Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-15

ldllICdu uSu uO HUI Inc Aop
their pet superstition in the way of
numbers is 8. 1t is difficult to get an
engineer to become reconci1ed to ia
king out an engine with 8 in its num-
Der. Where the superstition against
9 came from no railroad man can tell,
and yet it is one of their strongest an
tipathies.
An engineer spends from 8 to 10
hours a day in his cab, constantly
moving amid noise that prevents con-
versation. His work is almost auto
matte.
AS his engine rushes with roar
through the country he has nothing to
do but think His watchfulness be-
comes automatic as we'll as his labor.
The noise, the rush of his train, the
ute to give twist to his thoughts.
A very great many engineers are
found to have eccentric opinions on
some particular phase of life in
which they become interested. 1t may
be religion or politics, but whatever
it is their thoughts on it take an I'M
usual turn, probably Influenced by
their working habits.
Railroad engineers lave an abhcr-
renee for an engine that ever has
been in wreck Thic. no doubt, is
due to their belief in The infallibility
of wrecks and other accidents COM
ing in cycles, or in occurrences Of
threes. When an accident happens
on the road they wag their heads and
wonder when the next one will take
place, and when tie third Las hap
pened they breathe easier until anoth.
er occurs to give them the ch-nce to
look for two more aca-l. An engine
that has been in only one wreck is
looked to finish its cycle, AMI u-til
it does SO and gets a clean bill of
health it is regarded as hoodoo.
Friday hes the same hold on the SUI
perstitious fear of railroad men that
it has in other quarters. Men will re
fuse to take a lay-off on Friday, and
if it is forced upon them they will not
return to work until the following
Monday. Many railroad superintend
ents and trainmasters coddle their
men as far as they can In this super
stition, but general regard for II
would be impossible, else the railroad
traffic of the country might come to q
comparative standstill some Friday.
There are thousands of stories rife
in railroad circles that prove to rail
road men that there is good reason
for their fear of this or that hoodoo
Here is a true story on the mum
Der 10:
Several years ago one of the sever
est snowstorms in the history of rail
reading swept to the west. Bstweer
Chicago and Aurora drifts ten fee
high INSTRUCTED traffic, and snow
pillow and engines were sent out tt
clear the road. At point on thu
road was a yardmaster, who is nov
railroad superintendent in ST Louis
and it is he who tells the tale.
The snow bucking train was com
posed of 10 engines behind the pillow,
says he.
| In the front engine was my eide
brother, who was the engineer of II
The superintendent of the division
was there supervising the work.
When the train was made up an,
ready to start, the superintendent toll
me to go with the head engine
climbed aboard and my brother aske,
me what was doing there. l replie
that was going along with him. d
you know that there are IL engines Il
this train?' he asked, solemnly.
told him l knew all about it. Wei
there's going to be an accident h
said. 4 don't want you on this Ell
CINE When the accident comes on
of us will be killed, perhaps botf
Who is going to look after our oil
father and mother them"
/ 81 was young, and l. wasn't yer
strong on the 10 superstition anywa.
and 1 told him he was talking like
, sentimental kid. The superintendent
approached us and must have hear
the last part of our conversation. fo
he told me to. stay in the yard an
see that the road was kept clear.
THE snow buckers pulled out Will
out me. They had not been out a
hour when the journal burned off o
the front engine and dropped tn
axle 1t caused rail to curl up an
the end of It shot through the aee
of the cab and knocked the hat o
the fireman. Had gone on the Ell
by the rail, which went through til