The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1901-05-16

before being allowed to depart with
their precious human freight. The
engine selected Is the best in the ser:
vice and is run by the most reliable
engineer in each division of the road,
the man upon whom the company can
rely for the exercise of caution and OF
the best judgment in time of emergen-
cy. In no case, however, is he allowed
to bear alone the responsibilities of his
important position. On the opposite
side of the cab sits a man less grimy
perhaps, and without overalls. He il
the road foreman of the division.
Neither the engineer nor the road fore
man speaks to the other as the train
rolls swiftly along. Their eyes are on
the long line of steel rails that stretches
away into the distance, but they are
thinking of the smooth-faced, dark
eyed man who is in the rear car, smil-
ing and converting with his friends,
and in whom all the greatness of the
Republic is personifed. They feel
their heavy responsibility, ard they
give sigh OF relief when the end of
their division is reached.
"Thank God! !" said one division
superintendent to another, in my hear
ing, at Charlottesville, Va. "There's
the President and there's his train
Take them, and may good luck go
with you."
As the train glides beside rivers,
through valleys and over mountains,
new faces appear. Quiet men, who
seem to know no one except the con-
ductors and other railway employees,
slip into some vacant seat in sleeping
car or sit and smoke in the combina-
tion car just behind the engine. They
chat with each other, occasionally
glancing at their watches, and are al
Ways alert. They are the division
superintendents, masters of transporta-
tion or men holding other responsible
positions.
"Suppose," I remarked to one of
these officials when we were together
On Presidents train, "that some eYils
disposed person should dfsplace rail
for the purpose of killing tha Presi-
dent?"
"Any attempt to wreck this train,
With design upon the life of the Presi.
dent" was the empha<ic reply, ''would
have to be carried into execution in
less than five minutes Just bsfore we
lett the last station an engine, with
two men in the cab, slipped cut upon
the main track and is now just ahead
of the Presidents train. II any body
has displaced a rail, or set fire to a
bridge, or opened switch, tho engine
ahead will feel the blow. It is our
picket line. Between this passing OF
that engine over the track and the
coming of the Presidents train there Is
not time enough for any one to dis
place rail-"
"The track is clear; of course ?"
"The track is not only clear at the
present time, but it has been Tor the
past twelve hours. Not wheel Of a
freight train has turned all day.,
"Afraid Of collisions7"
"Oh, no." was the smiling answer.
''We can guard against collisions. We
however, prevent the breaking
down OF some old freight car. It
would be just our luck, if freight were
moving, to have car jump from the
rails, or an axle break, or something
else happen to blockade the track and
delay this train. We could not afford
to have the President kept waiting in
the woods four or five hours. The
safest way Is the best way, and SO at
present all our freight trains are On
sidings."
EXTRAORDINARY ALoNG
THE LINE.
The pilot engine ahead is on the
lookout for danger. Three miles be-
hind the Presidents train is another