The suburban citizen., 1901-06-08
ouARpINc rHE pResIpENr.
locomotive sentinels which Precede and
Follow the Train.

EpNVAAoNANo HehlAnelb hhAch AANNNNN %"N
Follow the Train.
When the President travels the per-
centage of possibility of accident is
reduced to a minimum in the selection
Of cars for the train. New coaches,
which have just left the shops, are
preferred. Axles, wheels, springs,
journals, brakes, couplings-in fact,
all Of the important factors in the
makeup OF a train-are carefully ex-
amined and tested before being al
lowed to depart with their precious
human freight. The engine selected
is the best in the service and Is run by
the most reliable engineer in each di-
vision Of the road, the man upon
whom the company can rely for the
exercise of caution and OF the best
judgment in time of emergency. In
no case, however is he allowed to bear
alone the responsibilities Of his import
ant position. On the opposite side Of
the cab sits a man less grimy, peE-
haps, and without overalls. He is the
road foreman of the division. Neither
the engineer nor the road foreman
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 conversing with his friends,
and in whom all the greatness Of the
t.on1tl,lfo fo t,opvo,fHoI Tbou fao1
their heavy responsibility, and they
give a sigh Of relief when the end of
their division is reached.
As the train glides besides 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 n sleep
ing car, or SIT and smoke in the COM
bination car just behind the engine.
They chat with each other, OCCASION
ally glancing at their watches, and
are always alert. They are the d.
vision superintendents, masters Of
transportation or men holding other
responsible positions.
Suppose" / remarked to one of
these officials, when we were together
on a Presidents train, says Henry
Litchfeld West, "that some evil-dis-
posed person should displace a rail
for the purpose Of killing the Presi-
dentT'
ANY attempt to wreck this train,
with design upon the life Of the Presi-
dent" was the emphatic reply,
''would have to be carried into execu-
tlOn in less than five minutes. Just
before we left the last station, an en-
gine, with two men in the cab, slipped
out upon the main track, and is now
just ahead Of the Presidents train. If
anybody has displaced q rail- or set
fire to a bridge, or opened a switch,
the engine ahead will feel the blow
1t is our picket line. Between the
passing Of that engine over the track
and the coming Of the Presidents train
there is not time enough for any one
to displace a rail"
'The track is clear Of course?'
"The track is not only clear at the
present time, but it has been for the
past twelve hours. Not a wheel of q
freight train has turned all day."
The pilot engine ahead Is on the
lookout for danger. Three miles be-
hind the Presidents train is another
engine, following steadily so as to be
available in case Of any mishap.
"And yet" 1 remark, during a lull
in the conversation, something may
happen that you cannot foreseeY' The
answer comes from the strong-visaged
man over in the corner. He is the
master Of transportation Of the road.
"Oh, yes,' he says, with composure,
something may happen, but after we
have reduced the chances Of thar
something to a minimum, we can only
trust in Providence. philadelphia
Saturday Evening Post