The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-08-03
THE DISPATCHER

trains from the western division were
late. and the time card was OF no use.
There were n number OF trains moving.
and they were all calling for orders.
Collins. the night trick man. had been
doing the best he could with the sitn-
alton. and he was good man. too. bur
when | came on at 4 o'clock IN the
morning the train sheet was "A puzzle
No. 4. the through train from the coast.
was received about midnight from the
west, so that when ! came 10 work
she was pretty well over the district.
"She had been laid out number OF
minutes meeting snowplow, which
was being sent west with all possible
haste. but aside from that and few
minutes delay caused by slippery rails
she was nearly on time. No. Z, the
midnight express. going west, was.
however, over two hours late. so that
when Collins left the trick he had
made no meeting point between the two
passenger trains. When things are so
badly mixed up as they were that
night n man does not make meeting
points any farther ahead than he is
obliged 20. for many things are liable
20 occur 10 spoil the combination.
II had been up during the night with
my two babies, who were III. and my
wife was also sick, 30 that when l
went TO work In the early morning I
was pretty sleepy. II was all my
fault. presume. even though they do
say was not technically responsible.
As I entered the Office Collins was sit
ting at the desk. and from the manner
In which he pulled his pipe could tell
he had been having all he could handle.
As busted the snow from my clothes
and put on my Office coat Collins arose
from his chair, and after greeting me
and mentioning the storm he said. No.
Is just reported past Dwightville.'
AN right answered. not looking 10
see whether II had been put on the
train sheet.
after explaining few Of the orders
he had given Collins put on his over
coat and cap and went out into the
night Seating myself AT the desk.
glanced over the train sheet and fig
ured upon several orders ~ be given.
guess had been thinking about my
sick family. I don't know what else
could have been In my intellectually
my work was not-wben ] called the
operator M c.. and he copied an order
making a meeting point Mt Dwightvllle
between No. and No Z.
CAS- the operator at r., the first night
Office the other side of Dwightville, did
not answer, sent the order first 10 c..
with the intention OF later repeating II
at II. l then made another meeting
point between the snowplow and a
freight train on the west end and set
tied back In my chair 10 enjoy n smoke.
There was no one around save the OPP
orator In the outer Office. and he was
asleep. I called II. station. but could
not raise IT, I called Dwightville, but
could not get an answer. Time was
getting short, and grew nervous.
Presently Dwightville called d. and
I answered, when the instrument con
veyed 10 my ears Telegraphlc accident
report
1T struck terror 10 my heart. and |
almost lost my self control. Then fol
lowed the report I'm all It's narrowing
details ms best the operator in his
nervous haste could send II. No. had
met No. Z In cut east Of Dwlghtyille.
and as the engineers were running
through the cut az full speed TO strike
with their own plows any drift that
might have been there the collision
was n terrible one. The engineer and
fireman on the COL OF No. were kill
cd instantly, while the men ON the
OBJ OF No. were both badly injured,
and the mall car was overturned and
burned with the postal clerk In H.
my pen fell from my hand. could
not copy. and called the operator.
who could do no better l rang for the
call boy and sent over 10 the hotel for
the superintendent, and the wrecklng
outfit was got out after considerable
delay. Hell itself would have no great
or terror for me than did those mo-
ments. stood ms II I'm n trance, and
words can never express the feeling Of
horror that came over me.
ut makes me shudder 10 relate IL.
and | shall never get over feeling OF
guilt that haunts me day and night.
The passengers were badly shaken up.
but none Of them was injured. The
thought that | had been responsible
for the death OF two OF my own friends
and acquaintances and by my careless
ness had brought grief 10 the family
OF the postal clerk almost drove me
mad left the Office that morning for
the last time The catastrophe so nm.
nerved me that doubt II could even
handle a key now.
"rhe accident was a shock 90 the
community. An inquest was held az
which | was entirely cxonerated or
blame. and the superintendent request
ed me 10 return 10 work. but all that
does not relieve my feelings. Collins
rendered his resignation the next day.
aud have lost oil trace OF him. You
see. he had received the report over
the wire that No had passed Dwight.
vile, but did not put II on the train
sheet. He told me OF the report, and !
forgot Il. so that we were both rcspon-