The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-07-12

THE old Coz was stem winder, with
boiler runnin right through the cab
TO the back, dlvldln the fireman and
| engineers side. The alrbrake valve
was placed right on top the boiler, to-
ward the back eud of the cab, SOS you
could reach IL nice n handy while sit
tin in the seat. I'd no more n shut her
of when shadder fell over my shout
der, II turned quick, n Conroy sprung
on me.
"'You dirty blackguardv he scream
ed. I'll teach yer TO chuck my booze
overheard. Report me. Is II? You
dirty ragl Shure n you'll never live to
see the super ag'ln.'
AS he leapt ON me 1t took me back
SO that before l could do anything he
grabbed me 10y the shoulder, n | fell
backward alongside the boiler. my
head ON the front doorsill of the cab,
my back on the floor n Conroy on top
OF me. Although | was partly stunned
by the fall, | had mind enough left to
get my arms around him n hug him
close TO me.
"All this time the train had been
gainin Roadway down that hill, N we
were fairly slzzlln, the old mogawl
swayln to N fro as we swung around
turns. The space between the boiler
n the side of the cab was 80 narrer
couldn't turn Conroy off me, n
didn't dare let loose of him for fear
that he'd get hold of my throat He
was SO cra2ed by the liquor that he'd
drunk n his cravin for more that there
was no reasonin with him. He was 80
big II heavy that l couldn't do much
the way we lay, my back fat on the
floor. hemmed In by the side of the
cab on one side N the boiler ON the
other n | huggln him like long lost
brother the cars behind us meanwhile
doin the ragtimc down that hill
Things were gettin rather excltln, rs
there was likely TO be somethIn ahead
of us. N at the foot of the hill was an
other water plug. 1t was n branch sta
ton there, II the engines We're switchln
there at all times. II we ever hit any
thing ut That rate Of speed, | don't
think Joe Hoffman or any of us would
ever get In n church but once again, N
that would be ahead OF the mourners.
| couldn't depend on the train crew To
do anything, as you know crew on
these fast frelghts draw their money
for sleepln n playin penuchle In the
eaboose durin trips.
I'VE flashed by station half way
down the hill, goin so fast that
thought ms how that dispatcher In Jer-
sey City would glggle with delight II
he saw what good time that perlshable
freight was maxim toward Chicago. !
racked my brain to think what to do.
As the light of that station flashed
through the cab | spied the engineers
valve of the nlrbrake. figured az
how | could reach It with my right
foot, using my toe as n hook. N Jerk
the valve around TO the Emergency
notch N stop that train with n bang
thnt would make Joe Hoffman N his
crew In the cnboose think we'd run
into stone wall. | wrggled n got
my leg loose from under Conroy N
with II mighty effort give him raise
M = III have IT, my foot just caught tie
valve In the rebound n Jerked II
around In the Emergency. n, say. you
would have thought we had been las
seed. The jar broke both our holts.
n Conroy staggered 10 his feet, fell
backward through the back cab door
N rolled Off the tank. N that end
ed his railroad career then II there
without any special assistance from
me.
Hoffman came runnin up from the
cnboose when we had stopped n
yelled; We'll. dash yer. Whatever
stoppin here for2 Can't you keep steam
nuf to drag 'em down hillr
"'Oh,' | said, 'Conroy. my fireman. 3
got sick sister llvln back up here In
the woods. II guess he's gone 10 see
how she IL.
I'VE went back n picked Conroy up.
His skull had been fractured by strlt-
in mllepost. n they put his body In
the caboose, n got another fireman Mt
he water plug. n we went In on time"
Just then the messenger boy came IN
and yelled, stafford, they want you
fer train 81" and, taking farewell
chew of tobacco, he left.--New York
Sun.