The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-05-11

plainly, but he thought the headlight
was burning up, an expression which
means that the wick was turned too
high and the lamp smoking, SO that the
reflector was dull. .he glass blurred and
the headlight rendered practically Of
no value. He could not for this reason
tell whether there was number on the
headlight or not. When asked as to any
peculiarities about the engine, he said
thoughtfully: "She seemed to be foam
ing or something. She wasn't popping
off, but she had mighty lot Of steam
about her, as if she had a leaky steam
chest. They didn't whistle signals, and
pulled my whistle four times, but got
no answer, and they didn't stop. About
the engine. / did notice she wasn't
straight shot, extension front engine,
but she had the old style diamond stack.
I thought it might be one of the old
ones run over to the shops or to work
train.
This closed the hearing, and when
the crew were gone the officials began
to confer. The two department. repre-
sentatives admitted that they were all
at sea. A boy brought in bunch Of
telegrams at this moment. Among them
were elaborated statemen from the
two night operators who had seen the
light train, but nothing Of particular
value was added. That ended the evi-
dence. Nothing more could be gained
from any point. The three officials
made recapitulation of the reports and
statements, but they didn't seem to ar
rive at any conclusion. No engine and
caboose had left Termini, an engine and
caboose had passed Muldrow's Noun
tain and Cordelia Junction, and that
was all.
"How long have you been on this
roads, asked Belford, turning sudden
ly to the superintendent of motive pow
er.
"Eight years this summer, replied
Small
.sWhen were tho straight shot stack,
extension front engines put on this di-
vision?''
eve got the first one six years ago
and have replaced the old ones each
year, until there are but two left. One.
the 76. is on the gravel train. $50 miles
from here, and the other has been IN
the shop for month and has no pony
trucks under her.
Then addressing himself to Rains
ford he asked, "When was it we adopt
ed the cupola caboose?"
"Nine years ago, in 1885," said the
master of transportation after a mo-
ment's thought.
Then after few moments consulta-
ton the heads of the respective depart
ments returned to their Offices, and the
high official sat looking out Of his win
dow, away across the river, far out over
the Ohio falls, where the clear blue wa
tiers were curling gracefully down to be
churned into lacy foam ON the rocks be-
low. But he was not thinking Of the
water or the rocks.
Superintendent Belford reused him
self. He was not dreamer, though he
had wasted whole hour. 1t was noon,
the screaming whistles told him, and
what he had expected to clear up in an
hour he had spent half day over, and
it had now deepened into a positive
mystery.
"There is but one more man to see.
He may be able to clear this up some
way, mused the great man. "Ithought
he would be here by this time" +" The
door opened at this moment, and Super
intendent Belford arose and, holding
out his hand, said cordially: "Good
morning, Mr.. Moore. sent for you to
see if you could help us to clear up a
matter of a wild engine on our divi-
sion last night. .
Dispatcher Moore bowed grayely and
took the chair the superintendent had
motioned him to.
"Here are the correspondence ane all
the memoranda we have gathered. The
chief dispatcher says you have been on
the road longer than any of US and
thinks you can make something out OF
this. I"
"I will see what can find, Z" said
the dispatcher briefly.
Belford returned to che window and
left the man looking over the papers.
Belford had met the dispatcher but
once previous to this. but be had often
heard him spoken Of as man Of great
capacity and an extensive knowledge OF
railroad affairs. AS he looked at him
now he noticed that Moore was young
man, perhaps 35, with clear blue eyes,
strong, square jaw, dropping blond
mustache and pleasant but grave face.
His hair was slightly gray at the sides,
and taken altogether Moore was dis
tinguished looking man. Belford won
dered why this capable man had re-
fused promotion, preferring to remain a
second trick dispatcher, position he
had now held for II years.
Thirty minutes passed before Moore
showed back the papers he had been
carefully reading, and leaning back in
his chair locked steadily at the ceiling
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