The colored American., 1899-11-25
TRAMP WHO KNEW.
The Result of the Engineer Giving a Man
Employ nient.

up the IL " z u4u nOL W ait UO 1eSl4
behind time, but the train was a heavy
one, and the engine, which was a big
ten-wheeler, appeared TO be working
poorly, so that no matter how we tried
10 keep her hot she went back on us
and before we got to Eve were fifteen
minutes late. After leaving F. I went
back to get things ready to take water
at the next plug and found a grizzly
bearded fellow stealing a ride ron the
blind baggage car. He looked at me as
IL anticipating an order to get off at
the next stopping place, and 1 looked
at him, perhaps sayagely, and soon
gave him the expected order.
All right, pard,' he said, in a good
humored way, I am only trying to get
to p and will leave you, but would
be glad to DO something to work my
way -
What can you do?' asked.
"'Well, sir he answered, I can fire
that engine OF yours, IL you will give
me a chance
I'VE needed an extra fireman real
badly just at that time, and 1 said to
him: Get up, then, ard let me see what
you can do
''The grizzly bearded man came up,
and the way he mounted the tank and
balanced himself on the coal ma
swung down into the cab gave me
some confidence in the fellow. He took
up the scoop at once, opened the fur
mace door, and examined the fire crit
ically. Then he began to break up
coal and mix it with smaller particles,
after which he threw in four or five
shovelfuls, scattering it with a profess
sional fling of the scoop Then he clos
ed the door with bang, put the scoop
in the proper place, examined the
steam and water gauges, and took
seat behind the sick fireman. Before
We had gone half a mile he was down
again carefully feeding in coal. Before
the next mile had been reeled off the
engine was steaming nicely, and al
though I was pushing her hard on
slight opposing grade, the steam kept
around the $50 notch. Our tramp fire.
man watched the steam and smoke as
1t left the stack and kept his eye on the
furnace fire, and We saw at once that
we had picked up a professional. My
fireman offered the stranger his dinner
bucket, which had not been touched
and, after feeling the bottom Of the
part that contained coffee, he shook
1t little and set it just where | would
have put if for the same purpose, and
then, while he waited for it to get
warm, he carefully looked over his fire
and put in some more coal.
"The old fireman and | were getting
interested, and I think that the con-
7uctor must have noticed that we had
struck a new gait, but he did not know
The cause. I looked at the sick fireman
and he looked at me and then we both
EaZed respectfully at the stranger, who
was eating as though he had endured
long fast. I kept the throttle almost
wide open, with the engine we'll hooked
up to the high speed notch, and the
way we went up that hill and down the
next was a caution to the freight crews
We passed along the way. When we
reached the distant signal at the x
eower l found 1t all right, and just
then the new fireman, who was also
On the alert, cried out: white block
and came down to put in some more
coal. The home signal happened to be
on his side of the curve, and he knew
his duty, and had the proper words In
his mouth before I could see what kind
Of light we were to get
"OlA We LnS IuU lOI IuC 10
mainder Of the stretch of 120 miles
dead easy, and gained seven minutes
besides, and when we got to the tower
near the depot we were right on the
dot. It was something unusual for
our train to get il on time, as it was
4 very heavy one, and on that particu-
lar night we had an extra car, and did
not know that the Superintendent was
hoo II until hn irn yboy,
he complimented me on the splendid
run had made.
I'm the meantime had provided the
stranger with enough cash to pay for
his bed and breakfast, and asked him
to come around and see me before he
started for P. Sure enough, he did
come around and, as he had washed
up and got a clean shave, he looked
like different man. / questioned him
about his previous career, and he talk
ed like a gentleman, and showed me
recommendation as fireman and en-
gineer which had been written by the
superintendents of some big roads. He
explained that his last unfortunate
move was voluntary, to get away from
some swell-headed minor officials who
had no use for a decent man unless he
was iauding them eternally to the skies.
I could not f1atter such people, he
said; they deserved 70 be kicked; but
I gave one of them an uppercut under
the jaw, and took it for granted that it
was best for me to hunt for new job.
I say I did this voluntarily, because l
lid not have to hit the chump. but hit
him for the sake Of some of the other
men who had been his victims so long.
But had luck befell me, get sick, lost
my money, and had TO Try TO beat ny
way to P, where I have friends
Would you accept a job firing now
II I could get you one?' asked.
Yes" he answered, I would be
willing to do anything to get a little
money
'T had learned that my fireman
would not be able to report for duty.
and went to the superintendent's Of
fee and asked him If he would permit
me to recommend a fireman for thai
week.
Certainly, sir was the answer.