Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1902-02-06


house, so that the railroad men woul
have to be confined in the calaboos
until the magistrate returned.
One night three brakemen were al
rested for keeping the crossin
closed for four minutes. The agen
piteously protested that the freigh
train could not be delayed, but tn
president Of the town board was re
lentless, and the three men wer
locked up. and the freight train hat
to wait on the side track until
crew could be sent down from Hilton
TO take the places of the men being
| held in durance vile.
The three brakemen did not remain
in jail quite as long as the jubilant citi
zens Of Manikee thought they would
The brakemen got tired Of staying in
! the calaboose about midnight, so they
broke down the door and went away on
the midnight passenger train.
After that it was hard TO keep the
railroad men in the calaboose. They
had a way Of breaking down the door
or tearing the bars out of the chin
uey that was discouraging.
Finally the town of Manikee voted
money to build new calaboose with.
II wasn't to be large, but il was to be
tighter than a drum, and so construct
ed that there would be no breaking
out of II. 1t was built within couple
Of weeks, a il was not more than IL
feet long by about ten wide.
But ii was made of heavy timber and
the door was Of oak that would have
defed an ak to chop il down. There
was one little window near the roof
not more than six inches wide and
about two feet long, so that even If the
iron bars were pulled out il would be
impossible for the slimest brakeman
on the c. J, d r. H. railroad to squeeze
himself through.
"Now gul darn We" said Marshal
salters. as he showed Conductor Tom
Donovan and Brakeman Jim Rodgers
into the hot little hole, "I'll guess We
won't break out Of that in a hurry"
"Good heavens" said Jim, as he sat
perspiring in the mean little calaboose,
81 would sooner be shut up in smoke
house. If this IS what we're going to
get as a regular thing in his town l
think I'll hunt another job.
ITS pretty tough" said the con-
ductor, but the worst part of il is
that we will both be fined about $40
apiece tomorrow, and Wen have to pay
IT, The company has had so much to
pay out in this town, and has had so
much trouble with these people, that
strict orders have been given the train
crews to avoid any unnecessary col
lision with their blue laws here. and
the old man further says that when
any Of us are clearly proven 10 have
kept that blessed crossing closed long
er than the time allowed, why, wen
have to pay the fine ourselves, that's
all. And you know ! did keep that
crossing closed about six minutes to-
night ] thought that old tin-starred
was at his supper, where he
belonged"
well" said the brakeman, 81 guess
we're up against it, but the worst part
Of this business is to think of the boys
sweltering in this bake oven in sum
mer. What train is that whistling?
Guess it must be the wrecking train
that's been up TO Cerro to put those
box cars on the track"
Jim" said the conductor, suddenly,
'if that train stops here, whistle or
and see If you can get Pat
Harris, the boss of the wrecking crew.
to come over here. want TO talk to
him"
The train stopped, and the brakeman
blew a sirenlike note that lured Mr.. |
Harris to the calaboose window. where
he had long talk with the gentleman
behind the bars. Mr.. Harris seemed
quite taken with the proposition ad-
vanced by the conductor.
Its a go, Tommy" said the boss.
"The kellyboose Is only about tin feet
from the track, an twill be aisy. We're |
a-goin' now ten miles beyant, an Wen |
come back about midnight an do the |
trick thin"
~ ubpuI AGso b . CLOCK Ine wreck Il
train came quietly back to Manikee.
The car on which is placed the big
crane stood on the track nearest the
A Jail delivery had been planned. but
a Jail delivery on a scale that would |
have alarmed hardened iail-breaker.
The door of the calaboose was too /
heavy to be readily beaten in with an
AK, and, beside, few blows would
have awakened the town marshal and
his vigilant staff. who were quietly
sleeping in their homes short dis
lance down the street.
The wrecking boss had a much better
plan. The great crane was swung out
ward by the crew and the heavy chains
dropped down around the calaboose.
Then with much squeaking and groan-
ing the calaboose was lifted bodily into
the air and deposited on the freight
car.
The wonder and CONSERVATION in
H. IL . 4. \.