Evening star., 1895-10-31
HE is NOW A YARDMASTER
Former Lieutenant Hine of the Army Has
Ceased Twisting Brakes.
The First Promotion Has Come to the
Plucl<y Young WashingtOnian Who
Gave Up Shoulder Straps.

Several months ago the unusual an
Eouncement was made that lieutenant of
the army had resigned in order to become
a brakeman on a railroad, and some folks
woEdered what the world was coming to,
anyhow. The friends of Lieut.. Charles
Hire, formerly of this city. and graduate
of the Washington High School, who was
the cause CT all this bewilderment, have
since been marveling to know his reasons
for such an action. and to learn how he has
been progressing in his new calling. Pri-
vate advices received here from him indi-
cate that he has enjoyed the experiment
far more than might have been expected,
and is today well on the up grade. which he
hoped and expected to reach before long,
He did not relinquish the comfortable pay
and easy duty of an army officer for the
hard and dirty work of a railroad brake
man, technically known as ''twister," to-
getber with the poor pay of such a job,
without some idea that he would soon pass
through that preliminary stage and rise to
higher levels in the railroad business.
His First Run.
Mr. Hine was first given a run between
Cincinnati and Indianapolis, on what is
known as a general freight train. He slept
at both ends of the line and bunked with
the men on the caboose, like old-time
railrcader. He had several narrow escapes,
on one occasion being on a train that was
broken in three parts by defective cou-
piers, and that ran wild down the road for
several miles. He threw aside his army
ideas and manners in order to become one
of the kind of men in whose company he
had placed himself, and became very popu-
lar with them.
He associated with them at all times, and,
as he said to Star reporter on a recent
trip to this city, he learned that they were
fine, manly fellows, who were ready to
help him master the technical details of the
brakeman's business, and to become ac-
quainted with other phases of railroad
wcrk 1t would seem as though Mr.. Hines
experiences through this part of his career
would furnish him material for most ex-
citing romance to be written some day
when, as great railroad magnate he has
the time and opportunity to write his auto
biography.
Find for the pig Four,
He had entered the service of the Big Four
road which is the popular name for the
Cleveland. Cincinnati, Chicago ard St
Louis railroad system. Mr.. Hine hoped. of
course, to earn advancement, but he did
not expect such good fortune as that which
has bafallen him. After a few weeks or the
inoianapols run, he was placed On "a
local freight in the same region and
was gwen taste of the hardest kind OF
W, rk that can fall to the lot of the brake
man. In addition to his train duty, he had
become stevedcre and freight handler. man.
ming truck every two miles a some way
slde station to tote apples and potatoes
and other farm produce and the small
boxes that pass back and forth through the
farming districts. Later be was given a
run into Kentucky. and this was the last
of his experience as a brakeman.
The First Lift.
A few days ago he was summoned to the
general offices III Cincinnati and in rformed
that his work had been excellent and
a.thful that the cGmp3ny had decided to
permit him to skip the position of freight
conductor, which is only a slight degree
greater in Importance than that of brake
man. One reason for this decision was
Il at Mr.. Hine had in his work gone ahead
Of his legitimate functions as brake-tWister
AMI had learned the details of other parts
of the railroad business. and had made him
se.f quite master of the freight business.
There was an important yard, said the Of
cal of the road who had summoned Mr'
Hine to him. up in Indiana where the com.
pany would like to increase its business II
was a manufacturing place and competl'
ton between the Big -Four and another
great trunk line was so sharp that the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago ana 81. LOUIS
road desired to place in charge at that
n ,int an active man who would make pusi-
ness for the company. Accordingly, the
pest of yardmaster at Anderson lhu'' was
offered Mr.. Hine and accepted
He came home to visit his parents at
Vienna, Va, for few days and then went
to his new post. He now writes to 1riehu
in this city that the appointment mas peeh
formally confirmed, and he has taken hold
of the work at Anderson, which is thirty
five miles east of Indianapolis. and IS the
larsest~manufacturng town in the wonder
full natural gas belt of Indiana. 1t has a
population of 10000. and the manufacturers
there are so numerous that the heavy
fre.ght:ng to and from Anderson requires
seven switch engines to do the yard work
The Big Four road has five of these.
Hard Work Has No TerrOrs.
1t is Mr. Hines theory that the railroad
business will increase in Importance with
the growth of the country, and that one of
the most marked advances in this line will
be the development of the great terminals
If this be true. the yardmaster becomes a
more and more necessary and important
functionary in the great railroad system
His duty requires him not only to handle
engines and men intelligently, but he must
secure and maintain pleasant business re-
lat:ons with the shippers of the surround
ing country in order to make business for
the road which he represents. At such a
place as Anderson. where there is competi-
ton for the freight business, this duty is
exceptionally important. Mr.. Hine writes
that he realizes it is big undertaking that
confronts him. and one that will tax his
capacity, but he says: IF hard work will do
trnrn