Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-04-08
The Freak of a
Railroad Engineer

Inc following narrative relates 10
the freak of an old railroad engineer,
while in a condition of somnambula
ton. The facts were told to the
writer by person living in the Sec
ton where the incident occurred.
Jack King is now long since dead, but
many of the early travellers by the
road on which he was employed for at
least 20 years still remember him. He
was what may be called born engi-
neer. He delighted in all kinds of
machinery, and especially a locomotive.
Its pretty thing" he used to say,
"a thing of life, indeed. Look at the
wheels and valves-look at every
thing, and see how strong and power
full it is, and yet it all works as
smoothly as a watch"
One day, however, Jack was per-
manently disabled by being run over.
He was standing on side-track, when
locomotive, in passing, got off the
rails and struck him He tried to
jump up, as if nothing had happened,
but could not. Some spectators picked
him up, and it was found that one of
was the sorrow of all the railroad
people, and especially of Jack himself.
He sobbed like child when he heard
that an amputation must take place.
Il don't mind my leg" he said, "but
I'm done for A man without leg,
or with wooden leg. can't be an en-
! glneer. My last trip on the locomo-
| tive is made, and now don't care how
soon i make the one over the river of
| DEATH"
But old Jack recovered, and was as
good as new, except that he had lost
his right leg. The company in his
case had shown that corporation
may have some feeling, for every pro-
vision for his comfort during sickness
had been made He was also presented
with an artificial leg. When he had
fully recovered he was informed that
he would be retained during life as
one of the first-class engineers of the
company to act as superintendent
in one of the repairing shops Jack
expressed himself as grateful, but also
remarked, as was reported to the pres
ident:
I'D rather be spinning up and down
the road on my old engine than to be
the president in his fine office Bat
must submit to fate. It's kind, any,
way, in the company to let me live
and die among the pretty things
i Old Jack from that time lived in a
house near the track and his shop. A
year or two passed, and he began to
fail in health His former cheerful
ness and love of a joke had gone from
him, but he attended faithfully to all
his duties. After while it was re-
ported that he frequently had strange
fits of sleep-walking.
One night a locomotive was stand.
ing on the track near the door OF
Jacks house waiting to take out a
late train 1t was in the summer, and
there was bright moonlight The en-
eineer and fireman We're on the track
for moment, when their attention
) was attracted by the appearance of
Jack King in his doorway.
Why, Jack King is up late to-
night" said the engineer
Perhaps he's walking" re.
turned the fireman
AS they both looked toward Jack
they saw him walk down a little path
open a gate, and come out ON the
track 1t was only a few steps tc
reach the waiting locomotive, and he
directed his way ON the side of it on
t posite whore the men We're standing
by Joye, he's surely asleep" CRIED
the engineer.
ITS almost as strange as to see 4
ghost" said the fireman. Hes ii
danger of being run down, too
3 At this moment the somnambulis
, mounted clumsily upon the locomo
tive. In another his hand was on the
throttle-valve, and the engine shot
quickly up the track AS it started,
long whistle was also given.
Heavens and earth," exclaimed th,
4 engineer, as he found himself on the
track, with his engine rushing ava,
! from him.
I Do you think mans asleep to rul
/ off with a locomotives" asked the as
tonished fireman.
Jack would not have done it Other
a i NioS. nv 10 iiot pilt W play aflN SllCI
trick on his old chums Heaven onl,
! knows how it will end"
A crowd soon gathered Great wa
the surprise and alarm when the trutl
Il of the case became known. Mean
q while, the locomotive, directed by IN
8 hand of the sleeping engineer. wa
4 driving up the road at the rate of a
least so miles an hour Fortunately
8 just then the track was clear for tn
h train which was soon to go out. lac
stood up erect and proud In his oil
q place, and not muscle quivered as h
B rushed onward. Sometimes h
4 checked up and then awaking tb
n echoes OF forest and valley with hi
a shrill, long whistle, he dashed forwar
y at greater speed than ever. He mex
a stopped entirely, and then starte
& back at great speed The crowd fna
= ly heard him coming. Every prepar;
a ton was made to avoid DANCE
81 Switches were looked to and ever