Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1898-05-31
A RAILROAD MANS STORY

A RAILROAD MANS STORY
Conversation had turned to the subject Of
the perils of railway life. One story ssg.
Rested another, and the whole range Of ad-
venture Of the railway mans life was run
through; but it was noticeable that all the
"reminiscences were of events that occurred
years ago and mostly in the new west. .
"There aren't any such chances and dan.
gers nowadays In this part of the country"
said the senior member OF the group.
"The establishment of railroading a. ~
exact science has done away with the peril
and romance" agreed another. "Now, Ill
wager that Mr.. c. here, who hasn't been
in the business more than few years, has
found it monotonous enough routine"
He turned to the youngest member Of the
company, q man who was graduated few
years ago from the University of Pennsyl.
vania and went into the service of one Of tho
large railroads, where he had earned rapid
promotion.
eve had one little adventure that was
exciting enough for me. and it was right
within few miles of New York. 19
cause l can't prove the allegation that IL
contained in it." said the young man. $50
III give IN alias to the other party in tho
affair. Directly after my graduation went
into the employ Of what I'll call the Inter.
state Railroad company, and began At the
bottom as general assistant in . round
house, as it was desirable for various rea-
sons that should know the business from
the bottom. From that rose to be loco
motive fireman. They switched me around
a good deal, and found the engineers whom
I worked under as fine lot of fellows on the
whole az a man would want to associate
| with. ~
"Such was my experience until came to
be put on Engine No. IL, under an engineer
whom will call Mclean. He was good
engineer, sober, efficient and dependable,
but as a man he was pretty far below mark.
By nationality he was Scotch 1rishman.
He was about 40 years old, square built, with
a stolid, stern face, glowering disposition, o
| harsh manner and heart of black hateful
ness. - .:.'
He'll make your life hell to you, will
Mclean some Of the other engineers
warned me. He's hard man. .:.15
ct guess I'll get along with him by doing
my work and keeping my mouth Shut said
I, confidently. -
"But did not know my man. From the
| first he hated me because he knew was
college man and because he once saw me in
the street in evening clothes. He was man
Of little speech, but that little was bite
venom. Before had been there Q week
| discovered what had to expect.
"Hustle along there, you young dude, 10
would say; you'll be none the worse 35r
little grease on them hands Of your'n. Grit
| would be: Take your college education out
there on the engine and oil her up in .
hurry H%;!
my resolve hid been always to recognize
my engineer as a captain and to yield uncom-
planning acquiescence to his discipline. This
did with Mclean, until one. day he did
what, In justice to him, never saw him do
before or since; he called me foul name.
The impulse to have it out with him then
was strong on me, but controlled myself.
"'In be transferred from Is one Of these
days, Mclean said. And that day you'll
stand up to me man to man and III make y0u
swallow that word ="
1T was that, have no doubt, that put
murder into his heart. At lifetime he made
no reply; only scowled at me, and for sev.
cral days thereafter he spared me his taunta
About Z week later we were hauling light
train up from Philadelphia. There was Q
stiff wind blowing and we were travelling
easily 40 miles an hour. Just before we
reached Elizabeth Mclean turned TO-; me
"'What are you loafin' there for?' be
cried, D'you think you're in your society
now? Take your pretty poses out on the
engine and oil her up. Step quick about it,
too f.
1.-THE order was Z strange one. He knew
perfectly well that there was no need Of oil
out there at that time. Moreover, at that
speed and in that high wind the task would
be by no means devoid of danger. Hooked
| ct him in surprise.
"'Are you scared to do 1t, ar. DudeT he
meered.
"Out I went, oil can In hand, with little
relish for my job. The wind plu>ked at me
like the grasp of hands, and It was no small
matter to keep from being blown away like
. bit Of paper. I worked along, however,
till I came to the front of the cowcatcher.
There was a bad place. To get around the
angle would have to relinQuish my hold
for a second and grasp tho bar on the fur
ther side, very ticklish bit OF business. We
were approaching the station In Elizabeth
when I did it. Now, do not gay that No
Lean was watching me, and I cannot prove
that he had reckoned on that very thing, but
that is what happened:
AT the instant when / was standing.
without hand-hold, reaching for tho farther
bar, I felt great, and sudden shock that
threw me of my balance. With the thought
that l was lost came the realization of the
cause. Mclean had put on the air brakes,
knowing that the fierce check would shake
me from the cowoatchsr, To be thus tossed
from the cowcatcher Of train going 40
miles an hour may be reckoned as tolerably
sure death, and I regard my escape as a sort
of marvel. The instinct of self-presefvation
electrified every muscle for the one chance
that remained, to throw myself off to one
side. kicked out 6ercely, struck on the
wooden platform Of the station, rolled and
bounds4 with momentum that brought mo
ND on m, feet and sent me rushing down the
boards at tremendous pace until collided
with a baggage man and we both went
sprawling. / was unhurt, but 20 feet be.
yond the point where my mad rush ended
was the big wing of the fence that borders