The Alaska citizen., 1911-09-25
By Ebert Hubbard.

other day. as We were waiting, a division superintendent in the em ploy of the Lake Shore asked me: Do you know the cause of most cf the railway accidents 2"
 Why, disobedience of orders I answered.
 No. il is domestic infelicity. You say 'disobedience of orders, and this is partly right. but the cause lies deeper Why should a railway employe disobey orders? Why should an engineer run past the station where he is ordered to stop? It is his own life he endangers most. Why should train dispatcher send out two trains facing each other at the same time on one track? Or why does the train tender throw switch right in front of a fast express?
 People call these things acci. dents. but that is not the word; they are the result of mental con ditions And il is for the general manager to be on the lookout for these conditions. and very good railroad manager now is. Do you re. member when two passenger trains met, head on. out in Indiana last year? The engineer of one of these trains had in his pocket an order to take the sidetrack at a certain sta ton He ran by that station at the rate of fifty miles an hour, and in five minutes there was crash that snuffed out 54 lives and $250000 worth of property.
 "I knew the engineer Let us call him Hank Bristol. for that wasn't his name. He was married to a and they boarded at a hotel; had no children. boarded there, too, and We all made eyes at Hanks hand some wife. She used to play the piano and sing a little and recite The love of one plain. honest man was not enough for her. She craved the admiration of the clever.
 She wasn't bad woman, just an idle one who spent every spare cent Hank made on tinery and on herself, to be admired. Hank was proud of her, too. One evening he kissed the dear woman good bye and started out to make a night run. He went out to the roundhouse, and at the last moment the or Man decided to call Hank back and let him take out special carrying the president and directors of the road ill the morning.
 Hank was tickled-it was a great compliment to him. He went home to tell his wife; he used to tell her she wasn't there-she had gone to the theatre with a boot and shoe drummer from Chicago.
 Hank went away and walked the streets till morning. His wife never knew, and believe she doesn't yet. He walked the streets all night and ran out on the special in the morn ing But after that he was never the same. He used to cOnfide in me - he just had to tell some one to keep his heart from bursting with suppressed grief. He grew absent minded, lost flesh, appetite gone, was nervous the doctor said he should quit coffee and cut out half the tobacco
 Hank didn't work on our road, or I'd never have let him touch a throttle; no. not even if he had been my brother l knew it would come. He was found under his engine, the order that he had disobeyed in his pocket, and picture in his watch of the woman who had caused the disaster No. it probably has never dawned upon this woman that she caused the wreck. She wore deep mourning and the cutest black bon net with a white ruche. She was the most fetching widow you ever saw-and she knew it without be- ing told.
 Yes. that is what l said-marital infelcity is responsible for the rail road wrecks, and causes most of the others too The only safe man IS the one whose heart is at rest-whO has home and wife who stays there and minds her business, looks after the babies. has no secrets and does not make eyes at other men that's the kind l know every man who works for me, and l know disturbed. distressed and jealous man a train length away. My heart bleeds for 'em, but I serve the public, and none such can run an engine for me.
 Do you see that man in the blue Overalls. down there at the end Of the platform? Well, he is the engi- neer who will take out this train See how calm, satisfied and self possessed he is; he has no cares, DO anXieties beyond the desire to do his work we'll He is not so aw- fully brilliant but he will never dis appoint you. Now, when you start,