The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-12-20
OBSERVATIONS.

A railroad friend of mine in the east
had just been promoted. When l
first knew him he was a superintend-
ent's clerk; then assistant supt. He
was bright, thoughtful, attentive and
helpful to everybody and on all ac-
casions. Then he was promoted to
the superintendency of division of
the Boston and Maine in New Hamp-
shire. I called to congratulate him.
and we fell to talking of various things.
and learned this incident. The crack
New York White Mountain Expr as.
Springfield, Mass. station: slowly
starting out of the long train house.
just then the asst. supt., named above
saw man with his wife, three small
children and hand bags hurrying
across the four tracks running towards
the already moving mountain express.
Divining the matter at once, not
standing on his dignity or talking of
travellers being on time, he sprang
to them asked their destination; it
was a station in Vermont, which they
would not reach till after midnight if
they waited for the next train. In
stantly whirling around he caught
sight of the rear brakeman of the long,
moving train, swung his arm and
shouted to him pull the air!" The
brakeman pulled the cord and to the
establishment of many the privileged
mountain train was stopped. Mean
time our railroad official; always neatly
dressed, young, popular, seized child
in each arm and hand bag, saying
to the man, "Now help your wife and
the other baby and hurry" They ran
several car lengths to overtake the
train; porter and brakeman were on
the platform by this time, when Mr..
Superintendent said, "Here boys help
these people aboard and forward to
their COACH" and signalled the engin-
eer to go ahead. Dozens of people
were about and saw it all, but our
friend stepped into his Office, ready to
do it again if necessary.
But see. The next year he consult
ed noted Boston occulist, visited his
Office several times. and when he cal
led for his bill the Doctor said there
is none! He inquired the reason, when
he was asked if he was the Mr.. R. who
was the railway superintendent at
Springfield the year before. Then
said the doctor, II happened to be at
the station that day you stopped the
White Mountain Express, and helped
those country people and children to
their train. 1t was a revelation 20
see "a young railroad official do such
thing; a brakeman or baggageman
might; but a superintendent" Mr.. R.
saw no particular merit in it; and just
there is the beauty of il,
Another railroad incident. Years
ago there was a conductor on a
branch of the Cape Cod railroad in
Mass. He was about so years of age,
tall, little grizzled, not particularly
good looking, but with winsome way
that charmed the children, babies. He
was called "The Baby Charmer," for
many were the tired and fretful babies
he had Quoted. One night coming
from Boston there was a lady and
babe which had travelled from early
morning and both were tired out; the
child could not be quoted; it squirmed
and doubled, kicked and cried. The
old timers pitied the mother and said
to each other: "Manter will have his
match tonight" referring the baby
loving conductor. The branch cars
were dropped from the mainline train
to Mr.. Manter's care; as he passed
thru the train several personal friends
remarked to him, pointing to the baby,
There's job for you; you'll be STUN
ped this time" He worked his train
and after the next station when there
was long run to the next stopping
place, the conductor came int0 she
car and his neighbors and friends
watched. As he got near the lady he
began low whistle which attracted
the child. then chirped, twisted his
face in a queer way he had. put out
his hands toward the child who SEEM
ed mesmerized and leaned over into
his arms, when he carried it off to the
end of the car, the passengers CLAP
ping their hands, he singing and hum
ming Pill the while. Before the next
stop fhe child went back to its
mothers arms quoted. He was our
Conductor Mantor; one of our insti-
tutions.
OBSERVED