Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-10
Mistsllaneuas Reading.
A WONDERFUL PIGEON.
For Three Years the Daily Companion
of Irainmen.

Bill, the Train Racer, known to ev-
cry railroad man along the Air Line
division of the New Haven road from
this city to Middleton, Is the most
wonderful pigeon that ever came to
the notice Of bird fanciers within the
borders of the old Nutmeg State.
For three years he has been the
daily companion of trainmen who run
on this line and hardly day passes
but Bill starts in a race with one Of
the passenger trains on the division.
In three years Bill has never failed,
except during the coldest weather OF
last winter, to meet the first passen-
ger train from New Haven to this city
when the train reaches East Hampton
al S.51 a. m.
II the train Is a bit late he sits on
the telegraph pole nearest the station
and looks up and down the track un-
til he spies the smoke Of approach
ing train. Then he gives himself
shake and prepares for his race to Ly-
man viaduct four miles away. Bill
generally takes a handicap in the race,
but after bird and train are well un-
der way it is nip and tuck to the Via
duct station, with Bill generally win
ming out, although Charlie Bennett, the
engineer Of the train, does his best to
overtake the train racer When Bill
succeeds in beating the engineer to the
ha
where he tries to attract the attention
Of all those near by to his prowess.
II no attention Is paid to him he does
few tricks, such as tumbling, which
are bound to make people sit up and
take notice.
When the train pulls out for the
next station Bill settles down for a
slow fly back home to East Hampton.
Occasionally he fingers at the station
at the Viaduct until time for a down
freight and accompanies that back.
This Is his daily programme.
Bill, who has come to be the pet OF
all the railroad men hereabouts, was
first noticed about the East Hampton
station three summers ago. His pecu-
liar plumage, which Is chocolate COL
ored from his bill to the tip Of his
tail attracted the notice Of railroad
men. and they fed him some grain
from one Of the freight trains.
That was just the encouragement
that Bill was looking for, and after
that he was daily visitor at the sta
ton. One morning he was taking his
breakfast on the back steps Of the
station when he espied an up-train
drawing into the station. Instead of
being frightened away. Bill at once
began to investigate the big snorting
front Of the station. He flew up to the
smokestack, so close that Engineer
Bennett was sure he would fall In, and
then paid his compliments to the cab.
up to West Chester, three miles fur
ther on, and waits there for a down
train. which he accompanies back
home. Old commuters over the route
| "dtCIl every loi ohu iiS"
travellers over the route always notice
the chocolate -cOlored pigeon that joins
the train at East Hampton.
| Some months ago Bill had an excit
ing race for his life with the train,
which the travellers that morning have
not forgotten as yet. When Bill start
ed out for East Hampton those in the
rear car noticed that a big hen hawk
was giving chase. Bill. who was TAX
ing 1t easy, saw the hawk, too.
Engineer Bennett, who was leaning
out of his cab, spotted the trouble in
IN instant, and let out the steam, and
in less than six seconds 1t was a race
for life between Bill and the hawk.
Whenever the hawk gained on Bill and
the engine Bill with great cleverness
would fly close to the windows Of the
car then suddenly drop into the BUSH
as to emerge 200 feet beyond near the
engine.
1t didn't take many maneuvers Of this
'tind to worry the hawk. who just be-
fore the train reached the station, gave
up the chase. When the train halted
Bill was a wOrn-out bird. and was
glad to take a rest and wait for the
down train back.-Willimatic (Conn.)
Dispatch