The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
FROM BUMPERS TO THROTTLE.
The Luck of a Tramp Who Knew Sew.
era1 Ihfngs About a Locomotive.
Chicago Inter Ocean.

Chicago Inter Ocean.
I'VE were coming east with the fast ex-
press, said the engineer, ''and my fireman
| got sick. l pitied the poor fellow and told
| him to get up on my side and run the en-
CINE and 1 would keep UP the fire. We did
not want to fall behind time, but the train
a high ten-wheeler, appeared to be working
| poorly, SO that no matter how we tried to
keep her hot she went back on us, and be-
utes late. After leaving F 1 went back
| to get things ready to take water at the
next plug, and found a grizzly bearded fell
order to get off at the next stopping place,
soon gave him the expected order.
" All right, pard," he said, in a good
humOred way, 4 am only trying to get to
glad to do something to work my way
:. What can you do? I asked.
engine of yours If you will give me a
I'VE needed an extra fireman real badly
just at that time, and 1 said to him, Get
up, then, and let me see what you can do
1.-THE grizzly bearded man came up, and
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 and examined the
fire critically. Then he began to break up
coal and mix it with the smaller particles.
after which he threw in four or five shovel
fuls, scattering it with a professional fling
of the scoop. Then he closed the door with
a bang, put the scoop in the proper place.
examined the steam and water gauges and
took a seat behind the sick fireman. Be
fore we had gone half a mile he was down
again carefully feeding in coal. Before the
next mile had been reeled off the engine
was steaming nicely and, although l was
pushing her hard on slight opposing
grade, the steam was keeping up around the
$50 notch. Our tramp fireman watched the
steam and smoke as it left the stack and
kept his eye on the furnace fire, and we
fessional. 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
1t 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 care
fully looked over his fire and put in some
more COAL
1.-The old fireman and I were getting in
must have noticed that we had struck a new
gait, but he did not know the cause.
looked at the sick fireman. and he looked at
me, and then we both gaZed respectfully at
the stranger, who was eating as though he
had been enduring a long fast / kept the
throttle almost wide open with the engine
well 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 / found it
right, and just then the new fireman, who
was also on the alert, cried out, white
block, and came down to put in 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 be-
fore l could see what kind of light we
We'll, we made the run for the remain
der of the. stretch of 120 miles dead easy,
and gained seven minutes besides, and
when we got to the tower near the depot we
were right on the dot. 1t was something
unusual for train to get in on time, as
it was a very heavy one and on that par
ticuiar night we had an extra car, and did
not know that the superintendent was on
10
plImented me on the splendid run had
made.
In the meantime 1 had provided the
stranger with enough cash to pay for his
bed and breakfast, and asked him to come
around and see me before he started for
P. Sure enough, he did come around,
and, as he had washed up and got clean
shave, he looked like different man.
questioned him about his previous career,
me his recommendations as fireman and en-
gineer, which had been written by the SUI
perintendents of some big roads He ex-
planned that his last unfortunate move was
voluntary, to get away from swell-headed
minor officials, who had no use for a de-
cent man unless he was lauding them
. I could not fiatter 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
voluntarily because 1 did not have to hit
the chump, but hit him for the sake of some
of the other men who had been his vic
TINS 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 a job firing now If
could get you one?' asked.
Yes" he answered, I would be will
ing to do anything to get a little money
II had learned that my fireman would
not be able to report for duty and asked
him if he would permit me to recommend
a fireman for that week.
Certainly sir, was the answer. You
are entitled to such a privilege after the
good work you have been doing.
We'll, / took Edmunds with me Chat
was the tramp ii1emans name). and he per-
formed wonderful work with the scoop, and
/ hated TO let him go, but the superin-
tendent heard of my windfall and before
a week Edmunds was running a freight
engine and now he Is hauling the limited
road.
y have picked up lots Of tramps since