The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-22
A WRECK ON THE ROAD.
What a Collision Means to the
Man at the Throttle.
PLIGHT or THE ENGINEER.
The Chances He Has 70 Take and Als
Fate Should No Become Crippled In
q smashup--Thsre Are Some Thinos
Wcras Than Physical Pain.

rate Snuulu To 11oomo 1TlPpteu "
q Smashup---Thsre Are Some Thinas
Werss Than Physical Pain.
Il Just dropped In to toll you that
the coroner's Jury has exoncrntcd you
from all blame FOR. the wreck. They
are going to hold the block tower
man"
The old engineer turned his pain
drawn face toward me. A white cap.
ped nurse gently brushed back the
wild hairs from his forehead.
THANK you. miss, he said, "and you,
too, sir. for the good news. knew
they couldn't blame II on me, because
II was white at Mentor, Poor Denny,
he'd tell you 80, too, II he was alive
All whiter he shouted when we came
round the curve. and gave him the
answer, All whiter and pulled her
wide open. Then we struck the emp.
ties on the siding. and-well. you know
the rest He wiped a trembling hand
across his eyes ~ II trying to blot out
some horrible vision.
His eyes began to sparkle. and a bit
OF color flashed into his pale checks.
II suppose you fellows think opened
her up and went into those boxes just
for fun" A smile titted over his lips,
and then be grew serious. Say, did II
ever come to your mind that an en-.
gineer might he as anxious about his
own life as he Ii about the lives Of
those who are riding behind himf My
wife and little one--don't you suppose
my life counts for something with
them?
ibid you ever stop to think what a
collision like that at Mentor means TO
the engineerf Just try to figure your
self In his place. He rides In four
square feet OF cab room, surrounded
by mass OF levers, rods and the Ike,
Ahead OF him In about three miles Of
boiler pipe, carrying 200 pounds OF
steam pressure and enough hot water
to cook the meat OF his bones In q
jiffy. Gathering at his back 10 G,000
gallons of water aud $4,000 pounds OF
coal Under him Is 100000 pounds
OF engine. and behind there is
100000 pounds Of train. Altogether he
Ia running along ahead Of 100000
pounds Of steel, hardwood and brass
held to an eighty pound rail by three
quarters of an inch OF wheel nange.
why, when one Of those big Rus.
sian battleshlps fred broadslde at
the japanese the whole thing
amounted only to 24,O0O pounds, 80 the
papers say. And that 24.000 pounds
travelling eight miles minute would
strike japanese ship eight miles
away with an impact only one-tenth
Of the force we bit the empties at
Mentor.
''0f course was the engineer and
they depended on me. There Is al.
ways LOT OF fine talk about engineers
having the lives Of several hundred
passengers In their hands. That's all
very true. but you don't want to over
look the fact that the engineers life
Is right there along with the others
We all take chances, the train crew
as well as the passengers, only our
chances are simmer. had one
chance in 800 Of being killed, or one in
twenty-five of getting right where
am now, but passenger on the train
had one chance In about 100000 of
being killed and one In 10000 OF
being hurt.
Il see that lot of people were killed
and q whole lot more hurt. don't
want to be grumbler, but II appears
to me that you fellows have kinder
overlooked the fact that both Of my
legs are gone. OF course that might
not mean much to you, but II you
as | do, that for the rest OF
my life 1t is going to be my job to
hobble out Into the middle OF some
country road and wave white flag as
every train goes by--if you could real.
ze what that means to an engineer
to hear the mocking toot Of the whls-
lie as she comes up to the crossing and
10 see the sympathetic salute Of the
engineer and fireman as they go flying
Dy-I tell you, my boy, there are some
things worse than physical pain"
His eyes filled with tears. The nurse
gently wiped them away and softly
,troked back the hair.
II wouldn't talk any more now" she
Jaid.
IAN right, miss" he replied, putting
,ut his hand to me. u always obey
,rders."-B. n. WinsIow In New York
rrihunn