davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07

Many discussions have been carried on
by the small boy in his efforts to determine
which end of the train he wants for his
own when he comes to be man and goes
20 railroading, as he has fully determined
20 do In favor OF the engineer. II is
chiefly alleged that he has a distinct adj
vantage, in that he can see any danger
that impends on the track, and therefore
has the earlier opportunity to seek safety.
The conductors alleged immunity from
danger is scoffed at by these young heroes,
none OF whom would shrink from any ex-
posture in line Of duty. Whatever the cause,
the men on the engine have always had
the spotlight. To the engineer the poet
has sung and the orator has directed his
most eloquent phrases. Not without reason,
for these men are Of the bravest and best
as has been proven on many an occasion
when the man at the throttle has given his
life to save those in his keeping. His faithful
companion in all the dangers of the rail,
the fireman, now and again comes in for
little Of the glory, but always shares in
the hazard. These men, probably have
been more affected. by the march Of science
as applied to railroading, than any of the
others. All that has to do with generating
steam or applying It to the work Of haul
ing the trains has undergone such change
NElthln a generation that the engine man
Who died just after the big strike In 1877
would need some one to show him around
II he were taken into roundhouse today.
It is not only in size that the locomotive
has changed, although its increase is such
as can only be- understood by those who
have watched its growth from the dinky
little thirty-ton mill OF the day referred
TO the monster hundred and even 15O-ton
IN
engines have been constructed that weigh
in the neighborhood of 200 tons, but Their
use has not become general 1t seems that
a limit has been very nearly reached as
70 the weight that will be safely borne BY
rails and ties, and It is doubtful IL any
increase in the size of the locomotive IL
attempted unless some new and better
method Of track construction can be de-
Vised.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07

passengers needs, the brakeman and hag
man attend exclusively to the business Of
getting the train over the road, and this
is enough to occupy them.
The vestibule on the passenger coaches
has brought with It much relief for con-
ductor and brakemen, as It protects them
from the terrific rush Of air between the
cars that used to make it almost impossible
to get from coach to coach under the old
conditions The platforms and couplings
are in keeping with this, and the steam
heating and electric or gas lighting plants
have also added to the comfort of the train
men as well as the travellers. Some of the
old-fashioned platforms are still in use on
braNch line touches, although the patent
couplers are universal or nearly so, today
with all the improvements has come
demand for greater exertion on part OF the
men. Each is required to do more in way
than used to be asked. The bigger trains
and fast runs have added to the nerve
strain as we'll as to the responsibility, and
while the work of the trainman is free from
much Of the discomfort, the hardship and
the real danger of thirty years ago, IL is
still a service in which men find ample
scope for the exercise of all their wit and
strength. I have found an easier way to
serve my fellow man. and am glad Of It.
l know the fascination of the service, and
/ also know its reverse side. When turn
in my warm bed at night 1t is with no
dread of the callers visit, and when I sit
down to a meal with my family I am
thankful that l am not feeding from a
lunch bucket or at depot counter. The
odor of hot grease and coal gas is as
grateful to me as it ever was, but other
considerations enable me to keep away
from the railroad except when 1 have TO
travel"
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07

t9etiSHs male citizens of sound mind over
- twenty-five years for the benefit
of the state road fund. The state had such
a statute for several years after admitted
TO the union. The tax was 81 a year.
The present bill will not apply to wldowers.
The Illinois legislature viii not at this
session pass a bill 10 tax bachelors. 1t
might have done so had not Representative
Tony Cermak Of Chicago lost his nerve
MI Cermak drafted a measure TO put an
annual levy of S on every male of more
than so years but after framing up things
with the speaker 70 have it referred to a
favorable committee ne weakened.
The bachelors Of Texas are aroused over
the prospect of the legislature imposing a
tax upon them. A bill with this in view
has been introduced in the house by E. c.
Lively OF Irving. He has canvassed the
sentiment in house and senate. and he says
the bill will be passed by a large majority.
It Ievies a tax Of So year upon every
bachelor between IS and 30, and so between
80 and 40
A bill was prepared for introduction in
the Minnesota legislature imposing a tax
on bachelors but it met with strong pro-
test, and was not presented for the reason
that bachelors OF the northwest are only
too anxious TO marry, and young women
are at a premium.
A bill will be introduced In the Iowa leg
islature within the next few days taxing
bachelors. II is the result OF concerted eff
fort OF women Of the state at the Old
Maids and Old Bachelors convention at
Forest City last summer Under the pro-
posed measure bachelors past 40 viii be
assessed S25 a year and over As at $50. The
money will be used 10 found home for
fallen women. No bachelor may be taxed
whose income is not over 1900 yearly. His
age must be sworn before a notary. The
assessment will continue until the bachelor
Tnarries or reaches the age Of S.. The
preamble Of the bill declares unmarried
men are e menace to society; that the
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07

IAIEltNA1Lhs the Ire tthe rail-
road man is very much the. same
today as II has been from the he
ginning is now, and very likely
- will be to tine end OF time. Ger
tain features OF the routine never vary.
but 90 on and on with each run from one
end Of the division TO the other But the
internal, that phase Of existence with
which the public does not come into con
tact, shows changes that have been many
and. in some respects, sweeping. 1t Is only
Htural that this should be so, for the gen
l business OF railro ading has advanced
Nith accumulation OF knowledge and wis
dom born Of experience, and the men have
advanced with 1t. New types OF engines
new forms Of car construction. new de-
vices for promoting safety of trains ana
facility OF traffic have brought new condi
lions, and the men have had TO keep IN
with the times. Not so very many wears
ago but what men stlll in the business can
recall the time with ease, nothing was
asked Of a man when he applied for place
but that he be ready to go to work when
the caller came for him. II was under
stood without asking that he would be
ready to risk his life at any time. and that
ne depended on his strength and agility to
protect his limbs. He took chances daily
Fs-@e ''NAN NAME Anb ordinary man ndtT
stand on end, and dallied with Death in a
familiar fashion through all his life Sooner
or later Death won the game. but that
didn't deter any from trying the business
IT was life that made men reckless that
divorced them in n large sense from their
fellows and deprived them Of many little
things that soften existence. Only hard,
dangerous work was theirs but It was a
life with its compensatons. The work was
such as called into the service the holder
and more venturesome spirits, and the an
nails Of railroading TEEN with tales Of the
sef-devoted heroisn and quick-witted
adaptability Of these forerunners of their
craft. Life and limb at all times and com
pany property at others depended on doing
the right thing at the right instant, and
the man who was called upon to act didn't
have more than week to make up his
mind in, either
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
nther rhInrr a Rrnkemnn Did.

BESIDES setting brakes to hold or stop
trains, the brakeman had to make coup
lings, pull pins, open switches and do
varied lot of stunts that required strength,
agility and cool daring. For example, when
a train was coming to a station where it
was to take a sding-'head in Is the tech
nical term-the hind brakeman checked the
speed of the train as it neared the switch,
while the front brakeman jumped off the
engine and raced ahead that he might
open the switch in time to let the train
run in without stopping. This sounds sim
pie enough, but 1t required much skill as
well as speed, and at times It became very
difficult. 1 recall one place where we used
to have to head in for short stretch of
double track on hill. To open the gate
there was a trick that tried the mettle of
the best brakeman, and the misses were
numerous. When one did occur the head
man usually heard much concerning his
breeding. including his ancestry for sew
eral generations back, not 10 speak of COM
ment on his personal qualifications and
the likelihood of his becoming president of
the road or something of that sort. It
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
ass..ithe Fircmnn,n nelInht.

THE disappearance of the brass orna-
mentation from the engines was a great
boon TO the fireman. once 1t was deemed
artistic at least to put brass on wherever
It might be applied, and to polish whatever
OF iron work was not concealed by brass.
1 fired for thirteen months on a passenger
run OF $50 miles day an engine of the
Mason type that was literally covered with
brass. Outside had TO clean two domes,
a sand box and a bell the sand box cover
and the whistle. the fagstafs, the rim Of
the headlight stand. the handrail and its
stanohiohs on each side OF the engine, the
check valve caps and ave brass bands
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
Dbl PassenEer service.

'All the changes that have affected the
freight service have also affected the pas
senger service. Trains are heavier now
than they used TO be, and run faster, but
the engines are bigger and the tracks are
better on some roads a train agent has
been introduced to relieve the conductor Of
the responsibility Of looking after the fares
as well as the movement Of the train On
other lines the conductor has to collect
fares as well as train orders. The front
brakeman still retains his title, but the
rear brakeman has become a flagman, and
is stationed at the rear Of the train always
with his flags, lanterns, fuses and tor
pedOes The train porter looks after the
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
Difference in Size.

'In the day 1 am speaking of the en-
gines weighed around thirty-fve tons, with
cylinders of fourteen, fifteen or sixteen-inch
bore and twenty-four inch stroke Now the
engine weighs up as high as 200 tons, and
the cylinders are twenty-five, twenty-four
or twenty-six inch bore with thirty to
thirty-siX inch stroke. All this tells in
the load hauled. Some of the trains we
used to haul didn't weigh as much as a
modern locomotive.
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
Not Overly Liberal

Nobody supposed that the little i-year-old
had ever paid any attention to the con-
vetsation Of the family concerning church
matters, but she had.
"Flosse." said the caller, won't you
come and sit on my knee?"
"No, thank YOU" answered Flossie. MIR.
Pinshem, aren't you going 10 give more
than 81 for the support Of the gospel this
Yaarll
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
Comfort for TraInmen.

Air brakes, patent couplers, block sig
nails and the like have worked as much
change in the life of the conductor and
brakeman as the advance i'm locomotive
practice has in the existence of the en-
ginemen. HANDWRITING would render i'm
possible the loads hauled now. II would
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
Conductor Not ExemDt.

1.-THE mere fact that a man had gotten
far enough along To be made a conductor
didn't exempt him from all the work, not
by a good deal. and he was expected to
twist brakes, make couplings and take his
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
memories of Bysone Days.

in service nowadays" said an old timer
whose way of life has been along quieter
paths for many years. II still feel the old
impulse stirring in my veins but l manage
TO restrain 1t, and l am content TO make
an occasional examination OF the loco
motives. l have tried to keep posted on
the development of the iron horse through
reading technical magazines, and have fol-
lowed fairly closely all the great changes
that have been made as well as the details
and minor points that would escape any
but the professional railroad man. When
i climb up one of these new engines
and look over the conveniences, planned
not so much for the comfort Of the men
as for the economical operation of the
machine my mind goes back lrresistibly
70 the day when l was a fireman. Thirty
years ago l climbed on the footboard OF
q locomotive and threw my 1rst shovelful
OF coal into the firebox.
That engine had a firebox hfty-six
inches long by forty wide, swung between
the front and back axles. The back springs
came up into the cab. Nowadays the
standard size for ,the frebox is los inches
long by sixty WIDE and Il rides over at
least one driving axle, while the springs
are all far below the cab floor The in
jector was Just being debaIed then IL was
being used In an experimental way TO
feed stationary boilers. and few months
, after began firing It was put on few
OF the locomotives to see what II. could do.
II was a success when the engine WAS
standing. but no one dreamed OF running
by an injector on one engine / fired
Nathan a Dreyfus injector worked with
such success that ii could occasionally
be started Il the engine was running
slowly on a straight, smooth piece OF track.
I recall very well when I made this dis
covery and told the engineer. He wouldn't
believe It tin he had seen II working.
At the roundhouse the announcement was
received with a scornfui boot. bat within
three years most of those fellows who
V'looked on me as monumental liar were
running engines on which the pump had
been discarded, and the injectors Installed
Cola water lamp a Terror.
THAT cold water pump was a heart
breaker for the fireman. as well as a
source OF trouble for the engineer. The
careless runner could cause his fireman
an sorts OF grief Before the water glass
was Installed, the engineer was apt 20 let
the water get too low In the boiler All OF
sudden he would try bis cocks and ind
a scaht showing al the lower gauge. Then
nc NNelA tut AiiN pump WHO NtAlf anu
each revolution OF the wheels sent a jet
Of cold water into the boiler right on the
nues This sent the steam back with a
rush. for the fireman had been careful
with his fire not 10 have too great pres
' sure. II meant hustle for him to hold any
steam az an, and generally several miles
would be covered before he had the pointer
back up 20 the mark. BY this time the
boilers would be fun and the pump shut
on. and then It would be the same thing
over Rgain. In those times Il MAS the re-,
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07

KINNEY Of St. Louis is
preparing a bin placing "A poll tax
of SO a year on all unmarried
male citizens Of sound mind over
tyyaptv-HK.o wears for the benefit
Omaha daily bee., 1907-04-07
RdrOddn9 Thirty Years Ago COnasted With Present Day Methods

lTERNALLY, the life fthe rail-
road man is very much the same
today as Il has been from the he
ginning, is now, and very likely
will be to the end OF time. Ger
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
Editor Is Shot at,

Clinton, s. G., Jan. 23.-W.
J. Dendy, editor of The Clin-
ton Gazette, one of the leading To-
cal journals, has experienced a
very %{lclose escape from death.
The attempt to take Mr.. Dendv's
life occurred last evening about Z
O'Clock, while the editor was at
his residence. He was engaged in
reading near a window when he
was greatly startled to hear the
report of a gun and to find that a
bullet had fattened itself against
the wall only a few inches below
the window that he was sitting
with his back to, only a few feet
away. In a talk with the news
paper representative MI. Dendy
says that ne thinks this murder
GUS attack due to editorials he has
written recently in his publica.
ton, denouncing the secret meet
ings being INDUCED in by the ne
groes of this community very free
ly.-speclal to Charlotte Obser-
yer.
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
Saves 10000 Dimes.

Saving all her dimes for twelve
years, Mrs. Emma Shirley, a wi
dow, has accumulated $1,000,
which she has donated to the
Methodist, Board of Foreign@ Mis-
sions to endow a woman mission
ary to Japan.
my husband managed two
boarding houses for mail Clerks
said Mrs. Shirley. 81 collected
all bills for him and one day he
laughingly said that he would
give me the dimes he received if I
would give him the entire
amounts of the collections. He
said it as a Joke, but we found the
habit Of saving every dime. He
gave them all to me."-St. Louis
dispatch.
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
Success.

A Boston firm recently offered a
prize for the best diinition Of
what constitutes success. A Kan
sas woman was awarded the
prize, and this was her answer.
"He has achieved success who
has lived we'll, laughed often and
loved much; who has gained the
respect of intelligent men and the
love Of little children; who has
filled his niche and accomplished
his task, who has left the world
better than he found it, whether
by al improved poppy, a perfect
prem or a rescued soul; who has
never lacked appreciat i of
earth's beauty OF failed to ex-
press it; who has always looked
for the best in others and given
the best he had; whose life was
an inspiration, whose memory a
ksns11avtiuH.-Ax.
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
Eisbop Duncan Better.

Spartanhurg, s. c., Jan. d.
Bishop W, W. Duncan's cos,di-
ton tonight is improved and there
is considerable hope for his ulti-
mate recovery. Although very
weak fromsshis long illness, the
patient is somewhat stronger,
and this further strengthens the
belief that unless a serious re-
lapse occurs he will eventually be
himself again. The news of his
gradual improvement will be
learned with sincere. qualification
by hundreds through t h i
South and by the whole country
a. we'll.
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
SHOT IN HIS OFFICE,
william Whitslsv. Prominent Figure il the
Business World Assassiaatsd.

london, Jan. PA dramatic
tragedy startled Lond' II today,
when William Whitley, one Of
the most unique, aud at the same
tame, one of the most prominent
fgares in the bus ness world, was
shot dead in his store by a youth
claiming to be his son. The as
sassin then attempted to blow out
his own brains.
The name of Whitley has be-
como . household world in Eng
land, owing to the enormous de-
parenent store in London run by
\ company, of which Mr.. White
ley was president, and which was
the pioneer in such enterprises.
The crime occurred shortly af-
ter midday. An unknown young
man was accorded a private in
terview with Mr.. Whitley in the
~latter's private Office, where the
two men remained closeted for a
few moments. AS Mr.. Whiteley
emerged from his office it was OBJ
served that the young man was
following and importuning him,
while Mr.. Whitley was waving
Ills visitor off and threatening to
call the police. Suddenly the
young, man whipped out a revolt
yer and fred two shots point
blank at Mr.. Whiteley's head and
he fell dead. Before the assassin
could be secured he turned his
weapon on himself and inflicted
what is believed to be a mortal
wound.
The personality Of the assassin
and the motives for his CRIME are
enveloped III much mystery. He
gave the name of Cecil Whitley,
but rele+i7es OF William White
Icy dissclaim all knowledge of
him. The police found no papers
or other written matter on his
person to lead to the establish
ment Of his identity, but they dis
covered his place of residence and
learned that he Dever had called
himself Whiteley there. The
clothing of the young man bore
the initials H. P" The police
are of the opinion that the me-
tive for this crime, when discov-
cred, will show that there we're
present none of the elements of
revenge for personal injury, but
rather that the attack upon Mr..
Whiteley s o result of a fancied
grievance.
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30
Bad Stomach Trouble Cured.

Having been sick for the past
two pears with a bad stomach
trouble, a friend gave me a dose
Of Chamberlain's Stomach and
Liver Tablets. They did me SO
much good that I bought a bottle
of them and have used twelve
bottles in all. Today I am we'll
of a bad stomach trouble.-Mrs
John Lowe, Coop er, Maine.
These tablets are FIR sale by Jas
Salisbury, and Spencer
Pharmacy, Spencer. N. G.
Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1907-01-30

That's. the b, use the Doctor built,
The biggest house you see;
Thank g%oooness he don't get our
money,
For We take HOLSTERS Rocky
Mountain Tea.
T. W. Grimes Drug Co.
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-01
COAL MINERS
VOTE STRIKE
$4,000 MEN TO BE CALLED OUT IN
PENNSYLVANIA
COMPANY ACCUSED OF BREAK
ING AGREEMENT
Employers Allowed Few Hours in
Which to Adjust Conditions.
Ore Dock Men Decide
to Resume Work

By Associated Press.
PITTSBURG, July S1.-The executive
board of district No. 81, United Mine
Workers of America, which embraces the
Pittsburg district, tonight authorized
President Freehan to call strike of the
miners in this district Immediately al
leglng that the Pittsburg Coal company
has been violating the wage agreement
repeatedly.
President Freehan has announced that
he will give the Pittsburg Coal company a
few hours in which to adjust matters.
Over 1900 miners will be affected In the
event of strike.
DULUTH, Mimi, July 31.-The ore dock
strikers this afternoon voted to return to
work, and operations will be resumed to-
morrow. This is regarded as breaking the
strike.
NEW YORK, July 31.--The steel corpo-
ration has decided to begin operations at
its docks at Duluth at once, and has no.
titled the men that any of them who want
to come back to work will be taken back
that no outsiders will be taken If the old
men desire to return, and that the old
men will be taken back without any pre-
judice whatever because of the strike.
This is consideed eminently fair to the
men in view of the serious interruption
of business by the strikers
Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-01
DANISH KING PROMISES
FREEDOM TO lCELANDERS
People of Far North Greet Sovereign
Who Pledges to Them Full
Measure of Lib
erty
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
REY JAVIK, Iceland, July S.-At a
banquet given in his honor last night,
King Frederick of Denmark who accom-
panied by Prince Harald, Premier Chris
tensen and forty members of the rigs
dag, arrived here yesterday, announced
his policy regarding the future relations
between the Danish crown and Iceland
IT have inherited the kingdom as a
unit" said King Frederick, land such II
shall remain from generation to genera
ton, but 1 have also inherited from my
father the tradition that the Icelanders
are to be free people who cooperate with
the king in framing the laws under which
they are to live.
II have therefore established COM
mission formed of the Danish rigsdag and
the Icelandic althing to arrange for legis'
lation to define the constitutional position
of Iceland in the realm and to find a
form under which the freedom of Iceland
may be built up and protected, while al
the same time the unity of the realm Is
preserved and insured"