Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-29
A TRAMP WHO KNEW.
The Engineer Found He Was an Ex-
pert Fireman.
fha Int

The Engineer Found He Was an Ex-
pert Fireman.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
"We we're coming east with the fast ex-
PRESS" said the engineer. land my fire.
man got sick. pitied the poor fellow.
and told him to get up my side and run
the engine. and 1 would keep up the fire.
We did rot want to fall behind time. but
the train was a heavy one, and the en-
gine. which was big ten-wheeer, APP
peared to be working poorly. that no
matter how we tried to keep her hot. she
went back on US, and before we got TO
F. We were fifteen minutes late. After
leaving F. I went back to get things ready
TO take water at the next plug. and found
a Srizzly-bearded fellow stealing a ride on
the blind baggage car. He looked at me
as If anticipating an order to get of at the
next stopping place. and 1 looked at him.
perhaps savagely. and soon gave him the
expected order.
"'Al right. pard' he said. In good
hunored way. 1 am only trying to get to
P. and will leave you. but would be glad
to do something to work my way
What can you do? ] asked.
"'Well, sir he answered, I can FIRE that
engine of yours. II you will give me a
chance
we needed an extra fireman real badly
up, then. and let me see what you can do
Tile grizzly-bearded man came up. and
the way lie mounted the tank and balanced
himself on the coal and swung down into
the cab gave me some confidence in the
fellow. He took up the scoop at once,
opened the furnace door, ard examined the
fire critically. Then he began to break up
coal and mix it with smaller particles after
which he threw in four or five shovelfuls
scattering it with professional fling of the
scoop. Then he closed the door with
bang. put the scoop in the proper place.
examined the steam and water gauges,
and took a seat behind the sick fireman
Before we had gone half a mile he was
down again carefully feeding in COAL Be
lore the next mile had been reeled of the
engine was steaming nicely and. although
was pushing her hard on a slight op-
posing grade, the steam was keeping up
around the 15O notch. Our tramp fireman
the stack and kept his eye on the furnace
fire. and we saw at once that we had picked
up professional. My fireman offered the
stranger his dinner bucket, which had not
been touched, and, after feeling the bottom
of the part that contained the coffee he
shook it a little and set 1t Just where l
would have put it for the same purpose.
and then. while he waited for it to get
warm, he carefully looked over his fire and
put in some more coal.
'The old fireman and I We're getting in
terested, and l think that the conductor
must have noticed that we had struck a
new gait, but he did not know the cause.
locked at the sick fireman. and he looked
at me. and then we both gazed respectfully
at the stranger. who was eating though
he had endured a long fast. 1 kept the
throttle almost wide open. with the engine
we'll hooked up to the high-speed notch,
and the way we went up that hill and
down the next was a caution to the freight
crews we passed along the way. When we
reached the distant signal at the X tower
I found ii right, and just then the new fire.
man, who was also on the alert, cried out.
1lyp t.,
some more coal. The home signal happened
TO be on his side of the curve, and he knew
his duty, and had the proper words in his
mouth before l could see what kind of
light we were to get.
"Well We made the run for the remainder
of the stretch of 100 miles dead easy, and
gained seven minutes besides, and when
we got to the tower near the depot we were
right en- the dot. 1t was something un-
usual for our train to get in on time, as 1t
was n very heavy one. and on that particu-
lar night we had an extra car, and did not
know that the superintendent was on board
until the next morning, when he comoli-
mcnted me on the splendid run had made.
I'm the meantime 1 had provided the
stranger with enough cash to pay for his
bed and breakfast, and asked him to come
around and me before he started for
p. Sure enough, he did come around,
and, he had washed up and got a clean
shave. he looked like different man.
questioned him about his previous career
and he talked like gentleman, and
showed me recommendations fireman
and engineer which had been written by
the superintendents of some big roads. He
explained that his last unfortunate move
was voluntary, to get away from some
swell-headed minor officials who had no
use for decent man unless he was lauding
them eternally to the skies.
L could not flatter such people, he said
they deserved to be kicked; but gave one
Of them an uppercut under the jaw, and
took it for granted that it was best for me
to hunt new job. l say did this volun-
tarily, because l did not have to hit the
chump, but hit him for the sake of some
of the other men who had been his victims
so long. But bad luck befell me- got sick
lost my money, and had to try to beat my
way to P, where have friends
Would you accept job firing now II
could get you one? I asked.
Yes he answered, I would be willing
to do anything to get little money
Il had learned that my fireman would
not be able to report for duty, and went
to the superintendent's office and asked
him II he would permit me to recommend
fireman for that week
Certainly. sir was the answer You
are entitled to such a privilege after the
good work you have been doing
Well, took Edmunds with me (tbat
was the tramp fireman's name). and he
performed wonderful work with the SCOOP.
and hated to let him go, but the super
ln1endent heard of my windfall, and be-
frelght engine. and now he is hauling the
limited express. and one of the best run
ners on the road.
:, nave picked up lots of tramps since
the heat he obtained from the furnace fira.
put whenever see some poor fellow
sniverfng on the bumpers I think of Ed
H.unos. who Is now my best friend, and try
to help the pilgrim along"