The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-07-25
ON WINGS OF ';SlGlL.
Becky Sharp" at Santa Fe
Engines Throttle
Makes the Run from Topeka to
Newton
And Tells Her Experiences OF
the Trip
ON THE FAST EXPRESS.
More Exciting Than Yachting
Bicycling or EquestrianiSm.
One Can't Appreciate Handling
an Engine
UNTIL ONE DOES IT.
Crowds GatherAbout the Engine
at Each Town.
The Fair Engineer Repeats the
Trip at Night.
Crowds GatherAbout the Engine
at Each Town.
The Fair Engineer Repeats the
Trip at Night.

The newest new woman that ever lived
can never become the engineer on rail-
way locomotive without having refuted
that base SANDER that her sex talks too
much
Running an engine and talking at the
same time is the closest demonstration of
a physical impossibility. which comes to
my mind just now, and one, too, which
has been demonstrated to my entire sat
isfaction.
Though it is possible to talk between
periods when preparing "copy" for the
insatiate thirst of the monarch whose in
sigma of office is blue pencil, and even
practicable for a woman to talk when she
is being made love to, no one can talk
and run an engine.
In spite of this serious drawback, I've
been wanting to run an engine lately,
and as l meT with considerable opposi-
ton, only wanted to more.
Accordingly on Monday afternoon,
with The aid OF Mr.. W. W. Phelps, l pre-
vailed on Mr. II. U. Nudge to give me
the following letter:
Permit to ri de on engine.
TOPEKA, Kan. July 90, 1895.
Engineer train 3. Topeka, Kan: This
will be authority for you TO allow Miss
Becky Sharp TO ride on engine on train
3, leaving Topeka July % to Newton, on
account of Topeka STATE JOURNAL
Permit good on this train and date
only. Respectfully,
b. U. NUDGE
General superintendent
Armed with this document l went to
the depot Tuesday afternoon at least
half hour before train time, an unheard
OF early time for me, and showed Mr.. W.
c. Garvey my letter and pass. l was
little nervous, not because of my own
idea of the danger attendant upon the
experience 1 SO much desired, but be-
cause of the opposition ] had met
Friends had all tried to persuade me
to give it up, saying it would be a dis
agreeable if not dangerous experiment;
Mr.. Nudge had demurred when asked
for the permit; and one of my man friends
had said, 'If you belonged to
me you would not ride on an engine;' the
girls had waxed fearful; and some cheer
full person had Uuearthed theory about
the tradition that the chances of danger
are Increased largely by the presence of
third party on an engine, and particu-
larly when that third party is a news
paper reporter. Then some one suggest
ed that the engineer would be cranky"
and would never for one instant let Inc
throw open the throttle or apply the air
brakes.
But all these objections only increased
my desire TO help run an engine, pulling
the fastest train out of Topeka, and I've
done it!
With much badinage Mr.. Garvey pre-
sented my permit TO the engineer and
then introduced him to me as Mr. Geo.
W. Strunk.
His pleasant smile and courteous bow
reassured me at once, and with mora
banter from the attentive crowd that had
gained an inkling of my intentions and
gathered TO see me off, 1 climbed
into the cab of engine No. S5S
sndSmade the acquaintance of the fire.
man, Mr.. o. A. HOllister, who was giving
the last polishing touches to the already
shining engine.
Then the conductor, one of the most
genial on the road, Mr.. H. N. Marshall,
known to all the boys as Hank" came
up and gave Us our orders.
As he expressed his pleasure at meet
ing me, Mr.. Strunk said, YOU'RE not in
1t today. old man"
sharp gets nervous and wants to come
back to our part of the train, have d
pass here for her"
Nervous! l? Oh, no. Not after
wanting 10 go But thanked him, and
turned to listen to the engineers instruc-
GOnS
Don't get nervous Miss Sharp. if YOU
think you will enjoy this ride, you will
be likely to do So Climb up there on
the nreman's seat until we get started.
and III let you run the engine for
ou must ring the bell first and fire a
little, you know an engineer has to grad
uSte from fireman"
climbed on the fireman's throne. then
topped over to the other side to see the
conductor give the signal
Mr. Strunk opens the throttle and we
are of.
lift the cap, for which I have ex-
changed my sailor. to the crowd outside
and climb back on to the throne.
AS glance along the shiny rails and
reel the engine seem alive, responding
70 the engineers touch as mettlesome q
horse might forget that anyone thought
there was danger, and know at once that