The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-07-02
SOME SuPERsTITI0ks Ire
MORE THAN FiHcIEs
seFADDEn TELLS THE STORY OF
HooDooED swITcH
NO. So.
His Engineer Always on the Lockout
for Danger. but Notwithstanding
His Engine Finally Jumps the
Track al the Switch.
go be chIeago Recorl-Eerala.


ginning TO understand the magnitude |
o. his work AS 4 rule he had been
able to spend his evenings at home
wifb Brush and the Hoolihans. which |
compensated some for his long alb
sence during the day. On one Of these
evenings Mr. Hooiihan said to him:
DO you be conversin' much with
your engineer. Mac. when you're to-
gethery~
When there's a breathin' spell. Ca
vim gives me a bit Of his tongue
I'm told that these railroad men
are mighty afraid OF some things. an
that they have queer notions.'
I'm gettin' some queer notions my
self" answered McFadden. giving
Brush a quick look. and then smiling.
Then he continued:
Every m0rnin' when we 90 out Of
the yards with the train an begin
maxim time Just as soon as the steam
gets 20 workin' we comes to a switch
which has a number on it-No. SO.
As soon as Gavin sees Il he puts his
band on the air brake an he doesn't
act easy I'll We gets by. II was none
OF my business 10 bother him as to
why he looks at the switch as II ii
was q murder. but when we was layin'
up one afternoon waiting for orders
10 get home Gavin tells me this story.
You can believe IL II you want 10 or
not but It's true.
The switch was put In from a
siding 10 where II joins the main line
Eve years ago II stands just where
in the yards II you're not mindin'
where you are you'll be on it an never
know It. which would be bad business
u Il were set the wrong way. The
day Il was put in place an everybody
noticed Il was there. the fast mail
come along. goes through It. kills the
engineer and two mail clerks. an then
burns up
Now when the mail come to the
switch It was all right Then why
did Il go through it, Nobody knows
Il simply left the rails. and three
good mems souls went beyond. The
railroad officials couldn't explain it
no more'n they could tell week later
Why the milk train should jump the
track Just there an hurt several peo-
Pile. lei alone the general managers
son. The rails was all right an the
switch but there was a curse on the
spot.
"A month goes along an one night
when everythin' was wet an dark the
fast mail goin' out tumbles OF right
at that spot an there's all kinds OF
trouble. So 1t has been goIn' ever
since No one has ever known the
switch 10 be out OF order. nor any
thin wrong with il. but every few DAYS
or so there's trouble there. an the
hoys say the hoodoo is on the thing.
an viii stay until the old switch Is
broke up an is no more.
"Of course. inside OF myself. laugh
ed at what Gavin was sayin'. Devil a
BIT I think a hoodoo gets on to any
thin. but when We was comm in to-
night We gets pulled up Just south OF
the switch SO by a red light an when
We asks what's wrong they tells us
that fast freight has gone over her
an broke everythin' in the neighbor-
hood
Gavin asks as 70 who is pullin' the
fast freight an when they tells him
Ferguson he gets white. an he wants
10 know how he come out OF t.
He's under his engine says one
of the boys. an they're diggin' for
him. I guess it's all day with him.
Ne and Gavin gets up 10 the engine.
an they're haulin' and pullfn' an MAX
in great noise. cause the main lines
blocked. but in no time they got down
10 where Ferguson Is all baked up an
Just Twin. an a doctor gets over him
an Gavin raises up his head an Fer
gason looks al aim an says:
II was clear track. old man. but
So did t.
Gavin can't say anythin'. but Fer
guson. Just gettin' his breath. goes on:
Tell nay old woman | sent her
my best word. The lodge must do
soinelhsn' for her--I'm done for. old
man-goin' pretty fast-goin' some
Where's did tim goin'. old man
-goin'
San that was the end OF Ferguson
Gavins with his widow now.
couldn't do anythln'. so come home
NOW what do you suppose has got In
20 that SWITCH"
"Noshin. said Brush. 4, Just hap
peaed
cts hanted. said Mrs. Hoolihan.
~The dead have laid curse on II. .
whispered Mr.. Hoolihan
NcFadden I'm not afraid Of II. but
there's never 4 mornin' come down
10 Il but what I feel could on the
hack OF my neck. an when were over
Il I'm warm again
The story of switch No. s. as told by
MeFadden IS not untrue. All that he
said. and more too. has happened Al
& without the switch being ever out
81 order OF misplaced Some Of these
accidents the officials have been able
70 explain. but not al Of them-suf-
ficieat remain unexplained for en-
Einears and fremen 70 regard the spot
As one Of earth's places set aside for
tragedies They come flying down &c
Ne s. awaiting the worst
When they had retired the nEght
the Starx Of No. IS was told. Brush
cnddled up TO NeFadten and admitted
that inwardsy bis tale had made her
creep. and that really she wished he
did not hare 10 whfrl BY the switch
twice a day. As though the switch
conid not be moyed and 1fcFa&den
must hold his Job. il was plainly iua-
possible Tor him 10 avoid the disagree
able spot. 50 Brush ceased as much Of
hDr fsrF.rrz.rfrse a = r,rsecf1,fn n~E can -