The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1901-02-22
IL TRIALs o. A sTUDENT.
A Braksuan Tells Of the Tricks THAT Were
Played Upon Him While Being mi
tiatsd at RaIIroadfng.

=
to get a job as brakeman, IN which I
succeeded. The superintendent gave
me q slip Of paper with the invitation
to join the hospital I passed the ex-
animation; next was to make out my
personal record, then my tintype was
taken, then the keys and book Of
rules we're given me. The supeFintend-
ent gave me a note TO the conductor
on train No. g to 60 out as a student
This was IN the month Of July. You
can imagine what graft it was then and
what it is now. Well, we left Sacra-
mento at 6.45 a. m, we had gone about
three miles when suddenly a jerk, I
slid along the locker and my head hit
against the side Of the caboose and al
most knocked my brains ont. I gath
cred myself up and looking around I
heard a brakeman say: "Break-into."
I thought we had had collision. The
brakeman called me and be opened the
cellar door, and pulled out a long
heavy chain. He told me to bring the
chain and come with him. We got up
to where the train had parted. They
chained them up, we started. A brake
man asked the conductor how much
freight for Roseville, he said 5000, 1
thought he meant that amount to IN
load all the way up to Red Bluff. AT
ter we got through with ROseville, I
was almost gone in; but when We got
to MarysvilIe I thought it was all day
with me. The caboOse brakeman had
me going high on every cut that came
along. And there were cuts coming
in all tracks. The Shack told me to
ride them all and not to let them bit
hard. thought it was the duty Of the
student to ride them all. But I have
since learned a few things. 1 was so
tired that I could not eat or sleep that
night. We got up to GridIey after the
work was done. The head brakeman
gave me a pail off the engine and told
me to 90 to the cabOose and get the pail
full of slack. I started back and the
engineer whistled two short whistles. |
The train started to move; I thought
they were going to pull the cabOOse up
to me. I heard the brakeman say "let ]
her go ninety miles an hour" I did
not know what they where up to. By
this time the train was going a few; l |
got the pail in my teeth and started |
over the running board; the wind was
so much I thought it would |
blow me of the cars; I had to 60 on my |
hands and knees over the running
boards to the cabOOse. told the con- |
ductor that the head brakeman sent !
me back for pail of slack. The con-
ductor said: 'TeIl him we are out. The
cabOOse brakeman did not draw any
last lay over-day. Hurry up and 60 |
over ahead, and tell him before you
come to the next stop" I started as
before on my hands and knees, I would |
look back once in a while TO see how |
far had gone. could see those rab- /
bit heads in that up stairs in the ca
bOOse laughing for all they were worth. |
I did not know what taey were laugh /
ing ABOUT. L managed to get up ahead. |
I said, "NO more slack left" he said, |
alright" He started in a converse
ton with me and asked if / knew how
to give q signal for a crooked link, 1 |
said no; he laughed; I asked him how
it vas given. He said I would learn /
after a while. I have since learned /
the signal
We were due at Red Bluff at 8I5 a.
N; We got there about HOO p. m.
The conductor said would have to
get on top of the cupola, and straddle
the cupOla with one white lamp in
each hand and stay up there until the
train came to full stop in the yard;
[ did it. The next day we came down;
[ knew a little more than did the day
before. We got to Lincoln, which was
3 miles from Sacramento, the engineer
told me to 60 and get q copy Of the
detention list, I went
back about four or five cars and layed
down on the running board; 1 thought
they we're up to some more of those
wise acts. 1 would not 60 back The
told me to go to q harness
shop and buy a belt to carry links and
pins. After went out under pay the
first trip, I was working ahead. The
man with the tag said, ''Cut-off two and
come in on the house, I opened the
switch and they backed in; I stayed at
the switch, they backed them over a
short rail These we're the first ten
lays. The next trip threw the switch
1nder the CabOose; Of course as usual
Ten days again. I started on my third
rip as careful as I could be. We got
to Msrysville. was standing by two
switches; he yelled to me, sready to
make a fly" threw the wrong switch.
As usual ten days more, and letter to
be more careful in the future or dis