The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-04-02
ORDER No. -.

When Mr.. Ellis, the trainmaster Of the
Central at p, entered his Office this
bright summer morning, he was looking
particularly pleasant and evidently was
at peace with himself and all mankind,
but as he commenced looking over the dis
patcher's train sheet of the night before
his aspect speedily changed, and very
gloomy look settled in his eyes.
An extra was lin the ditch" on the
north end, and the road was completely
blocked as far as the north end was con-
cerned. Everything was late on the south
end, and here were two trains of stock
coming in off the branch that must be
rushed through without fail. He had one
extra conductor at P, and an excursion
train was ordered from the superintend-
ent's office to go to W, a station 20
miles south, and bring back a load of col
ored people to the big camp meeting then
being held in P.
This would have been all right if the
conductor in question had been one OF
the reliable old hands, but he happened
to be one of the latest promotions and
man with very nervous, exc1table tenn
permanent, who was easily mixed up if any
thing happened to go wrong and who had
only just completed 10 day suspension
for neglecting, in one of his passions, to
remember an order about some work on
the line So blind and forgetful did he
become when his anger was once aroused
that his associates had nicknamed him
Crazy Horse, and the appellation seemed
to fit him exactly.
Little wonder Mr.. Ellis was blue. The
special had to be started at once, and this
was the only man available. He didn't
like it "a little bit,' but there was no
help for it.
''Where's the call boy, Mr.. RANDI" he
asked of the dispatcher then on duty.
'sOut hunting a crew for the special. He
ought to be back by this time. l didn't
call conductor, as I didn't like to send
Howell without seeing you about it"
''He's the only one we've got He will
have to go, but watch him close. don't
want any more niggers killed on this divi-
sion while Pm here after the turn we had
when No. 16 hit the work train at Sand
Cut. 1t was only a scratch that Murphy
didn't get lynched that trip"
morris % he called to a boy coming up
the platform outside, ego and hunt up
Howell for the special, and hurry up too.
They ought to be out in Is minutes
The train had been ready for some time.
and in a few minutes Howell was seen
coming down the platform toward the Of
fee He received his orders, and after a
short talk with the trainmaster, In the
course of which he was told to keep cool
and not get into trouble and if any doubt
arose to take the safe side, he left for
W.
He had nothing to meet going down,
and after seeing to the turning around of
his engine he reported at the Office for his
orders for the return trip.
The dispatcher at P was waiting
for him and sent the following:
Order No. 81. P. 8-12. 1ss-. Conductor
and engineer special north. Special north,
Howell, conductor, engine III. will run
W to p ahead of all second class trains
and will meet first No. l6, Murphy, conductor
engine So, at Sand Out. and will meet second
No. 16 at p, p Ell. r.
Howell and Esan. o. Z. 1o:45 a. m.
E.J.R.
"How's thati Both 1873 readys Hold
Murphy a minute. Bob. Got him7 Tell
him we'll want to send orders to Howell at
Sand Cut by him"
Mr. Ellis had beea talking over the tel
ephone with the yardmaster at the big
freight yards mile below the town, where
all the freight trains were switched and
made ready for the road.
Sand Cut was small station five miles
from P, at which there was siding,
but no telegraph Office, and as both trains
of stock were ready to go forward it was
decided to send orders to Howell to meet
the two sections of 16 at Sand Cut instead
of holding the second one at P until
his arrival.
In few minutes Conductor Murphy
was in receipt of the following order:
Order No. 81. P, CIR, 1Ss-. Conductor
and engineer special north Sand Cut. Spe-
cial north, Howell, conductor, engine 12l, will
meet second No. 16 at Sand Cut instead Of
P-.1@ E. ]. r.
For conductor and engineer, special north.
Murphy, conductor first 1e. o. X. 11:05 a. m.
E. J. r.
With the orders addressed to the special
was message to Murphy to deliver them
TO Howell and to be sure and know that
be understood them.
Owing to hot journal the second Sec
ton of No. 16 was detained in the yard
nearly half an hour after the first section
had left.
Murphy made the run to Sand Cut in
good time, and stopping his train so that
it blocked the sidetraok where the special
stood waiting a chance 30 get out, handed
Howell the new order that was to super
sede the one he had been running on.
He had been detained already about Is
mirutes and was walking up and down
the track side of his train and cursing
Murphy for not pulling up far enough to
let him out.
He was raving mad when Murphy pre-
sented a receipt for the order and asked
him to sign 1t.
ssYou think because you've been here
longer than have that don t know any