Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-03-26

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days old switch
men in the GAINESVILLE yards still tell In
their shanties Of the night the Black
wood bridge went out and Cameron's
stock train got away on the hill, with
the Denver flier caught at the foot like
rat in trap.
Ben Buckley was only big boy
then, brak!ng on freights. was dis
patching under Alex Campbell on the
West End. Ben was tall. loose joint.
ed fellow, but gentle as a kitten; legs
as long as pinch bars. yet none too
long running for the Beverly switch
that night His great chum In those
days was Andy Cameron. Andy was
the youngest engineer on the line. The
first time ever saw them together
Andy, short and chubby as duck.
was dancing around, half dressed. on
the roof Of the bath house. trying to get
away from Ben, who had the fire hose
below. playing on him with two inch
stream Of ice water. They were up to
some sort Of a prank all the time.
June was usually rush month with
us. From the coast we caught the new
crop Japan teas and the fall importa-
tlons Of China silks. California still
sent her fruits, and Colorado was be-
ginning cattle shipments. From Wy.
oming came sheep and from Oregon
steers, and all these not merely In car
loads, but In solid trains. At times we
were swamped. The overland traffic
alone was enough to keep US busy. On
top of 1t came a great movement Of
grain from Nebraska that summer. and
to crown our troubles rate war
sprang up. Every man, woman and
child east Of the Mississippi appeared
to have but one object in life-that was
to get to California and to go over orr
road. The passenger traffic burdened
our resources to the last degree.
I was putting on new men every day
then. We start them at braking on
freights. Usually they work for years
at that before they get train, but
when train dispatcher is short Oh
crews he must have them and can only
press the best material within reach.
Ben Buckley had not been braking
three months when I called him up
one day and asked him II he wanted
train.
eyes, sir, I'd like one first rate, but
you know haven't been bras.ng very
long, Mr.. Reed" said he frankly.
"How long have you been in the
train servIce?"
I spoke brusquely, though knew
without even looking at my service
card just how long 1t was.
"Three months, Mr.. Reed"
1t was right to day.
"Tll probably have to send you out
on II this afternoon" saw him
stiffen like ramrod. "You know
we're pretty short" I continued.
"Yes. SIR"
"But do you know enough to keep
your head OH your shoulders and your
train OH your orders:"
Ben laughed a little. II think do.
Will there be two sections today"
They're loading eighteen cars OF
stock at Ogalalla. IL we get any hogs
off the Beaver there will be two big
sections. shall mark you up for the
first one anyway and send you out
right behind the fller Get your badge
and your punch from Carpenter. and,
whatever you do, Buckley. don't get
ratified"
mo, sir. Thank you, Mr. Reed"
But his "thank you" was so pleas
ant I couldn't altogether ignore 1t. !
compromised with n cough. Perfect
courtesy even In the hands of the awk'
wardest boy that ever wore his trou'
sers short Is surprisingly handy
thing to disarm gruff people with. Ben
was undeniably awkward, his LEGS
were too long and his trousers decided
" out Of touch with his feet, but
turned away with the conviction that
In spite Of his gawkness there was
something to the boy. That night
proved It,
When the fier pulled in from the
west in the afternoon it carried two
extra sleepers. In all eight Pullmans.
and every one of them loaded to the
ventilators. While the train was
changing engines and crews the OK
cursionists swarmed out Of the ho'
cars to walk up and down the plat.
form. They were from New York and
had q band with them-as jolly q
crowd rs we ever hauled-and | no
ticed many boys and girls sprink!ed
among the grown folks.
AS the heavy train pulled slowly out
the band played, the women waved
handkerchiefs and the boys shouted
themselves hoarse.
Half an hour after the flier left, Il.
the fast stock freight, wound like n
great snake around the bluff after 1t.
Ben Buckley, tall and straight as
pine, stood on the caboose. 1t was his
frst train, and he looked as IL he felt
II.
In the evening got reports Of heavy
rains east of us, and after Il reported
"out" Of Turner Junction and pulled
over the divide toward Beverly 1t was
storming hard all along the line. BY
the time they reached the hill Ben had
his men out setting brakes = tough
work on that kind Of night. but
when the big engine struck the bluff
the heavy train was well in hand, and
Il rolled down the long grade as gently
rs curtain.
Ben was none too careful, for half
I~..... II,o i,tIl tha,- tnr