The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-05-26

Philadelphia, May 23-Since the
days when people first began to look
upon the locomotive as a rival of the
stage coach the engineman has occu-
pied big niche in the Hall of Fame.
Artists paint him standing faithfully at
es on to destruction; writer's tell of his
bravery under the most terrifying
Stress poets sing of his heroism and
the responsibility for the human be-
ings in his care.
Yet there is another man who occu-
pies the locomotive cab long before
the trusty, CRIME besmeared engine
man guides the throttle-a man around
whom neither the artist, the writeer
nor the poet seems to have woven the
fanciful and the heroic.
After the huge modern locomotive
is completed it may be necessary to
sand this powerful machine, thousands
of miles across the country. From
Philadelphia the trip may be Portland,
Ore, or far off into the coolest and
widest regions of Canada. A new To-
comotive cannot be used to pull a
train travelling in that direction, as
suming Immediately the work for
which it has been built. 1t probably
belongs to another railroad and must
be shipped to the ordered destination
as freight.
Most of us have travelled sufficiently
or been near railroads enough to have
become familiar with the sight of a
long freight train which is made up of
numerous locomotives, fresh paint and
shiny metal testifying to their new
ness, between the familiar box and
gondola cars. They are not travelling
under their own steam, but are moving
as freight, the same as any other mer-
chandise or machinery. Grouped in
twos, each pair is separated from the
next by four or six regular freight cars.
In the cabin of each leading locomotive
sits man, officially designated as "the
messenger" He is guard and caretak.
er of two of the newly built engines
and is required TO remain with them
continually until they reach the place
where the owners take possession.
While travelling he must stay awake
watchful of possible accidents and
breakages. For days and weeks he is
practically under solitary confinement
snatching an occasional few minutes oi
sleep when the train halts and that
ough examination of the engines. His
life is unusual. In many respects it is
; similar to that of a tramp. He travels
from one end of the continent to the
othe by freight and is seldom at home
From the time he leaves the loco
motive works he lives in the cab o
one OF the engines. The back is board
ed up with small sliding door in thu
middle. Within it is fitted out as com
bination eating and sleeping room. Tn,
quarters are cramped, but the messen
left side he places temporary bunl
and over it shelf A small coal stov,
heats the compartment. On the righ
! is table and seat. His povisions an,
fuel are stored in the tender. Thus h
lives during his trip, which may meal
three, four or five weeks.
Attached to the locomotive work
are about 100 messengers. During tn
: busy season these men are riding tn
: railroads further and longer than tn
most hustling of our city drummers
: They return to this city on passenge
trains and their mileage is covered b.
the company.
The messengers work ends as 500
as he turns the locomotive over to rel
: resentatives of the purchasing raj
way, but before the transaction is ol
3 ficially completed another test is giN
en-. With this the messenger has II
corncern, as another employe of tn
plant is then in charge This last mel
; toned individual is permanently sta
' toned in the district where many IL
! comotives are being sent, and journey
:. from place to place, according to shiI
!. ment. In cases where single engin
3 is being sent out to section wher
there is no permanent special maI
: the traffic department sends an engil
. eer in charge instead of the regula
, messenger.
d The locomotive sent out from tn
i shops for delivery needs little attentio
a afterward. Before shipment a tris
I run is made, and, If satisfactory, tn
driving rod is moved, so as not TO wor
the piston and cylinder needlessly du
ing the coming trip Also it is ofte
4 required TO remove the bell, the heat
e light and other appliances which ar
!. too high for low bridges along tn
route. These are wrapped and place
/ in the tender, When the messenger d,