The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-07-07
yESS.-


DAY, aud while It Is contradictory.
believe that the verdict OF the coroner's
jury will be that some one OF the EN-
ployes was asleep while on duty" The
speaker was one OF the oldest railroad
engineers In the country who. after
twenty years in charge OF the throttle
of a locomotive. voluntarily resigned
20 seek other pursuits not so dangerous
or exciting when the Pennsylvania
railroad was completed to Pittsburg
nearly Atty years ago he took the SEE
ond locomotive over the Allegheny
mountains. with the late Thomas l.
Scott az his conductor At that time
the Pennsylvania railroad named all OF
its locomotives after rivers or creeks
along the line. and this engineer was
known as billy Gardner. Of the Black
log" the latter part Of the title being
the name OF the locomotive and the
former the engineers name. Resum-
ing. the engineer said; There Is
something about railroading that con-
duces to sleep II may be the rumbling
that causes drowsiness. It may be the
long hours on duty. but In many cases,
In my judgment. II is the failure OF the
employees to secure needed rest when
they have the opportunity During my
twenty years experience as driver OF
the iron horse knew Of hundreds OF
severe wrecks due entirely to some one
being asleep on the post OF duty
Even the responsibility imposed on the
man would not have the effect OF caus-
ing him to keep awake. Sometimes II
Il the fault OF the higher officials In
compelling the men to work too long
without sleep.
II remember one occasion during
the nrst year OF the civil war when
all the members OF my crew, includ-
Ing myself. were required to work ~
consecutive hours without sleep. and
then were dismissed because we de-
clined to make another trip before
seeking ropose. During that period
there were times that the only way
could keep awake was to rub tobacco
Juice into my eyes and the pain, OF
necessity. banlshed slumber for time.
However. when the superintendent
was told OF the facts leading up 20 the
dismissal he not only reinstated all
those dismissed. Tut gave them two
weeks leave OF absence with pay. Al
the same time the master mechanic,
who made the dlsmissals. came In for
severe scoring at the hands of the
superintendent.
"But once in my railroad career did
turn my engine over to my fireman
and go back to the caboose for a little
rest, and the narrow escape that then
had from severe wreck and the kill
ing and wounding OF hundreds OF
sleeping passengers taught me les
son that was never forgotten. The in
cldent occurred in Illinois. In Febru-
airy, 1870. Al that time was running
an engine pulling fast freight on
the Illinois Central railroad. My fire.
man was young man named Houck
whom | had instructed In all that he
knew about railroading. My health
was not OF the best at that time, as
had been an annual victim OF the
ague that pervades southern Illinois
and my system was shattered from
the shakes In addition. there wa,
some sickness among the members Of
my family. with the result that my
nights at home would be broken NJ
in looking after the comfort OF tn,
loved ones. Business on the railroad
was brisk. and there was heavy pas
senger traffic due to the annual Mard
Gras celebration In New Orleans.
ION the night in question my trair
was running south. | had a fve-and
a-half foot Rogers engine and wal
hauling 40 loaded cars. Along abou
10 o'clock found that | could hardl!
keep my eyes open. The road aheat
OF me was clear OF trains for an hou
or more. About the only thing OF i'm
portance In view was to meet and pas
the Chicago express at Makanda
which was "a mlleG away. | then yield
ed TO temptation. Placing my fireman
in charge OF the trottle, with the heat
brakeman to do the firing, went bacl
90 the caboose TO secure q little rest
l should not have taken this step II
mad not ftpohcu NNeA9 Nohhu'hNt II
my fireman. and believed that h
was thoroughly competent to run tn
engine.
"How long slept ! do not know
but 1 awoke with the premonltion tina
something was wrong. As | regalnel
my senses realized by the swayin
of the train that It was running nue.
faster than It would have been had
been in charge OF the throttle. Their
was n heavy down grade for Ave mile
90 the point where was to meet tn
express, and my first thought was tina
we had struck the grade and game
the impetus. sprlnglng to my feet
hurried out the front door OF the ca
boose, and climbed TO the top OF tn
arst freight car. The sight that me
my eyes nearly paralyzed me. Their
in full view / saw the headlight G
the heavily loaded express train wall
a.. NHuAU a.. NaI