The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-19
BIG LOCOMOTIVE HAD A HEART.
Wouldn't Haul Away a Train Until
 Promised Something Better.
From the Chicago Chronicle.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
 The boys at the roundhouse don't know yet what was the matter with No. s04. Some are inclined to scoff at Billy" Wetmore's explanation that the big en- gine's heart was almost broken, but the undercurrent of sentiment Is that there is something in it and that No. sO4 at least was a sulk.
 Little No. 176i had been suffering from a chronic hot box on the rear right wheel of the pony truck. Several times NO. 1761 had barely but gamely pulled through with the Aurora way train. She got in shrieking and smoking from the inJureo bearing. New brasses hadn't cured the ailment, and when No. 176ls stall In the roundhouse was empty all the other en- zines knew she had been sent 10 the shop.
 It was a severe shock that No. s04 re- oeived when she heard the roundhouse boss tell the head hostler to fire her up Tuesday morning to take the Aurora way train. It was a terrific indignlty, for NO S04 is a big engine of the 800 class SIX wheeled connections, designed Tor the fast through passenger runs and eapaple of slipping off seventy miles an hour with six Pullmans, a baggage and mali car She kept quiet when the cordwood was piled onto the cold flrebox, but as she thought it over half an hour later sput- tered vlclously from the loose packing on the air pump, and when Tom Selfridge gave her a hint of better manners With a monkey wrench she srumDieu nke surly sailor
 Hanged If I go, hanged if l go,' she snorted as Selfridge tested the steam on the brake pump, but she responded through force of habit when the links were heaved up and the throttle was opened a notch, and she backed out to the turntable and down to the waiting way train.
 "Its too-o-o-o bad,' ending with vio- lent puff, complained No. S04. and the oth- CTS in the roundhouse. hearing her com plaint, snickered, for No s04 with her new paint, had the reputation of being a proud, stuck-up thing, and all were glad at her taking down.
 But No. s04, by telepathic process known to locomotive engines, was con- soious of what was going on, and shut down with a grip on the throttle valve so that Selfridge could scarcely move 1t. Then she sulked hard, and when called upon to start to the main track with her insignificant load of three empty passenger coaches and a comDination D9RRHRet Dalkeu anu WOuluH tuiH d wheel She held her steam guage at 80, refusing to let 1t budge a point, and with a spiteful splitting from the cylinder cock on the engineers side intimated as plainly as an angry cat or any equally angry type 500 locomotive could indicate that she was on strike.
 Billy Wetmore shook the grates. raked off the suspicion of a forming arch in the firebox and scattered a couple Of scoops of coal artistically and coaxingly over the fire. blazing Up lercely under the forced draught. Reluctantly No. s04 responded, slowly picked up the train and started for the main track again.
 A puffy little switch engine, dirty, greasy and about as high in the stack as 804s injector valve, ran down, and, laughing in its pop valve, coupled on and started the train out of the yard with hoarse, Come. come, come. come!" that even No. S04 couldn't resist. But no sooner was the switch engine out of sight than No s04 baked again and all through the twenty-five miles to Western avenue took fits and starts, now absolutely refusing to pull ton and then making a shying, skttish run for another station.
 What's the matter?' asked the assist ant master mechanic at the roundhouse, at Western avenue, as the train pulled fin almost an hour late.
 IL WOulont uO to repeat Ill beilrluBe said but the gist of 1t was that he didn't know; that No. S04s fiues were tight as drums, and there was nothing wrong that he could see.
 "I wish you would get her started: l need her for No. 4 tonight" replied the assistant master mechanic, No. 4 being the Denver limited, the crack train of the road. 'If you can get move dn her I'll send you a dinlSy until No. 176l is out in day or two"
 Maybe an engine hasn't ears to hear, but Billy Wetmore won't believe it. When the throttle opened, No. s04 sprang for ward like sprinter at the pistol shot and made the union station three minutes under schedule time in spite of yard rules, puffing and hisslng as lively as cricket as soon as the stop was made. There was no more trouble with No. S04 and she took No. out last evening in the oldtime manner.
 "Just sore at this dinky run" explain ed Wetmore, and while Engineer Sell fridge and the rest of the train crew don't admit their belief in the theory there Is no other explanation of No. s0fs queer conduct