The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-03-07

NhtlE VI Nht IL HiN ihS
wood bridge went out and Cameron's
stock train got away on the hill with
the Denver tiicr caught at the foot like
rat In trap.
Ben Buckley was only a big boy
then. braking on freights. | was dis
patching under Alex Campbell on the
West End. Ben was tall, loose joint
ed fellow, but gentle as 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 I 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 Il rush month with
u.s. From the coast we caught the new
crop Japan teas and the fall importa-
tions 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 Il great movement of
grain from Nebraska that summer. and
to crown our troubles rate war
sprang up. Every man. w01snn and
child east of the Mississippi appeared
TO have but one object in life-ttiat was
to get to California and to go over our
FOND. The passenger traffic burdened
our resources to the last degree.
WAS putting on new men every day
then. We start them mt braking on
freights. Usually they work for years
at that before they get train, but
when a train dispatch is short on
crews he must have them and can only
press the best material within reach.
Ben Buckley had not bec4 braking
three months when | called bln up
one day and asked him II he wantsd
u tsain.
"Yes. sir. I'd like one first rate, but
sou know I haven't been braking very
dong, Mr.. Reed" said he frankly.
How long have you been in the
train service"
| spoke brusqueiy. though I knew
without even looking at my service
card just how long it was.
"Three months, Mr.. Reed"
IL was right to day.
'T'li probably have TO send you out
on IL this afternoon" | saw him
stiffen like ramrod. "You know
we're pretty short" 1 continued.
"Yes. sir"
''But do you know enough to keep
your head on your shoulders and your
train on your orders?"
Ben laughed a little. ~ think do.
VIII there be two sections todayT
They're loading eighteen cars OF
stock at Ogalalla. If 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 lier. Get your badge
and your punch from Carpenter and,
whatever you do. Buckley, don't get
rattled."
"No. sir Thank you. Mr.. Reed"
But his "thank you was so pleas
ant / couldn't altogether ignore It,
compromised with cough. Perfect
courtesy even in the hands of the awk-
wardest hoy that ever wore his trOu-
sers short Is surprisingly handy
&hing to disarIn gruR people with. Ben
was undenably awkward, his legs
were TOO long and his trousers decided
1y out of touch with his feet. but |
turned away with the conviction that
dn spite of his gawkiness there was
something to the boy. That night
proved it,
When the fier pulled In from the
west In the afternoon II carried two
extra sleepers In all eight Pullmans.
and every one of them loaded to tine
ventilators. While the train was
changing engines and crews the cx
cursionists swarmed out OF the hot
cars TO walk mp and down the plat
form. They were from New York and
mad u band with them-as Jolly
crowd as we ever hauled-and / no
ticed many boys and girls sprnkled
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 fiier left. II.
the fast stock freight, wound like
great snake around the blum after 1t.
Ben Buckley. tall and straight as a
pine, stood on the cabo0se. II was his
first train. and he looked as II he felt
It.
In the evening got reports OF heavy
rains east OF u.s. and after II reported
''Out, OF Turner Junction and pulled
over the divide toward Beverly II was
stOrming hard all along the line. BY
the time they reached the hill Ben had
his men ost setting brakes - tough
work on that kind OF a night, but
when the big engine struck the blum
the heavy train was well In hand. and
It rolled down the long grade as gently
As = curtain.
Ben was none too careful. for half
way down the bill they exploded tor
ped0es. Through the driving storm
the tail lights OF the filer were pres
emily seen. As they pulled carefully
ahead Ben made his way through the
mud ana rain 10 the head end and
found the passenger tTaln stalled. Just
Before thsm Was Blaekwood creek,