The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-17
Utlp Ierala aul S|elps
ARP WRITES OF BELL.
BARLOW PHILOSOPHER PAYS a TEI
Butte TO THE OLD CONDUCTOR.
WAS sScver Out of Temper--Railroad Men
and Their Dangers n nreiDiscusscd by
tho Cartersvilie sage.

faithful veteran Of the boil cord, is
dead. lie was tho oldest conductor
in tho State-perhaps the Oldest in
long and continuous service in the
United States, and maybe in tho
world. He is not a great man, but
he was true man, honest and faith
full, and every traveller respected
him. l have known him and travelled
with him for forty years and always
loved him, for he was patient and
kind. He was firm and did his duty,
but without anger or rudeDess. /
never saw him out Of good temper or
unduly excited, but duty was his
watchword. No wonder ho was kept
in Office from administration to ad-
ministration, for railroad officials ap-
preciate such mon, and even when
no became too inlrm to swing around
the curves. Mr.. Thomas, that prince
of railroad kings, gave him an easier
berth, and saved money by it, for
who could settle disputes over'killed
and damaged stock like Sanford
The people all along the line respect
cd him and in most cases left the ad-
jnstmout to his sole Judgment. Small
lawyers ceased to fatten on small
litigation. ''Sanford Bell says So"
was tho law and the verdict. What
Il record for an unprotending man.
My regard for these true and patient
men increases with my years-these
tried conductors, these engineers
who day and night stand at the
throttle and realize the responsibility
that is upon them. Like tho pilots
on the great steamships, that are
ever on the lookout for danger
Their eyes seem to havo grown near
er together and moro searching from
tue strain Of constant use in looking
down the cvrrchuuging track. |
feel like tipping my hat to them all
and saying God bless you and pro-
tect You, for my life is in your hands
when travel. If danger or disaster
comes they receive tho first shock,
md oCtcntimcs the lat to them
How thoughtltss and unconcerned
we travellers ride with never a thought
about Tho engineer in whose hands
We arc. Sometimes we read Of q
wreck and the telegram says: EN-
Sinecr and fireman killed; passen-
gers all escaped" 10 any mind
there is something grandly heroic in
the callings of these men who move
the wheels and stop them; these en-
ginoors and brnhcSmen who have no
choice Of time or weather. In the
bleak and wintry night they must
breast the storm. "Goodby wife,
goodby mother, my time is out" He
kisses the children and is off. Not
long ago heard poor, fond mother
say: only Tom is running on the
railroad now and hel ps us with his
pay. He is brakeman on Il freight
train, and it is pretty hard place
in bad weather, but you know there
arc no easy places now"
There are many kinds Of manners
--manners at the table and the fire
side and in the church and in the
stores, on both sides of the counter,
and there arc railroad manners, both
Of officials and the travellers. Not
long ago / hoNrdcd the Alabama
Great Southern, Of the Southern, ut
Chattanooga and before the tram
moved out an official came through
the car aud in quiet, polite manner
asked every one Of us where we were
going. He found Quo man who was
going to Atlanta and quickly hurried
him off and on to tho Atlanta train.
/ liked that; it WAS good railroad
manners and was now to me. Rail
road officials can hardly realize how
bowildered strangers feel in large
union depot and how grateful they
are for information, especially when
it is kindly volunteered. Poor, timid
women nnaccnstom"d to travelling
are 50 afraid th"y will make mis-
take. camo from Florida last
Monday and was impressed with the
kindness aud attention of q conduc-
tor, q Mr.. Soabring, who runs from
Tampa to Waycross No woman
\yog tCo hup,bln or ,,norly n1o1 70 va