The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-22
NOT A PLEASANT JOB.
ENGINE DRIVING on 4 RAILROAD
N MEXICO.
In Case of Accident the Engineer
Takes 80 the WOods-SOme Peculiar
Experiences OF an Old Throttle
Fuller


the roads down in Mexico. and has a fund
of Information about practical railroading
in that country. II was after the strike of
1871 that Jerry drifted down into Mex
leo, with dozen others of like occupa-
tons and. after doing penance for five
years, thankfully came back to his first
love.
In the course of an extended talk with
the writer he said:
About the best thing connected with
Mexican railroads is American labor. The
officials down there have recognized from
the nrst that Il takes something besides
strength to run an engine. Americans are
given the preference in the positions of
engineers and conductors.
Il am Thoroughly familiar with the SPOT
where this last accident occurred, and
III risk my reputation as an engineer on
the assertion that the engineer was not
to blame. l see that he is an American,
and this gives additional emphasis TO my
assertion. The officials of the road may
escape the censure through political con-
nivance, but thorough investigation will
back up my assertion. In the first place
The engineer has his own life to look
after, and l take it that he is a man of
nerve, or ne wouldn't be in that country,
as timid people don't work on Mexican
railroads. Secondly, the spot where the
accident occurred is one of the worst on
the lnter-Oceanic road and train has TO
literally pick its way around the sharp
curves in that vicinity.
THAT road. and. in fact all the MeXi-
can lines have been laid out as economic
ally as possible, and only enough of the
mountain has been chopped away TO per-
NIT foOthOld for the track, so to speak.
On one side the train rubs against the
mountain and on the other the passengers
look down into deep gully.
Now, take train running at moderate
or careful speed. A defect unknown to
all the train hands, has developed in one
of the trucks under the tender. The train
strikes the curve only moderately nara,
but II sufflces to jar from the track the
wheels of the tender and the remainder OF
the train follows suit. on the outer side
of the rails there is hardly foot of
room and the next instant there is
jamble of wood iron and human beings In
the gully below.
In this country. defect in the tender
and the first reports from the accident
gave that as the cause-would have been
discovered by an intelligent car inspector.
Then the curve would have been protected
by a double rail- which Will, nine times
out of ten, keep car upright and hold 1t
to the rails. Both these requisites are
neglected down there, or were when l wes
in Mexico recently on visit, and as re-
suit a catastrophe is apt to follow.
THE employees know the custom of the
country thoroughly, and instead of hasten
ing to the rescue of the passengers, as IN
this country, they fly for their lives. II
they fall into the hands of the people they
would be shot or hanged to the nearest
tree The Mexicans have no time TO look
after real causes. The apparent ones, IN
the 2ndDe OIL enElneGIS anu COHuuClOIEg Will
do, and in their blind rage they Kill first
and investigate afterward.
zone thing in connection with railroad
ing in Mexico that takes on the tinge Of
civilization is that the government stands
by the corporations to the last ditch. Sin
against the railroads and you are doomed.
This state of things has brought about
almost a continual warfare between the
lower or ignorant classes and the rail-
roads The confscation of valuable land
and the accidental killing of human be-
ings and cattle contribute to the feeling
"Mexicans dislike being hurried, and 1
have had my hair raise on ends on ac-
count of the leisurely way they have
crossed the track in front of my engine,
Notwithstanding the frantic shrieks of the
whistle and the gesticulations Of bystand-
ers.
up against a water tank and shot full of
holes by soldiers for simply throwing
tie across the track. His child had been
killed by the train just ahead of mine AMI
he wanted to throw our train in the ditch
out of revenge. The tie would have done
no damage but an excited Mexican official
wanted justice, and, in spite OF my argG-
ments, he got 1t, of a Mexican sort.
"Then, again, the average Mexican liv-
ing out in the country Is an expert with
the rifle or pistol, and doesn't like to be
disturbed while sleeping. That little nick
in my right ear was given me by one of
this class. It happened in this way: The
Mexican y IS sleeping about 100 yards
from the track his little pony being also
stretched out on the ground. My atten-
ton was called to the couple by my fire.
man, and, thinking to have some fun, l
grabbed the whistle rope and let go sew
eral screeches that would have almost
awakened the dead. The horse caught the
noise first, and in a fright endeaVOred TO
regain its feet. In doing so it kicked the
poor Mexican in the shoulder. The latter
Jumped to his feet, black with rage See
ing our laughing faces as we slowly glided
by he snatched up his repeating rifle and
fired directly at us. lodged, but not in
time to altogether avoid the bullet,
although my quickness saved my life, and
l didn't grumble much over the little bit
of lost flesh.
THE funny part or the adventure was
that the Mexican wasn't satisfied with
shooting at us, but wanted our lives, ana
having plenty of time on his hands, start
ed to follow US up. He learned our names
from the next station agent, and gave 1t
out that he was going to have revenge.
This bit of news was telegraphed to me
by a friendly telegraph operator, and,
fearing he would carry out his threats, l
turned the case over to a railroad police
man. He arrested the blood-thirsty Mex-
can, and the judge was very lenient with
him, giving him only three years in Jail to
regain his normal condition of mind. l
left the country before he was released
from prison.
''As rule native Mexicans do not make
good engineers Their nervous tempera-
ment is against them. They run an en-
CINE for about year. or until some Incl
dent occurs that calls for nerve, and then
they go 10 pieces. Inc OFFICIALS KNOW lnlS,
and for that reason an American engineer
need never want for work in that country.
The mystery to me is that the officials,
having foresight enough to see the adj
vantage of American engineers, do not
adopt more American ideas in the man
agement of the road or the running of
trains.
II had an experience with a Mexican
engineer the last summer spent in Mexico
which will always occupy the foremost
place in my memory. The poor fellow
was apparently a flrst-class engineer, but
it seems he had run down drunken Mex
lean living asleep on the track, and the in
cfdent had turned his brain. / had pulled
in on the side track at a small junction
station having received orders to await
the arrival of a special, which was coming
up behind me, and was due in about fifteen
minutes Suddenly the telegraph opera
tor rushed from the station and clam
bered into the cab with wild fright. His
face was white as the driven snow, while
he trenbIcd in every limb. At length he
managed TO control himself sufficiently to
gasp out the following startling informa-
ton:
Engineer coming north gone mad; I'M
coupled from train five miles below, and
coming toward us at a terrible rate
scarcely had he ceased speaking when
the rumble of the wild locomotive was
heard approaching, and, upon looking
down the track I saw the black monster
scarcelv a mile distant tearing toward us
what was l to do In the twinkling of an
eve the engine would sweep by, and then
= CT L..