The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-10
Drawing School
 Makes Engineer
 Of Clergyman
Julian H. Sterling Tells Story of Railroading and the Bridge port Evening Mechanical Drawing School
Engineer Harry A. Porter Tells
 How They Threw. a Stove
 Down Stairs and How He Got the American Beauty Express
Especial to The Farmer.)


 ed at a table in a fashionable cafe, was approached by stylish looking young man, who extended a glad hand with the remark, 'I guess you do not remember me?" agreeing with him. he continued, '1 used to take draw Ing lessons of you before the blizzard in the evening schools for mechanical drawing sin Bridgeport when the Board of Education maintained them. The classes met in the hall over the old Post Office building where now is the City Market Because I be- came a pupil in that drawing school, the entire course and plans of my life were altered.
 My people intended that I study and attNnd the Theological depart ment at Yale and become a minister of. the gospel, but the drawing school turned my ambitions in another di- rection.'
 At this stage of the conversation MT. F.V. Cole and Col. Tracy B. War ren sat down at the table to listen to the life story of Engineer Harry Por- ter, resident of Bridgeport and one of the ablest men in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and if, in the report as herein retold there should be any who doubt it's accuracy, they are respectfully referred to Col. Warren.
 Engineer Porter leaned over the table as We drew forward to catch every word. He pointed his index
 finger in my direction saying: "One cold winters night you explained to large class of young men, the con- struction of locomotives. On the black board you drew a section of a cylinder, showing the piston head, rod, side rod, crank and driving wheel of a locomotive. Next you asked the class. the question, ''if the crank is exactly over the center sof the axis or exactly under it: Where is the piston center of the cylinder"
 "No," said you, 'It is not' and be- gan to explain the reason why you were interrupted by all sorts of ques- tions and the class was about evenly divided, some for, and some against you. ''I don't doubt it," interphrased Col. Warren. MT. Porter continued, lat length you said. We will not con tinue the argument longer but next Wednesday evening I will have an ex- planation to offer that will be con- 
 When the evening arrived a full class was present to hear what you brought with you as fine a specimen of manhood as I had ever seen
 MT. Cole looked interested and Col. Warren said. "Ah ha I see.'' En- gineer Porter continued, "He was tall, dark. broad of shoulder, deep chest ed, thick limbed and fist like a sledge hammer. You began the exercises by referring to the discussion at the last session. Beside you stood this Her cules and you introduced him as MT. William Marley, one of the best en- gineers of the New York and New Haven railroad, known from Boston to New York as the John l.. Sullivan of the road. There was a deep silence. You sat down and MT. Marley began to draw in his breath and some of us thought you expect ed him to thrash the whole class"
 Did he,' anxiously asked Col. Warren No replied Engineer Por- T thought there was going to be a fight and I was getting interested"
 MT. Porter continued MT. Marley just waived his arm and said, Say, you fellows, when your teacher says a thing is so, its right. See? I knbw say, see?' You began to draw an other cylinder on the blackboard and 'BilP' as we have since become to call him gave us great game of talk about it. We could understand him, because he called a locomotive she II, $. a driving wheel her fin.' He told us more about locomotive than you knew or ever will know. T don't doubt it, interrupted Col Warren and MT. Porter kept right on saying: While Bill was going it to us strong, some of the pupils sneaked out onto the stair landing where an old stove stood. and threw it down stairs. It bounded along, making a thunderous noise and crashed through the street door and fell bang on the sidewalk in Bank street. Whats that said Bill as he turned around and assum- ed first-position. He looked magni- nings rushed up from the street and, asked Whats the row?' Bill gave him cold look and said, We don't need any help The officer disap- peared. It was this incident all talk en together that made the turning if l could only look and act like Bill Marley I could save more souls by running a locomotive than I could by don't blame you,' said Col. Warren, and I determined then and there to give up the Divinity school and make break for the iron horse.
 Bill Marley was my. model and after this I began to hang around the old depot you used to write all kinds of stories for the Farmer about the engineers and I read them and cut cut and saved the slips I read about George COrbett, Edward Hark- ness Edward Chatterton, George Bow CTS, John Southworth. and all the rest. After 9, time you gave me 3 card to Enginee~ Marley. He ran the 9 :S6 D. m. train to New York known as the Wedding Express. One even ing l stepped up to his engine and said, Here's a card from my old drawing teacher and I remember the evening you were up in the drawing school said Bill, oh Hell, get up here and sit on the box and stop talking. Did Bill say that?' inquir- ed Col. Warren. Yes he did,' said MT. Porter. I'm surprised said Col. Warren. I did not know before that engineers were so eloquent We starte1 for New York. Was there any wedding parties on board?" in luired Col. Warren. I don't know said MT. Porter. I never was so happy in my life, getting an engine ride. that I did not have time to think about any wedding parties' If you felt like that said Col Warren, there must have been a few on board That joy riding business is very catching Bill stuck his head put of the cab window and did not speak a word until we reached New York. Then he smiled and said, She got here on time all right, all right
 After this l tried to get a job on the road but failed. You gave me a letter. to Col. William H. Stevenson who at that time was superintendent of the New York and New Haven road. He sent me to Master Me |, T0h 1@e