The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-16
The Story Of Mrs. Pease, Formerly Train.
mistress at ella Bend.
HUSBAND ENLISTED, SHE HELD HIS PLACE
For Eight Months, Until His Return,
she Discharged the Duties of His
Office as Trainmaster.

woman rises to an official position in rail
road work, and so seldom that she inyades
the domain of man In the departments
'nat require executive ability. coupled
with intimate knowledge of train service.
mat the career of Mrs. Nora Pease OF
ella Bend, n. NJ. as trainmistress Il don't
believe that word was ever used beforo)
makes an interesting story. In MAY OF
1898, when Admiral Dewey's victory had
aroused such blaze of patriotic enthusi-
asm throughout the land. o. F. Pease
tralnmaster of the Southern Pacific rail-
way TO ella Bend, turned his office and in
structions over TO his wife and "loped''
ior the nearest recruiting station, leaving
Mrs. rease to temporarily handle a po-
sitlon that often taxes the ability of the
smartest railroad men. The Southern pa
enc was doing all the business it could
handle, and the duties of the position in
creased every day. These duties consisted
IN selecting able and efficient trainmen
eonauctors ana brakemen, occasionally dis
charging or, if the oifense was nor RIO
bad, soundly disciplining the recreant one !.
seeing that the coal supply is adequate
TOT the division use. handling correspond
ence that makes many man ask for his
traln again, and above ALL handling and
directing the huge traffic of a great ~Ink
me- SO the minimum of delay NAV he ar
complished. Four years of constant assn.
citation with railroad men-for yn that ont
ot-the-w way place there was no other So
elety-often during the rushes of business
called TO help her husband through roma
OF the troubles that arise in an office
covering so many details, and, previous TO
her marriage, service as telegraph oper
ator al one OF the larger stations on the
line. mad given Mrs. Pease a very thor
oush knowledge of the duties of the Cost
ton. She knew she could handle the
work until such time as the COMPANY saw
Mt TO replace her with a competent man
so Immediately after her husband left she
Wlred the general office the condition of
affairs at ella Bend. From some cause
OF other no attention was paid to the tele-
gram. A day or two later she wrote the
superintendent the full particulars. and
tnen came an answer appointing her act
ing tralnmaster. The official said he would
ne out IN day or two to see how things
We're moving. He came and was evil
IDENTIFY satisfied with the condition of af-
talrs, for no change was made. and the
'duy was secure in a position that never
sex. "a A0i
II was coming East in June of 1898
when the train was on was stoned iust
west OF ella Bend yards by a small wrecls
Inat mad not been entirely cleared I'm.
~ was only little affair a freight train
coming into the yards had found a
switch wrong and the engine and a
car or two were off the track
ieit the train in which l was travelling
Anu Az walked by the wreck up to the depot
At one end OF the station building was
d uoor marked Trainmaster's Office Now,
all my early life was spent on railroads
ana still have a decided longing to
again get on top of a train as an emplove
ana while know that on almost any road
IN the country my age bars me. I seldom
miss chance TO make bluff at any
tralnmaster | happen to run across Here
was chance and l opened the door de-
termlned at any rate to have a little talk
with the chief" at Gila Bend. | stepped
INSIDE The office was in every way Just
IKE al the other Offices in the country,
except that In the big office chair. before
a desk stacked full of applications, tracers.
train reports and miscellaneous CORE
spondence, sat a neat little woman Sho
was examining big engineer who had
as yet, had no time to remove his over
clothes or wash the coal dust from his
race and hands. Mr.. Blank, what were
you doing that you couldn't see that switch
was wrong?' asked this dainty official
We'll, you see it was this way" he
replied. 1--WE were on short time ahead
of No. 6 and Il was coming in faster than
| ought. l could have stopped all right If
had been looking ahead but was look
ing at hot driving box that had both
cred me all day, and | didn't see the
switch until it was too late"
Yes. Well, Mr.. Blank, in coming into
a yard like this it should be your first
care to know where you were going. The
drivin. box could wait until you were on
the round house track. I think you were
exceedingly careless. but l don't wish to
be hard on you, I'll give you ten days
for this; don't let it happen
again" Mr.. Dash, turning to the con
ductor you don't seem to be in any way
to blame for this; you may take your train
out on your regular time. Good morning.
and the lady, after making.
few notes at the desk. turned and asked:
Did you wish to see me, sir?"
! hadn't expected to run into any such
place as | found myself, but l braced up
and told my errand. I'm afraid you are
a little too old for our train service: our
age limit is 80. so it would be useless to
fill out an application
| couldn't get job, but ! had the pleas
IRE of long talk with this newest de-
parture in trainmastors, and before left
was satisfied that she knew her tusi-
ness thoroughly. A short time afterNsard
met the superintendent of the division
under whom Mrs. Pease worked, and he
told me she was giving entire satlsfac-
ton; was handling the office as we'll as
any man they had ever had and would
keep It until her husbands return, or in
the event of his death or disability, as
long as she wanted il. Mr.. Pease was
invalided and discharged in December OF
1898, and on his return was reinstated in
his old position. For eight months pre-
yious his wife had enjoyed the distinction
of being the only woman trainmaster in
the world and today should anything arise
that would necessitate her husbands re-
tirement she would undoubtedly be ap-
pointed II. she would accept
r.