The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-16
A PLUCKY ENGINEER.

I am q civil engineer, or rather /
was one until 1 retired few years ago
with comfortable fortune. Many men
in our profession have had exciting ex-
periences, but doubt whether anybody
but myself has ever travelled at the rate
of 60 miles AN hour, suspended beneath
q railway carriage.
was never a man to seek adventure
for its own sake; neither was inclined
to be timid when task attended with
danger had to be performed. Ny work
often brought me into great peril; but,
except on the occasion of which I am
about to write / had, fortunately, kept
clear of accidents.
1t was in the seventies that received
the appointment Of chief engineer to one
Of the big railway lines connected with
Boston. Twas Of an inventive turn and
had recently taken out patent for
radial axle frame for six wheeled
coaches. This was device that enables
the wheels of carriage to adjust them
selves to sharp curves and so obviate the
friction of the rail and consequent dam
ger that attached to 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
technical dispute with brother engi-
neer, an old friend in whose opinion
generally had the fullest confidence, re-
specting rather important detail As
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 wsgt will do, F" said.
"I'll satisfy myself by seeing how it
works v
''How do you mean?" he asked.
''Why, I'll travel underneath the
coach, hang myself up in hammock
and watch the whole thing
My friend smiled incredulously
twill you accompany me? am in
earnest" continued.
mo, thank you. was his reply. ST
must decline to embark on such hare
Drained adventure L 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 1 made arrangements for my
journey ON the Boston express next day.
When Preached the railway station, I
found that my instructions had been
carried out. A large piece of saclzing
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 crept into my hammock, assisted
by my friend, who had come to see me
off on my strange journey. He wished
me bon voyage, the whistle blew, and
we began to move out 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 to side with ever in
creasing violence and soon became Gov
cred with dust and ashes, which, with
the tremendous draft, were driven
against my face in manner that was
at times quite painful. My eyes were,
however, protected by a suitable pair of
spectacles that k,had taken the precau-
ton to provide myself with
/ was able from my position to watch
closely the behavior of the axle frame.
l was acquainted with the position and
character of every curve on the line,
and consequently knew inst when to be
specially watohful My qualification
was complete when / found that in
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 "choppy'' weather were
not to be compared to the motion ex-
perienced. 1t was more like being vio-
lently ''tossed in the blanket
One jolt sent me flying. upward, and l
struck my head against the framework
with such force that the blow nearly
stunned me. At another time / was
nearly rolled out beneath the wheels 1
was compelled to hold on to the sides of
the saclcing for dear life, and my hands
were battered good deal To make
matters worse, a giddiness and nausea
were coming over me---a virtual seasick-
ness--and ! kept asking myself why I
had been mad enough to embark ON such
foolhardy undertaking.
Suddenly turning my eyes to one of
the two supporting cords at inc he4u o.
my hammock, l saw, with feeling of
extreme horror, that through friction
with part of the radial axle frame it
had been cut more than half through
was hanging by a mere tilamentl II that
broke, death was certain. must either
be thrown between the wheels of the
carriage and frightfully mangled or
dashed to nieces on the permanent VIZ.