Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1898-11-17
HIS LAST RUN
BY Herbert E. Hamblin.
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DIG, BURLY, good-natured Jake
ID Woodford, the most popular engi-
neer on the H., w. & H., ran the linn
tied express eight years and eleven
months. Having worked his way up
from wiper to the proud position of
engineer of the flyer, he knew the
routine thoroughly, His experience
enabled him to understand, and his
kindly nature caused him to sympa-
thize with, his fellow-employes in the
innumerable trials pertaining to all
grades of railroad service. A thor
ough disciplinarian within the limited
sphere of his authority, he boasted
that he had yet to make his first "re-
port" To that was due his popularity.
Ordinarily q modest man, Jake was
proud of his family and his railroad
record. Having married late in life,
his family was small, consisting of a
wife, not half his weight, who led him
by the despotic power of pure love and
faithful devotion, and two toddlers
Jimmy, aged five, and Sallie, a
midget of three. 1t was with them,
in the privacy of his home, at whose
threshold the authority of superin'
tendents and master mechanics ceased
that he enjoyed the reward of his long
years of corporation servitude. And
to them, the big, genial husband and
father was the embodiment of all that
was grand and good.
His record was absolutely clear-a
condition almost unparalleled in rail
road annals; for the rules of the sery-
ice are especially framed to catch the
unwary. Hence, to acquire and re-
tain such a record requires constant
care and quick wit in emergencies.
You are not to understand that dur
ing all those years his train had ar
rived at, and departed from, all sta
tions with chronometric accuracy
That, indeed, would verge on the inn
possible. Although an engineer aims
to be on time "all over the road" he is
safe if he delivers his train at the ter
minus, or to the next division, tech
nically on time. There is limited
amount of time that may be lost with
out censure-in this instance it wa'
three minutes-and a train arriving
within this limit is bulletined "OI
Time" Even if time is lost along the
road, arrival at the terminus within
limit squares it. 1t was in accomplish
ing this apparently simple feat thai
lake Woodford had established phe
nomenal record.
When three minutes were lost on the
limited the engineer received an or
der to report to the superintendent
and explain-if he could. The fact was
noted on his record, and a second oc
currence in one month proved his un
fitness for his position. During thos'
nine years Jake had never given an oc
casion for being called to the office.
Jake's engine, a big siX-wheeler
number 81, stood at the head of hel
train, the incarnation of latent power
The gentle, regular putting of the air
pump exhaust gave her the appear
ance of enjoying a quiet smoke Will,
waiting. She glistened and shimmereC
In the sun with profusion of polished
metal-a mute tribute to the fireman.
industry. Quietly and patiently sh'
waited for the touch Of the master
hand that should send her tearing
along through the country at mile-a
minute gait.
Jake sat in the cab, his left han'
grasping the throttle lever and hi
head out Of the window, watching tn
conductor for the signal to go. He ha'
inspected her thoroughly with wrencl
and hammer, and knew her 10 be "al
there" Not a bolt nor a nut wa
slack. wedges were accurately adjust
ed and firmly secured, oil cups feeding
correctly, the gauge "a hundred an.
enough" and, in short, she was al
ready." And yet he was uneasy. Tn
rsesnt heavy rains bad fouled the wa
ter In the tanks along the road caus
ipq h TO foam in the boiler-nothinI
vsry serious or unusual on loeome