The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-22
ILLUSIONS ONETHE RAIL
RANCHES THAT BREAK. NERVES
 OF MEN AT THROTTLE.
Excusabls supsrstitions of Engineers Shocked by Visions as Their Trains Rush Along Tagged
 by Leafy Boughs.

| New York Sun. I wonder what was the sirst. instau- | taneous sensation of. that Canadian l engineer who ran down Jumbo in the | fog. Probably no engineer ever had Ia stranger shock: but shock, strange and otherwise. are the portion of every man who stands at a locomotive throt- tie. He must get used to them and stand them as best he can-or find some occupation ,, with less nervous strain to it. Most of them in the busi- ness ger hardened to the unexpected. which is always happening on the rails. A newly located watchman's shanty looking exactly like the end of hox car-set my scNp to tingling one night. There had never been anything there but the river before, ard when the headlight glared on that very substan- tial structure was sure my call had arrived.
 Another time a tool box In tunnel. partly covered over with clothes and coil of rope. started me for the step. under the impression that 1t was rock fallen from the roof. But these are mere harmless scares which help to keep one awake. The engine gets by him before you get off. and you are back in your seat. again breathing anathema maranatha against the thoughtless Idiot who was the cause If 1t all. Then there are the other kind 1t ,s5s-,S 4
 was pokinz up a long hill one night when a red light suddenly showed up, followed at once by another, indicat- ing that the caboose of the preceding train was just ahead-and was com ing up to 1t with astonishing rapidty. yelled to my fireman to jump, and we had barely landed in the ditch, when six cars and the caboose of the train ahead climbed all over our engine. The train had broken in two. and this was the rear section that had trundled down hill on top of us
 Frequently have been asked if rail- road men are superstitious. I think not. though they might be pardoned if they were. tz,,lt-, Yst
 one night after the meeting Fred Jones asked, with fairly well assumed indifference, If "any O you fellers" had seen a mysterious. fiagman at night near the old stone house this side of Oilendorf's Fill. Two or three of the men looked around quick and sharp. as though the question reminded them of something but nobody admitted he had.
 "Darn funny" said Fred. pufing at HIS C44@E LIKE a tAS0& Oh o 6AN&S I've seen i'm twice, n danged if c'n make 1t out.
 In response to careful pumping Jones told me that on two occasions, on the night trip, a fellow had sprung out from behind the ruins of the old stone house and Jagged him--not with lamp, although 1t was night time, but with a flag. He stopped both times. but no man was to be found. nor was there any occasion for nagging.
 On the second occasion his conductor hinted with railroad frankness that Jones was dopy, so Jones said he would disregard the fellows signal if he ever saw him again. As to, details, he re- membered only that both nights were brilliantly moonlit and that a good breeze was blowing. ts.
 About two months later. along In the fall. after a heavy rain Jones ran into a bad rock-slide a quarter of mile be- yond the cid stone house. His fire man was killed but he escaped with 6 sprained ankle < He came hobbling up to me a day O. two later, asI was oiling round and said:
 Wal. done it."aH
 Done whatr'
 Run by that stons house fiagman was tellin' ye about; wonder if they'll th1nk I'm Q0pY now! .fs' t
 He went on to tell me that the same fellow Jagged him the night of the accident; but, with his good name in mind, he dropped her down a notch, breathed defiance at the spook through his teeth. and went through the cut, tall on end. only to pile up sn the side a moment la.er
 One night. Il long time after that, was killing time on a clearance. The moon was about full. pretty we'll down in the west, and there was a stiff breeze from the same quarter, remember ed Jones's flagTan and. decided he would never have a better chance to get caught. shut of and let. her roll on approaching the stone house.
 Waving shadows on the track. cast by trees and bushes on the bank above, suggested possible solution of the mystery. I kept my eyes fastened religiousIy on the spot Jones had des- cribed, and presently saw there was something there. Gradually the thing took form, until. when within train length, could have sworn that man was in front of me waving a flag.
 I put on brakes. slowed right down and gave an answering tQot toot, but he paid no attention. Then crawled out on the run board and looked at the moon, which was just visible above the bank at my right. As the moon, myself, and the man came into line, he became blurred and indistinct and l observed that a small pine tree on the bank was also coming into line with us. When the line was complete the fiagman spread out and lost form.
 Next time saw Jones I told him about 1t and he exclaimed:
 well I'll be darnedl"
 On his next day off Jones deadheaded to the station near the stone house and tramped four miles with an axe. The spook fiaEman never bothered him nor anyone else thereafter.
 
 will Try to Find North Pole.