The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-29
BORROWED THE HOBo'S LEG.
rhns a Bad Smssh.Up Was Prevented when
the Freight Train Broks In Two.

That tribe Of wandering gentlemen ommon-
" called hoboes are no' n a general rule well
corlc passengers on freight trains" said the
middle brakeman OF n long ROYAL Bee Line
freight train waiting on the siding for a frst-
class tram 20 pass. still there are times when
they come in useful. as | learned by a little in
cldent which occurred last sunday night. when
hut for the presence on our train 81 a hobo
tho ROYAL Bee Line would have had one Of the
dinsedest WRECKS ever known.
We we're coming east with a long mixed
train. box cars, coal cars, fat cars and all Jun
blad IN together with no air brakes. was
brnking The middle, and as We had such a heavy
train | was on the lookout for II 70 break in
rive. was especially vatchful coming around
th" Hog Back. for I knew that 4 the train parted
comm. down the long twelve-mlle grade on the
eas; Of the Hog Back, It would make things
uncomfortable
Just As We went over the crest 81 the hill
/ saw he operator in The signal tower waving
n tram parted signal from his window, and
grabbed up my lantern and began TO make
frantic swipes with II 10 the engineer
The engineer must have been on the lookout
too. Tor | had no more than swung The lantern
twice when he answered me with he whistle
and began 70 crowd on steam 10 keep the head
end away from The rear end until W. could get
it stopped and avoid A collision. In my ex-
element | dropped my brake stick n hickory
stick about a yard long and an inch and a half
IN diameter. which We used 10 get a purchase
in setting up The hand brakes when the ar -
not con nectsd By running TIN, stick through
the -pokes OF the brake wheel you can get a
better purchase and set II Up much tighter
than you can with the bare hands. MY brake
stick rolled after II dropped from my hand and
landed on he track below.
That ratified me pretty well because il was
a wet night and the brake wheels we're slippery
and | couldn't expect to set the brakes up very
tight without the aid Of a stick. But I started
IN 70 make the best effort | could asevery MN
ME was precious. and he rear part Of he tram
was gaining haadvay all the while and might
O~vprtake the head section. | uIdnt have
much success In getting tn. brakes SET, though,
as my hands would sup on and N" cars we're
goins faster and ia>'er down the hill. | could
see Signs 4 activity and moving .anterns back
near the caboose, and n a minute | got a signal
that he tram was in three sections and was
on the middle section all alone. The chances
were that | wouldn't be abe TO control the
middle section without a stick There wasn't
any danger from beng rammed by the rear
section. as there we're enough men there 70 keep
thar under control. The danger was that my
section IN - race down the hill would over'aks
the head end soon had most Of The brakes
So IL O. III ~ ! i'All, bNlA 'lFlF u nv dDkd-
rent lesssnung n The speed Of the cars. made
UP my mind that | mad done about all that |
could and began 70 look out for my own safety
II would he tempting fate 10 Jump in the dark.
so | started back TO the rear car, thinking that
would gov a. far away from the point u
danger A. possible when the crash came
In jumping from a high box ear to 4 coal
dump my foot slipped and | landed on the coal
MI s~rrawled out Fat As my hands few out
whom | struck one Of them came in contact with
lb sick. 2T what At, '3''o 5rsk was s . c.,GN' ' Rs1
maybe my heart didn't give a hop, skip and a
jump for 10Y
70 myself. giving n ERIK on the stick
Lego my leg. M peg lec a voice said
In the darkness
"Wha,cher slvin' Is?' | saws, surprised.
We'll. you'd better leggO my lag. the voice
It proved that what / go, hold Of when |
fell was the peg leg OF a tramp. My heart
sank again.
say let ne have your leg for a few minutes.
wontcher2' | asked him
why doncher take a little dark meat, too''
he saws back.
We'll. now you'd better listen 10 reason.
I said This section Of the train warc on i
dashlng down 10 destruction Ike a way ward
child without the guiding hand Of .ts parent
I've dropped my brake stick overheard and
unless Won hand over your wooden leg sos |
can set the brakes up tight you and | are liable
to leave this vale Of tears without much notice
He looked around and saw the telegraph
poles 'ying bv ike teeth in a rne-toothed comb
and il didn't take him long to unstrap his leg
and hand Il over
sticking the peg part in between IN" spoAeS
Of the brake wheel. the knrecap acting ~ a
handle Same a 4 brake on a horse car, | soon
SET 'he brakes NJ 40 tight that the runaway
after Tho other two sections were stopped wo
had no difficulty ~ C%ou?lin- 40 and getting
going again took his huboiets back IN tho
caboo4@ and he had a good, comfortable berth
in 20 jersey