The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-07-13


road strike In 1898 found me, through
force of circumstances. catering to the
voracious appetite of a mountain To-
comotive out of Helena. Mont, on the
Northern Pacific Railroad or as the
Official record elbows fireman ON con-
solidated engine 4Si between Helena
and Einston on the Rocky Mountain
division"
The road was congested with freight
accumulated during the 'tie-up" and
the management making every effort
10 clear the side tracks Of the division
In addition TO taking care OF the SEEM
ingly endless procession OF freight
trains pouring in at each terminal. /
had experienced the added work en-
tailed by relaxed blockade many
times before, but always as train de-
spatcher, and never fully realized the
position OF an overworked engincman.
owing To the scarcity of men, some of
the helping engines were laid OFF and
those in service had to do double duty.
Many times during that period sixty
hours would pass without even the
proverbial forty wInks OF sleep" To
rest my aching head and the sight of
the call boy coming toward the en-
sine after every run with his dirty
dog-eared book held I'm readiness for us
10 sign as acknowledgment or an order ,
10 turn back" when the engine was |
coaled became nightmare. When at |
intervals two or at most five hours
could be snatched for rest, how soft the i
planks OF the roundhouse floor seemed /
as l would throw my tired body upon |
them, and with bundle OF waste for /
"a M no ftf., fl..ss fha,,
kicking Off my heavy shoes. drop of |
into dreamless sleep only TO be again |
awakened for another attempt To pre- /
vent the ll-foot firebox OF the old Raid
win hog from eating the seven tons of
coal on the tender before the summit
at Blosburg was reached. There was |
only one relaxation outside of these
occasional maps. and that was I'm COM |
ing down the hill on either side. Then
the fireman was at liberty to light his
pipe and ring warning bell at the
occasional road crossings In the ex-
hausted condition most of us found
ourselves this amusement would set the !
partcipator nodding and that would |
would not be tolerated by the engi-
neers irritated as they were by the
disturbed condition OF labor cir |
cles. In order TO avoid the
advances OF the drowsy god |
and at the same time perform a por-
tion OF the fireman's duty which from |
constant road service might otherwise |
be neglected | would climb out on the |
running board and with waste in hand
wipe the boiler jacket. steam dome.
sand box, bell smoke arch and cab as ,
we swayed around sharp curves or !
rumbled over high trestles. the extreme ,
danger of the position serving to keep | ,
me awake. and the result of my work !,
TO win commendation from my engi- :
ne r and master mechanic. The tunnel | /
which pierced the mountain just east | /,
OF Blossburg was always filed with | d
smoke and this, with the dripping | I
wat from the damp rocks of it's roofs | I
and sides, would besmear the engine |
from stack to cab so the downward
pitch of the hill always found me OUT 5
side.
telegraph office called Skyline was | 3,
the first habttation passed after leaving | a
the tunnel going toward Helena; then | II
crossing dozens Of trestles. high low. | +,
wood and iron, some on a straight line | n
and some on reverse curves the track ! =,
wound around II pitch of 200 feet 20 "
the mile through the mountain pass. 4 9,
smaller tunnel. more curves bridges | -
and rock cuts and another telegraph q,
office. Butler, was reached. Two long a.
side tracks for meeting trains had been r.
put I'm here. water tank enabled the n,
thirsty giants 10 store fresh supply of a.
steam giving fluid going west and a | 49,
telegraph office. stood with it's sema- ~,
Dhore ike warning arm extending to- NJ
ward the track. In order TO guard 60
against hcad-end collision. arising Na
rom an east-bound train getting be- ~
'ond the control of the crew and tear ,,r
ng INTO Butler before the opposing ~
rain was I'm the side track to clear. a 80
o-called safety switch adorned this ,,,'
tation yard, monument TO the men, | 60
ality of some theoretical chief engineer 81 s.
III ..f 1
ected spur side track leading a short | ~ ~
Instance up slight incline terminal -
ng IN sand bank. When n meeting - ~.
70 mt was made al Butler the operator a.. ar
mere was given an order To set his a. a.
safety switch" and after his renly u-l
'as received the trains would be given Pc
ne appropriate meeting orders. Though 9.
AFFORDED immunity from head-end 80 -.
DIVISIONS IN case of runaway yet the 80
respect presented to the crew of the a ia
lnaway train for long life and happi. -, -,
ess was not dazzling. Even IL the en- W VI
Inc TOOK the switch without leaving -, vol
ie track the short spur would be only ,.. a.u
j, straw to check the speed before IL s ess
Isu up IN the sand 10 be covered with ~.
elght cars and their contents w VI
from Butler east the country was tne
ss rugged. though n grade OF one hum .Ie'
~ rect 10 the mile was followed 70 ~.
lIuseye. >hence To the grade crossing tne
the Montana Central Railroad the @ @s.'e
auh '',, was level. followed by slight WY, rls
cine INTO Helena. This dsscription pou
'Y iaintly pictures one. size OF the hin our
Whlch passed so many perspirfng %
Az the engineer has onl, u,,to , ing
j labor 10 perform his effor,s -, hs',, | plat
'ake were more satisfactory when nlnl
nchcapped by long hours. and rather ana
an be caught mapping OLD Gsnda, ~, bur
agle eye of the isl. demanded an. ed
,eivcd eight hours rest In eV,ar,, tr'a,, trou
-four. Though u was accorSad - the
heer the fireman who disp,ayed stat
rh temerity would have had bhs lac, cCm
'de miserable. so I poked around AZ | ven
'ding TO my duties i'm semi-stupor tn
the time. with n stranger al tba ger
'ottle every few trips on u
--- n ri'
me morning ! found a new engineer Su
ng around in Gander's place whom pull
ne NaWnino 1pup fr,r, a.. ] pnlff