer,
| something of the kind; a gayly painted
| water pail on an improvised washstand at
it's side goblet minus it's foundation and
resting upside down; dozens of wires
stretching across the wooden ceiling; a
continuous thunder, seemingly immedi-
ately beneath and shaking the boards Of
the floor; apparatuses attached to different
parts of the siding and breaking out with
startling frequency into such a series of
noises that one wondered involuntarily
and uneasily whether anything was likely
to go off and blow up
People with even the slightest acquaint-
ance with the Erie railroad will recognize
the description and locate it at Newburg
junction, about forty-six miles from Jersey
City, where accommodations are provided
for the convenience of travellers Half an
hour in that isolated hut is sufficient for
the observation of interesting exhibitions
of the popularity Of human nature.
Ten or fourteen passengers left the south
bound train at the junction one evening re-
Gently to wait for the Newburg train,
among them two women who gaZed after
the retreating locomotive as at a fast re-
ceding possibility of rescue. The chilly
southeast wind drove all to seek shelter
within the diminutive building, where the
majority stood packed literally.
The stove, in an effort to give all warm
reception grew red in the face. The bench
creaked under the pressure of an overload,
the rumbling beneath seemed louder than
usual, the box shaker, the apparatuses
near the ceiling buzzed forth a distractng
din, the winds without whistled a dismal
medley, while behind the iron railing the
telegraph operator hauled down the bay
onets with bang, then clicked machine
with one hand and attended to something
else at the opposite end of the table with
the other now and then grasping and way
ing n red, white and blue or green lantern
at train rushing by-all with an undis-
| turbed serenity that suggested a degree Of
| order even in the midst of chaos.
| Tfii GRADUATE SPEAKS.
A stir in the crowd directed attention to
an elderly woman laden with bundles
Are you going far2" she gasped, over
come by the contact with elbows, and de-
posting her satchel on the feet of passen-
ger, who regarded the question as satirical,
and merely looked an uncomfortable re-
ply.
| when does my train come" she asked.
IA Al.
senger who managed by a deXterous move
ment to vacate n rickety chair in her be-
half
"I'm dreadfully nervous about trains;
never knew which one to get on. there's
one now" seizing her grip and preparing
to flee doorward. She was treasured and
advised to speak louder if she desired to be
heard
Another break in the dense mass was
made by the younger woman, with every
| movement Il signal of distress.
"What time does the Newburg train get
here?" she asked in shrill voice.
"Six fifteen" the obliging passenger an
swered as before.
What II horrid place." she exclaimed.
Il was in hopes | could get something to
eat here. Haven't had nothing but a cup
of coffee that | got at Port Jervis, not fit
to drink. My head is nearly bursting.
I've done nothing but come from Buffalo
all day, and have got to get to Albany
tonight. Ma wanted me to come back to
graduate. Pm so afraid of tramps always
when | travel and ma told me not to speak
to any one but a policeman. I've seen five
conductors since left home, and all told
me different; one said had only i've min
utes to wait here and another said an
| hour. guess none of 'em knowed much
about it, Pm so tired of the cars. grad,
nate in June, but had the grip
DIsGUsTED COMMENTS.
WHAT'S all this noise about?" the
elderly woman interrupted, somewhat to
the younger ones embarrassment. Pm
deaf, but hear an awful roar"
This is n signal station" was the reply
"A what9" placing II hand behind her
ear. The information was repeated in
Shrek
as some one telegraphing all the time?
What's going on under the floor? What's
that boy pulling over them spikes forP"
indicating the bayonets, or something.
What time did you say the train got here2"
six Fifteen" the obliging passenger re-
piled somewhat heatedly.
During the intervals between the mysti-
fed woman's queries and her sudden sal
lies for the door, these remarks by the
male occupants of the room were over
heard: "a say, Jim, feel deuced shaky in
this concern. What's this Internal racket
is that a katydid up there?-I bet five
it'll go off before long-Gentlemen, Pm
hungry, awful hungry. Would you mind
standing on your own feet, Charlie?-We
made mistake in leaving that train at all
should have gone on to Jersey City and
taken the train we're waiting for-Ths is
a sweet place to touch after spinning
through the air five days-hal hal-Nice
place to die in, though; this jar would set
my heart going again. say, OPERATOR will
you wire word to Newburg for me2
Want to tell the folks nothings the mat.
ter. Pm only waiting at the junction-I'd
IKE to be operator in this hole just for one
day. Wouldn't click off thing or two.
My dots would be cannon balls and my
dashes all begin with big DIS" And
so forth, until the Newburg train rumbled
in and brought relief to the walters in the
little red house.-New York Sun.
| Changed Her Mind,