Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-11-29


spending nearly two years in pros
n pecting in different parts of the
State, 1 resolved to go to Los Vegas,
New Mexico, and try to get position
on the railroad, as l always had 4
liking for that sort of work.
Well, only got as far as Trinidad,
when l found myself without dollar
in the world, and of course l had to
stop over and see If l could not get
something to dc.
went to the Santc Fe railroad sta
tion and applied for work, but failed
to get any encouragement. Then l
went to the different trainmen and
made diligent inquiries, but none of
them knew of any job that was open
A conductor, who was then running
local freight on this line, promised
to give me position as brakeman, il
1 would remain in Trinidad two
weeks. His head brakeman was 60
ing to quit him, he informed me, and
1 could have the place If l chose 20
remain there till the vacancy &C.
Cured; but two days later he was re-
moved to another division of The road,
and was let, without any prospect Of
employment in Trinidad.
then resolved to so to Los Vegfs
at once, but, having no money to pay
my fare, was at a loss to know what
to do. At last, however, l decided to
go to the railroad station and endeav-
or to get some of the brakemen on
the freights to let me ride.
When l arrived at the station l
found that a long freight train had
just pulled up and was standing on
the side track to wait the coming
of the eastern-bound express.
I first approached the conductor,
and, explaining my condition, asked
him to carry me over his division, but
he dismissed me with the curt reply
that his train was a freight train
and he was forbidden to carry passcn-
gers.
Discouraged but not despairinS, 1
went to the head brakeman and
sought to induce him to allow me to
ride on one of the box cars.
"Got any money!" he asked.
mot cent" I replied, "but-'
"You'll have TO walk then" he said,
and passed on.
1 tried the other brakeman with
like result then L began to feel pref
ty blue. l walked up the track along
the side of the train, wishing that
had never seen the State Of Colorado.
Presently l stopped to admire q new
locomotive that was in the train near
it centre. 1t was a beautiful piece
of workmanship, fresh from the
shops, and was being taken south for
the Mexican Central.
While l was standing there the
train was uncoupled just back of the
locomotive, and the lower section
b,cEed down TO another switch.
A few minutes later the express
went by and then the section that
lad been run back was brought on to
the main track and went laundering
on its way to Ration. You see the
trains had to be pulled up this long
grade in sections, then, and an engine
AS soon rs the train had disappeared
up the slope, | heard the bell ring,
and then the other section began TO
move forward. Not until that mo-
ment, when the disagreeable scnsa-
lion of being left behind took posses
sion of me, did l have the remotest
idea of attempting to steal a ride.
= "a
easily ride on the engine at the rear
! end of the train, and no one be the
wiser; but | hesitated to do such a
| thing, and should have given UP the
| idea had not the brakeman pointed to
the engine and hinted that If l didn't
have backbone enough to get aboard
| ride, | ought to walk.
| Thus encour ,ged, l ran forward and
| leaped aboal 4 the moving engine
| Then l crept into the tender and seat
ed myself where l would be hid from
the observation of any one who might
| pass along the train. / knew that the
brakeman " ould shield me il he
could, but | Must not allow the con
ductor to discover my presence.
The train was now moving faster
ard faster, and the clatter OF the
| els owe! Il joint in the rails tolt
me that we We're passing over the
switch anc On to the main track.
We sooI struck the long, stee
grade, and moved very slowly. There
is a le,el space, n quarter of mile
long, perhaps, just below the last
grade or two miles. We had reached