The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-18
SLEEPY TELEGRAPHERs.
Their scheme 90 Enjoy Nap Re
suited in an Accident.

suited in an Accident.
From the Pittsburg Commercial-Gazett
AT a Single-track tunnel on the Pan
handle the officers of the road had perfect
ed a scheme by witch they thought it was
impossible for an accident to occur. A
tower was erected at each end of the tun-
mel and the two towers were connected by
wire. Every train was compelled TO come
to a stop and get orders from the operator
before she could enter the tunnel. Neither
operator was allowed to let a train enter
the tunnel until he had called up the other
operator and got from him assurance that
the track was clear. Jones worked at one
end and Smith at the other. Jones could
not let train go into the tunnel until
Smith said so, and cnitA could not let
train go I'm until Jones said so. The only
way a wreck could occur was for each man
TO let a train go IN at the same time. Even
III both operators were to fall asleep at the
same time, the system would work, for the
train conductors. going into the towers
for orders, would awaken the operators.
"One night there was a terrible wreck
In the tunnel Two trains had met head
on Several Of the crews We're badly in
jured. and / think two died. There was
an investigation.
"The president Of the road himself
went to the scene of the wreck. The
two operators were called before him.
1t was impossible to learn anything about
the wreck. Each operator was sure the
other had reported the track clear, and
could give no explanation of the cause
of the wreck. Then the president said:
Now, boys, / Will tell you what !
will do. / feel sure you know how this
| happened. II you win tell me / will give
you my word that neither Of you VIII
be discharged ] thought ] had a system
here that was absolutely safe, and It is
of more importance to me to learn how
the wreck occurred than TO punish the
one who was responsible. ! must md
out how 1t happened, so that ] can take
care 1t does not occur again. Tell me the
truth, and / will give you my word that
you will not lose your jobs
Then the two boys confessed. During
the long nights they would become sleepy.
Sometimes one would fall asleep. Then,
If train came. the other could not get
an answer from him. one night smith
was sleeping soundly and Jones could
not get any answer. lie did not Ike 70
hold the train, for fear Smith would lose
his Job So he let the train go through.
He knew IL was perfectly safe. for smith
could not let a train in without calling
him up When the train came out of the
tunnel 1t Wakened Smith, and Jones told
him what he had done. Then they ar
ranged scheme so they could both sleep
! They always kept the red block down, 50
that no train could enter the tunnel while
they slept If one called and received no
answer he knew the other was asleep,
and, therefore, the track must ne clear,
/ and no let the train in.
zone night both were sleeping as usual.
A coal train came to Jones end or the
tunnel The whistle of the train wax
ceived no answer SO he knew Smith was
sleeping and the tunnel was clear. lie
asked the conductor to throw him off a
little coal for his fire, as he was entirely
out The conductor threw off two or three
Jumps and the train started into the
tunnel. Those few Jumps of coal cost
the road thousands of dollars, and l be-
lleve they cost two men their lives.
Zones went out side to pick up the coal
as the train pulled out. Being outside The
tower, the noise Of the train drowned
that Of his instrument, and he did not
hear Smiths call. A freight train Ead
come to Smiths end of the tunnel at
the exact moment that Jones was picking
up the coal AS Smith did not get any
answer, he thought, of course, Jones was
asleep and the track clear. So he let the
freight in. Then the two trains came
together in the tunnel.
1.-THE president of the road kept his
word with the boys, but he took them off
that tunnel and gave them daylight jobs,
where they were not so likely to sleep.
and could not do 50 much damage If they
did sleep"