The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1901-05-16
Guarding the President.

| INV Potoentsto VI ecciucht ~ tcuuc
ed to . minimum 10 the selection oil
cars for the tram. says the PhiiAdelphis
Saturday Evening Post. New coaches.
which have just left the shop. are PREFER
ed. Axles, wheels, springs, journals.
brakes, couplings 10 isc', oil Of the i'm
portant factors in the mske-up OF . train
ere carefully Examined end tested before
being allowed to depart With their prec
ious human freight. The eneinge select
ed 10 the bcst IN the service and is ran by
the most reliable engineer 10 each division
Of the road. the man npon whom the
company can rely for the exercise
OF csution and oil the best iude
,nent 10 time OF emergency. In no case
however. is be allowed to bear alone the
responsibilities Of bis important position
Ga the opposite side Of the cab sits .
man less erlmy perhaps, and without over
alls. He is the road foreman OF the divi
sion. Neither the engineer nor the rosd
foreman spesks to the other Is the train
rolls on, Their eyes are Oh the long line
Of steel rails that stretches away into the
distane. bat they are tbioking OF the
smooth-faced. dsrk.syed man who is 10
the rear car. smiling and conversing With
bis friends, and in whom oil the grsstness
OF the republic 10 personifed, They feel
their heavy responsibility, and they give
sigh Of relief when the end Of their
division Is rssched.
Az The tram glidss beside riverp,
through valleys and over mountains new
faces sppesr. Qaiet men, who seem TO
know no one except the conductors and
other railway oficisls, slip into soms W
cant seat in . sleeping osr, or cit and
smoke In the combination car jast behind
the engine. They chat with each other,
occasionally eIsncing 1t their watches,
and are always alert. They are the div
sion superiatendents, masters ssnsporta
tion or zen holding other responsible
positions.
Suppose. l remarked TO one OF these
officials when We we're together on Presi
dents trails, says Henry Litcbasld West,
that some evil disposed person should die
place rsil for tho purposs Of killing the
President2
Any sttempt to wreck this train. With
design upon the life Of the President, wss
the emphatic reply. woald have TO be esr
ried into execution 10 less than five min
n.es. Just before ve leave the isst sts
lion an engine with tro men 10 the cab,
slippei out upon the main track, and 10
roH Just ahead Of ,be Presidents train.
II any body has displaced q rsil or set
hre to fridge. or opened . switch. the
epeins shssd will feel the blow. Iii our
picket line. Between the passisg Of that
engine ever the track and the eoming Of
the PresidsDts train there is not time
enough for anyone 10 displscs rail.
The track is clesr, Of confsef
The track 10 70. only clear Of the pres
en-! time. bat IL hss been for the past
tpelye hours. mol . wheel OF . freight
train hss turned ell dsy.
Tho pilot engine shesd 10 on the look
ont Tor dsnser Three miles bebins the
Presidents train 10 smother engine. follow
steadily 50 - TO be svsilsbls 10 case oi
any misbsr.
And Jet. | remarked. during . lull 10
the conversation. something may happen
thss jon cannot iorssesf
On, yes. be ssys. sitb composure. some
thing usy hsppsp, bus sfter ws hsvs 70
ducsd the eh.ncss Of tbs. asomethins" TO
. niainuu. se csn only trust 10 Prov
setes.