The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-11-04
A RAILROAD STORY.
The Superstition Of m Engineer and
the Result.

Railroad engineers have an alb
horrence for an engine that ever
has been in ii wreck. This no doubt
i due to their belief in the infalli-
bility Of wrecks and other accidents
coming in cycles or in occurrences
Of threes. When IN accident hap
mems on the road they wag their
heads and wonder when the next
one will take place, and when the
third has happened they breathe
easier until another occurs to give
them the chance 10 look for two
more again. An engine that has
been in only one wreck is looked to
finish its cycle. and until it does so
and gets a clean bill Of health II is
regarded as Il hoodoo.
Friday has the same hold on the
superstitious fear of railroad men
that il has in other quarters. Men
will refuse to take a layoif on Fri
day, and IL II Is forced upon them
they will not return TO work until
the following Monday. Many rail-
road superintendent and trainmas-
tiers coddle their men as far as they
can in this superstition. but a gen.
eral regard for it would be impossi-
Bile, else the railroad traffic OF the
country might come to compara-
tive standsiill some Friday.
There are thousands Of stories
rife in railroad circles that prove
to railroad men that there is good
reason for their fear OF this or that
hoodoo. Here is true story OF the
number II:
Several wears ago one OF the Sc
yerest snowsiorms in the history
Of railroading swept the west. Be
tween Chicago and Aurora drifts
Ten feet high INSTRUCTED traffic.
and a snowplow and engines were
sent out 10 clear the road. At
point on the road was yardmas-
ter, who Is now a railroad superin-
tendcrt in st. I.onis, and it is be
who tells the tale.
"The snow bucking train was CON-
posed OF thirteen engines behind the
plow," says he. '1n the front en-
CINE was nv older brother. who was
the engineer Of 1t. The superin-
tendent OF the division was there
supervising The work.
"When The train was made up
and ready 10 start, the superintend-
ent told me 10 90 With the head en-
CINE. | climbed aboard, and my
brother asked me what ! was doing
there. replied that | was TO go
along with him. DO you know
that there .arc thirteen engines in
this train? he asked solemnly. ]
told him ] knew all about it. We'll,
there's going 10 be an accident he
said. 4 don't want you on the en-
CINE. When the accident comes
one OF us will lie killed. perhaps
both. Who is to look after our old
father and mother then"
Il was young. and ! wasn't very
strong On the thirteen superstition
anyway. and I told him he was talk
ing like sentimental kid. The
superintendent approached us and
must have heard the last part OF
the conversation. for he told me TO
stay in the Yard and see that the
road was kept clear.
'rlle snow buckcrs pulled out
without me. Thcy had not been
out an hour when Tie journal burn.
Cd Oh on the front engine and drop.
ped the axle. II caused n rail to
curl up and the end Of IL shot up
through the floor II The cab and
knocked the hat OF the fireman.
Had gone on ils engne nv body
would have been pierced rs the rail.
which went through the seat where
] would have been sitting."-St.
Louis Post.Dispstch.