Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-01-25
WHY HE WAS DISCHARGED.
Fright of a Young Brakeman Left Alone
In the Wilderness of Arkansas.
Especial Correspondence.


ST. LOUIS, Jan. 81 had occasion this
morning to go with a friend to the freight
terminal that onnect with the Nor
chants bridge. On our way back he fell
Into u reminiscent mood.
"You never KNEW he asked, that l
was once a brakeman, did you? Well, l
was, on one Of the roads that runs through
the Arkansas wildernesses and terminates
here. l met with much difficulty in get
ting the job, so much indeed that if l
had not been fairly infatuated with tho
notion OF being a railroad man l should
never have persisted until Iwon my point.
II did not continue twisting brakes
very long, but quite long enough to suit
me. l got a terrible scare ono night, and
my subsequent conduct was what brought
about my discharge. l 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.
l 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 a pas
scnger train expected to follow in about
two hours. At that point tho line threaded
the densest woods imaginable, and as the
lights of the cabooso of the repair train
disappeared up the road my task seemed
likely to be very dreary and very lonesome.
MY gloomy a~nticipations were shortly
fulfilled. While yet I could hear the puff
ing of the engine in the distance I began
also to hear the most frightful noises in
the forest on either side OF the track. 1t
seemed to NE that the woods were throng-
ing with 1ierco wild beasts. In Is minutes
l was in Il perfect fever of fright, and this
was ollowcd by a sort of emotional shak-
ing palsy. My teeth chartered as though l
had the aguc, and ! was covered with cold
sweat. I believe I would have died from
heart failure, brought on by fear, if l had
remained there another Is minutes, let
alone two hours. So, in an agony of DIES.
peration, l picked up my lantern and ran
down the track in the direction from
which the train was to come. I had some
hopes of meeting it if I went far enough,
but these hopes wero not realized. When
1Hhad covered about five miles, I came to
a clearing in which stood a log hut. To
this hut I applied for shelter, and after l
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 it's passengers, it was hours late
and did rot come along until 10 O'Clock in
the morning, long after I had awakened
and returned to my post as flagman.
IF I had not been foolish enough to
tell a brother brakeman of my fright and
flight, I 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 I 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
n tho roaring Of lions. No, I have never
been sorry that I did not remain a brake
man, but l have always been ashamed
that l ran away, and l think my discharge
because I did was a good thing for me. 1t
taught me to hold my ground, no matter
what che apparent danger and difficulty
in SO doing" W, b, D.,