Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-09-06
The Train Bell Rope.

Although there does o seem to be
anything III common between pugilism
and railroad rules, yet the adoption Of
the familiar bell rope that stretches
through every car OF the modern train
was the result of a tistic encounter. At
the same time and by the issue OF the
same combat the supremacy Of the con-
ductOr III railroad travel WIS ordained.
1t was Philadelphia which gave both
10 the world.
One OF the Oldest railroads in the
country is the Philadelphia, Whining
ton and Baltimore, uoS known rs the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton, which was opened III 1927. The
terminus in Philadelphia was at Broad
and Prime s,reets-Primc street now
being known as Washington avenue
and after crossing the Schuykiu river
at Gray's Ferry the route ran along the
Delaware river on what Ia now the
Chester line u the Reading railway.
senger train, which went to Baltimore
one day and came back the next, winch
was considered a remarkable feat in
rapid travel. When a train a day each
way was placed in servi e the people of
the two citiea served concluded that the
acme of convenience ~ tran portatioD
had been reached.
Next to the president of the railroad
the most important i~uncuoDaries were
the engineer and conductor. 1t WAS a
question whether or not the head OF tho
line was not, considered a subsidiary
officer in popular estimation TO the men
WHO ran the train, but Robert FOgg,
who pulled the throttle, and John Wolf,
who collected fares, won the Difference
Of the public because OF their high and
responsible duties.
Fogg, an EnRlishman, had all the
tenacity Of opinion OF his race Wolf,
nh American, had tho ingenuity OF the
Yankee and, seeing the need OF tOmc
method by which be could communicate
with the engineer, devised the scheme
Of running a core through the cars to
the locomotive. AZ the engine WIS Il
wood burner, Wolf fastened one end OF
the core to Il log, which was placed on
the engineers sent and was pulled to
the flooor when the conductor desired
10 signal for Il stop.
Fogg resented what he considered an
interference with hIs rights on the
platform OF the locomotive and on the
first run out from Broad and Prime
81 reefs with the new device paid no
heed Ia the displacement II tue log
from tho seat when the conductor de-
sired To take on il passenger from Il
farm near Gray's Ferry, but spei on
over the bridge and did not deign To
bring his engine to II stop until Blue
Bell station, ou the south side Of the
Schuylkill, had boon reached. Then he
lie naudcd to know Of Wolf why he had
been jerking tlat lo1 all about the
locomotive.
Wolf holly declared that he lind Gig
nailed tn stop, but Fogg rctortcd that
he would stop when and where he
pleased and that, too, witbou, my ref
creucc TO orders from the conductor,
whom Inc did not regard ns his superior
in tho management ~ tho train. The
alteration grew very heated, and Vol
invited the engineer from the cab 10
settle the matter, md the challenge
waH quickly accepted.
Passengers and n group Of men who
had gathered nj the station Ia see the
train comcin ofmcd a ring about the
combatnDts, but the fight did not last
long, as Wolf proved by Gar the superior
artist with his lists and with II Tow blows
malo it almost impossible Tor the
engineer to SEQ sufficiently 10 complete
his run. but rugg admitted that he had
been fairly beaten. and the supremacy
Of tho conductor on a train was settled
ior all time.
Az tho log signal WA crude and IN.
effective. Vol devised the use ~ n
bell ou the locomotive, and this mcthod
was soon adopted by NIL OF tho tnilronda.
Then a code ~ signals was adopted,
and those remain practically 10 this day.
Tho only change ~ the bell cord In lbni
by use 81 the air from tho brake system
n " thistle has eupecrsedcd the bell in The
locomotive cab.-Philadelphin Ledger.