The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-11
WHY HE WAS DISCHARGED.
Fright of a Young Brakeman Left Alone
In the Wilderness of Arkansas.


Fright of Young Brakeman Left Alone
In the Wilderness of Arkansas.
Especial Correspondence
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 81 had occasion this
morning to go with friend to the freight
terminal that connects with the Mer-
chants bridge. On our way back he fell
into a reminiscent mood.
You never knew" he asked, "that /
was once brakeman, did your Well, !
was on one of the roads that runs through
the Arkansas wildernesseS and terminates
here. met with much difficulty in get
ting the job, so much indeed that if /
had not been fairly infatuated with the
notion of being railroad man / should
never have persisted until / won my point.
81 did not continue twisting brakes
very long, but quite long enough to suit
me. got terrible scare one night and
my subsequent conduct was what brought
about my discharge. was attached to a
repair train, and we were at work in the
interior Of the state, where the population
was sparse and the stations were far apart
I forget exactly the occasion of the order,
but anyhow about midnight was directed
to remain behind with a red lantern while
the train proceeded. / was to flag pas
senger train expected to follow in about
two hours. At that point the line threaded
the densest woods imaginable, and as the
lights of the caboose of the repair train
disappeared up the road my task seemed
likely to be very dreary and very lonesome.
My gloomy anticipations were shortly
fulfilled. While yet could hear the puff
ing of the engine in the distance l began
also to hear the most frightful noises in
the forest Cd either side of the track 1t
seemed to ME that the woods were throng-
ing with fierce wild beasts In Is minutes
/ was in a perfect fever of fright and this
was followed by sort of emotional shak-
ing palsy. My teeth chartered as though 1
had the ague. and / was covered with cold
sweat. l believe would have died from
heart failure, brought on by fear, if l had
remained there another 10 minutes, let
alone two hours. So, in an agony of des-
peration picked up my lantern and ran
down the track in the direction from
which the train was to come. l had some
hopes of meeting it if l went far enough,
but these hopes were not realized. When
L had covered about five miles, / came to
clearing in which stood a log hut To
this hut l applied for shelter, and after 1
had succeeded in awaking the inmates
was kindly received and made as comfort
able as possible till daylight. I must have
forgotten all about the train; but, fortu-
nately for its passengers, it was hours late
and did rot come along until 10 clock in
the morning, long after L had awakened
and returned to my post as flagman
If l had not been foolish enough to
tell a brother brakeman of my fright and
flight, l might have held the job probably.
for no real harm had been done. but as it
was my services were very shortly dis
pensed with.
What were the noises heard in the
woods? Nothing but the yelling of coyotes,
but they were just as horrible to me then
as If they had been the crying of tigers
and the roaring of lions. No, have never
been sorry that did not remain a brake
man, but i have always been ashamed
that ran away, and think my discharge
because l did was a good thing for me. 1t
taught me to hold my ground no matter
what the apparent danger and difficulty
in so DOING WE'D.