The National tribune., 1900-07-26

and in course of time was promoted to the
right-hand side of the engine. The ad-
miration of his old comrades of the track
knew no bounds. Every day that he came
up the HILL on big 10-wheeler. they ranged
| themselves in line band announced his
| coming with Here comes the SO! Dlnny
Horrigan is her in -I-neer, an he is the bye
who can make her go-o-o!' Sure, an it's
| q pity thot Diuny can't sit on the fince an
see hisSelf go by! Arrah, he's the bye
| that hauls the train that makes the money
to sind out the pay-kyar! Sure, an it's a
! foine bit of money he has in the bank. u
| The increase of pay from dollar, six bits,
| to S4.I5 per day seemed like fortune galore
| to those humble friends.
There is Il serious side to the section
mans life, and | would do him great in
justice if | neglected to note his sterling
qualities for faithfulneSS and close atteil-
| ton of duty. Watching track and bridges
by day and night, in pitiless storms. ex-
posed to freShets and landSlideS never have
| known a section man derelict in his duty
or false 10 his trust.
ANOTHER STORY OF BLACK OIL DAN.
Black Oil Dan was pulling a way freight;
when so miles from the home station he
heard Il Gathering under the tender. He
quickly called for brakes and stopped.
An investigation disclosed loose wheel,
one of the most difficult and dangerous
problems in train handling. BY running
very slowly, Dan reached the nearest tele-
graph station and side-tracked his engine
and train. He notified the Superintendent
and also sent a message to the Master
Mechanic. 1t read: Loose wheel on back
tender truck. Send me pair of wheels"
That morning "Old Jack had n fine
| edge on his temper and he was a-rearing
around the shops lacking up every one
he met AS soon rs he received Dams
telegram he started in to roast Dan over
the wires. His first message was: Run
slow around curves and over switches.
G. to the end of the division and put wheels
in there" The end of the division was 40
miles away, and Dan was too good rail
road man 10 start out on n trip that would
surely end in wreck and disaster, so he
telegraphed: Loose wheel on back tender
truck. Send me pair Of wheels"
The "Old Man" wired again: Raise the
wheel from the rail; then lay a jack hori-
zontal on the axle and press wheel out to
gage: then burr the shaft with cold chisel,
and finish your trip"
Dams answer came back promptly:
Loose wheel on back tender truck. Send
me u pair of wheels"
"Old Jack" then sent: Block up over the
other boxes of the truck, chain up your
loose wheel and go on
Back from Dan came: Loose wheel on
back tender truck. Send me a pair of
wheels" By this time the "Od Man" be-
gan to rcalZe that he was up against 1t
good and hard, so he tried a new tack,
sending: What would you do if you were
placed where it would be impossible to send
you any wheels? Answer"
Dams reply came like n shot: Stay here
by -, until they dug the orc to make
the iron to make the wheels. Loose wheel
on back tender truck. Send me a pair of
wheels"
When this came, the "Old Man" said to the
operator: Tell him that fm putting wings
on a pair of wheels, and as soon as ! get
them on. the -- wheels will fly down
there to him"
He didn't really intend that the operator
should send thisg hat the telegraph man
licked it off all night. Three hours later
the express train delivered TO Dan pair Of
wheels.