The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-19

He was the Oldest conductor IN the otale
perhaps the oldest in long ana CON,
+inuous service in the United STATES
and mavbe in the world. lie was hot
great man, but he was true hidh
ho,ost an. faithful, and every traveler
,,oo+od him. | have known him and
travelled with him for forty years, anu
always loved him, for he was palleht
md kind. He was firm and did MS duty'
brt without anger or rudeness. l never
cow him out of good temper or unduly
excited. but duty was his watchword.
No wonder ne was kept IN office from
administration to administration lor
railroad officials appreciate sucn men,
and even when he became TOO lnnrln 10
swing around the curves, Mr. Ihomas'
that prince of railroad kings, gave MIN
an easier berth, and saved money by IT.
for who could settle the disputes over
t;l,ed and DAMAGED stock like Sanford
The people all along the line respected
him and in most cases left the adjust
mont to his sole Judgment. Small law
xers ceased to fatten on small litigation.
.Sanford Bell says so" was the law and
the verdict. My regard for these true
and natient men increases with my
rears-these tried conductors. these en-
cinpers who day and night stand at the
throttle and realize the responsibility
that is upon them. Like the pilots on
tbe great steamships, they are ever on
the lookout for danger. Their eyes seem
To have grown nearer together and more
searching from the strain of constant
use in looking down the ever-changlng
track. I feel like tipping my hat to them
all and saying God bless You and pro-
feet YOU. for my life is in your hands
when / travel If danger or disaster
comes they receive the first shock, ana
oftentimes the last to them. HOW
thoughtless and unconcerned we travel
ers ride. with never thought about the
engineer in whose hands we are. Some
fines we read of wreck and the tel
erram savs. Engineer and fireman
killed. messengers all escaped" 10 my
mind there is something grandiy heroic
in the callings of these men who move
the wheels and stop them; these ehSl-
neers and brakemen who have ID cholce
of time or weather. In the bleak ana
wintry night they must breast tine
storm. "Goodby, wife, goodby mother,
INV time is out" He kisses the chlldren
and is off Not long ago ! heard poor,
fond mother say: My Tom is running
on the railroad now and helps us with
his nav. He is brakeman on frelght
train, and it is a pretty hard place IN
cold weather. but you know there are
no easy places now.
There are many kind of manners
manners at the table and the fireside and
in the church and in stores, on both
sides of the counter, and there are rail-
road manners, both of the officials and
the travellers. Not long ago | boarded
the Alabama Great Southern, Of the
Southern, at Chattanooga. and before
the train moved out an official came
through the car and in quiet, porte
manner asked every one Of us where we
were going He found one mann who was
going to Atlanta, and quickly hufried
him off and on to the Atlanta train
liked that: it was good railroad malnieis
and was new to me. Railroad oiflclals
con hardly realize how bewildered stran-
gers feel in a large union depot ana now
grateful they are for Information, espe-
ciaIlv when it is kindly volunteered.
Poor. timid women, unaccustomed 10
travelling. are so afraid they Will make
a mistake I came from Florida last
Monday and was impressed with the
kindness and attention of conductor,
n Mr.. Seabridge who runs tro.n Tampa
to Waycross. No woman was 100 mum
BILE or poorly clad to receive ms coLslu-
crate care. He assisted them III ana OUT
and took their babies in his arms ana
nroyided them with comfortable scans
and had his porter to take water 70 tlelr
little ones. He not only answered ques-
+;ons willingly and politely, but gave
+hay asked
Most all conductors are civil and cour-
taore Inf some answer you in a per-
fnnctory manner and pass on. Mr.. sea-
bridges face seemed to invite you to ask
for something. so that he might obllge
Won He did not know me nor that /
was observing him, but | cannot refrain
from saving he is the model conductor.
From WaycrOss to Triton we We're not
calm and serene. The night was co.a,
varv cold. and the car was colder, 1or
there was no fire, and the porter did not
SOON to care whether we froZe or not
We complained bitterly to the conduc-
for. and in an hour or so he had tne
nortar to make one. He started small
s;nLIv blaze in the heater and left us.
II soon went out and we never got any
fire until we got to Triton and changed
Conductors and porters. Mr.. Flournoy
was as indignant as we were anu ~ ~ w., -
stopped his personal supervision until we ",
were thoroughly warmed ana reYi'eu'
There is a difference in conductors.
And there is a greater difference III
travellers. Some viii politely oIer W
share the seat with you, WINE o'I tI.S
win stretch themselves ana iooh tlie
other way to keep from being disturbed !.
They act like they have the sihahp ~
and don't want you to catch it. NY
daughter and / sat behind prl ..1
connie as we went down, ana notW .lLa
standing the car was crowded anu De-
caI With his young wife occupied four
seats and stuck their feet upon one and
looked defiance at everybody. Women
came in with little children and passed
and repassed and found no seat. Inc
old groom had long, reddish-gr,ay WINS
kers. and the bride of % had her black