The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-08

not lose the number of my order and
the address. 1 cleared IA by means
| of pulling the lever up, that is farther
| lever from my right and also when he
| gave me the address of orders as to
what train 1t would be second 29. When
/ he says that he goes ahead with the
body of the order so that 1 wouldn't
| have to stop him and interrupt him and
| get the order / listened very closely,
1 reaching back and locking the board
! that should have held second %, feel
| ing for sure in my mind that this board
was down and the order being sent by
the train dispatcher / proceeded to
copy this order for second %. thinking
| all the time that my board was red for
| them. He also gave me two additional
| orders as he stated; IA got by all right
and as 20 had right by direction by the
time card, I feeling that they would
come up to the station to take orders
and water and feeling at the same time
that my board was at danger, l thought
that the board was at danger not look
ing, as was busy copying orders, that
is the two additional orders, when sec
ond % was coming up the main line.
y nen they got to the depot l was
standing up right at my chair looking
out at the window expecting them to
stop. Noticing that they were going
at very rapid rate Of speed realized
that something was wrong. I immed-
lately turned to the left running back
" the OOOT opening INTO ln6 WdllAI5
room, there where the lantern was sit
ting the lantern was cleaned and full OF
oil, as all the rest of the lights were in
best of shape. But as this lantern had
been sitting all night il had burned the
wick and the light was getting very
dim, but as rushed out 1 picked up
the lantern and the car of the last
sleeper was passing my semaphofe
right in front of the station when I
rushed out The night was moonlight
but it had been drizzling rain and was
very cloudy; it was not SO awful bright,
I Immediately swung my lantern in the
proper manner to stop the train and hol-
lored to the top of my voice. To stop
that train as the form of a man could
be plainly seen on the rear end of the
sleeper, feeling that this was the flag
man at this time of night, L thought
that the party understood wha meant.
Now didn't get to wave it more than
twice before 1t went out. But l I'M
mediately ran as fast as I could, hol-
loring at the top of my voice, but the
train was getting under good Roadway.
Immediately ran into the pump house, |
yelled to the pumper what had happen |
ed, but with couple of swings of his !
lantern it also went out as it was very |
dim I then rushed back to the depot |
and saw that the board which should |
have stopped second 20 was down, which |
meant clear, showing a white light. I |
Immediately ran up on this pole to see |
if it had froze or If some one had |
tied the board In a previous statement |
1 have stated that I showed the board /
out at danger from the top of the pole, |
but I did this just to see if it was in
working order as 1 felt so sure that the |
lever was down on the inside. As the I
general superintendent states that it
would have been impossible for me to
shove the board at danger, Icanno tsay,
but must have been so torn up that
thought I did 1 was awfully ratified
when it happened. 1 Immediately went
into the office and told the train dis
patcher that it was all off now as / had
let second 20 go by.
Did you observe the position of the
ever when you went into the office?
L stated that the lever was down and
o the best of my recollection, under
such conditions, stated that the lever
vas down. Then L imne diately told
he dispatcher that they had gone by,
le asking me several times If they
we're coming back, I telling him no.
After 1 thought 1 heard them hit and
could plainly see the blaze. I feared
mob would come back and 1 told the
dispatcher that I was going, I didn't
ry to escape the law as I Immediately
anne to a farm house and stayed till
lie brought me to Alma the next morn
ng In the meantime L telephoned
Agent Dfckey telling him to tell the
dispatcher that l was trying to get to
Topeka, and asked if he thought there
would be any mob If I would come
lown to the depot. He didn't give me
decided that I had better stay shy
# the depot and get to Topeka the
Dest way could.
AS you started to take this train
rider did you know whether it, the
rider board, was down?
No sir, do not, for the noise in the
Instrument
Did you look to see if it went down?
No, I did not look back, 1 felt so
ure that it went down.
Isn't it one of the first duties of a
rain operator in taking orders to see
hat the board is at danger, did you
10 this?
1 did in this way, that I thought I
ny right arm that this board was
own.
But you didn't look to see if it was
r not?
No. sir, didn't as I was copying
When you climbed the pole did
ou push the west bound semaphore
0 danger?
I can't say whether I did or not,
Tas fooling with the board as 1 just
tated.
After you went into the office did
GU work the levers down?
Yes sir ] did. I worked the levers
p and down so that I would leave
Oard red so that no trains WOuId run
ID onto them.
When you went into the office, what
osition was the west bound sema- /
hore? I
1 don't know, I can not say. must /
ave been up and I Immediately tried +
> see the board and see If they were r
But various statements that y
have made were that the lever was S
own. 1 should have stated that did y
OF know for sure.
IL I, fOvlyS ~
err when I left? L
To the best of my knowledge it was Y
Was it ever out of working order U
lille you were working there?