The news boy., 1896-06-13

started back. Jones held his breath and
watched. 1t was not question of sec
onds now, but of parts of second, |
whether the freight engine would clear |
the switch before the limited or not.
"The two engines seemed almost to |
melt together as the limited struck the
switch, but the great train, with its
precious burden, went by unharmed.
The switch was open for the freight,
but it was an automatic spring switch,
and when the limited struck it it was
forced open along the main line. As
soon as the engineer of the limited saw
he was safely past, he put on steam
again, and the great train rolled on
| out of sight, without ever stopping to
| ask what had been the matter. The
passengers, who were chatting pleasant
ly in the cars. may have wondered why
| there had been such a sudden jerk when
the brakes went on just before they
passed the tower, but they never
dreamed Of the danger they had es-
capped.
"a more serious case occurred Mt a
tunnel on the Panhandle. 1t was
single-track tunnel, and the officers of
the road had perfected a scheme by
which they thought it was impossible
for an accident to occur. A tower was
erected at each end of the tunnel 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 n
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 Smith could not let train go in until
Jones said so. The only way a wreck
could occur was for each man to let
J a train go III at the same time. Even
: if 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.
3 "One night there was terrible wreck
in the tunnel. The trains had met head
on. Several of the crews were badly
, injured, and I think two died. There
was an investigation.
"The president of the road himself
| went to the scene of the wreck. The
r two operators were called before him.
). 1t was impossible to learn anything
: about the wreck. Each operator was
Y sure the other had reported the track
e clear, and could give no explanation of
e the cause Of the wreck. Then the pres.
V ident said:
S "'Now, boys, 1 will tell you what !
IL will do. l feel sure you know how this
= happened. If you will tell me | will
e give you my word that neither OF vor
:, will be discharged. thought | had :
= system here that was absolutely safe
/. and it is of more Importance to me t,
t learn how the wreck occurred than tc
IS punish the one who was responsible
e must find out how it happened so tha
o | can take care that it does not occll1
again. Tell me the truth, and | wi!
d give you my word that you will no
s. lose your jobs.
IS Then the two boys confessed. Dur
J. ing the long nights they would becom
n sleepy. Sometimes one would fai
n asleep. Then If train came the othc
IT could not get an answer from him
II One night Smith was sleeping sountll
.e and Jones could not get any answe.
le He did not like to hold the train. for fea
o Smith would lose his job. So he le
TX the train go through. He knew it WA
s. perfectly safe, for Smith could not le
.e train in without calling him III
,t When the train came out of the tunnt
Id it wakened Smith, and Jones told hl
IS what he had done. Then they arrange
w scheme so they could both sleep. Th =
" always kept the red block down. so tha
st no train could enter the tunnel Will
a they slept. If one called and receive
ar no answer he knew the other was aslee,
ID and, therefore, the track must lie ciea
at and lie let the train in.
"One night both were sleeping a
G, usual. \ coal train came to Jones' en-
n of the tunnel. The whistle of the trai
OF Weakened Jones. lie called to Smith an
H. received no answer. So he knew Smit
s. was sleeping and the tunnel was ciea
ed He asked the conductor TO throw hi
Sc off little coal for his fire. as he w;
IS entirely cut. The conductor threw O
We two or three Jumps and he train starts
II. into the tunnel. Those few humps
in coal cost the road thousands of dollar
IN and believe they cost two men the
ne lives.
Mt Jones went outside TO pick up Il
ed coal rs the train pulled out. Being on
ut side the tower, the noise of The ira
d) drowned that of his instrument. and
We did not hear Smiths call. y freigi
to train had come to Smiths end of ii
Id tunnel at the exact moment that Jon
40 was picking up the coal. AS Smith d
on not get any answer he thought,
he course, Jones was asleep and the tra(
mt clear. So he let the freight in. The
lis the two trains came together in 4
tunnel.
an The president of the road kept h
an word with the boys, but he took the
mo- off that tunnel and gave them dayligi
he jobs, where they were not SO likely
he sleep, and could not do so much danas
II if they did sleep. Those are but thr
ms of the many stories like them that ha
nd come under my personal observation
al Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette.