The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1914-01-29

tances, also or surprises some of which are not g
actly welcome, although the whole 1t is vel
interesting part of the world" said Mr.. Isham r
counting some of the experiences that befell them
on the trip. you are constantly running on to
the unexpected that there is no danger Of be-
ing wearied by lack Of variety.
I'VE met man who has the most trying
position of &hich | know. He's an American
a big broad shouldered. athletic chap, with the
polish of a university man and the breezy open
hearted manner of true westerner.
He is an engineer. and 1t is his duty to see
that the Chilean division of the Trans-Andean
railroad is kept free from land and snow slides
That doesn't sound bad does It, because
you can have no conception OF what 1t means I'M
less you have seen the country. The TransAn
dean railroad is thirdrai system in the strictest
sense of the word. That third rail is located be-
tween the narrow gauge strips of steel on which
the cars travel and is cogged affair into which
teeth on the driving wheels of the locomotive
slip giving sufficient grip to pull the heavy trains
up the alseSst perpendicular course.
ION tn, Chilean side of the Andes it is a case
of climhi.g almost every foot of the way. and at
times + seems as though the locomotive must fall
beeETard on the cars that follow.
This chap lives in little stone house close by
inca lake, In the Andes, $4,000 feet above sea
level He has gang of natives under him, and at
certain seasons of the year they are kept on the
jump battling with snow slides. which bury the
tracks so deep that it requires days of the hard
est kind of work to clear them.
Then the mountains have playful habit OF
casting of good big slice of rock and dirt which
comes tumbling down across the tracks and puts
an end to travel until it has been removed.
Sometimes these pranks result seriously and
there's many lonely grave along the right OF way
to indicate the last resting place of some poor
section man who was buried beneath slide. Last
wtnter,a few square acres of snow and rock and
ice came crashing down a that were en-
deavoring to clear the tracks. Part of them es-
capped untouched and Immediately began digging
out their fellow workers. At the end of rs hours
they came upon a sorry hgure-a battered section
man who had borne the full brunt of the slide.
And what do you think he did when they
pulled him out. more dead than alive? Berated
them for leaving him buried long.
You're fine lot he stormed why, you left
me in there two hours 1t wasn't your fault that
didn't die
And the hands on the clock had started on
their third round trip since the slide went over
him
THE place this engineer calls home is one Of
the most Godforsaken spots / ever saw. They
try to keep the road open the year round, but
there are three Of four months every winter when
trains are few and far between. and the district
is virtually cut of from the outside world
THE scenery along the route is impressive
but somehow didn't envy this particular Amer
lean his job .
Crossing the crest OF the Andes and getting
down. to the Argentine plains you strike of the
widest gauge railroads in the world. Service on
the line is not bad-in some respects
"They have single and double compartment
cars for male and female passengers. 1t was my
i'll fortune to draw seat in double compart-
ment with three Spaniards. Now. they not
exactly the travelling companions you would Sc
lect for 24-hour ride across the plains. journey
that is trying under the most favorable conditions
hay nasQionafaly md M nF mar
ticularly rank variety. Without exception they
smoke cigarettes that make burning rubber rem
inscent of altar of roses. Most of them are az.
fected with bronchial trouble. They detest fresh
air. Also they never have acquired liking for a
cold plunge before breakfast-or a bath any other
time. for that matter When was ready to enter
the train three OF the most disreputable repre-
sentatives OF their species were settled comfort
ably in the compartment Delightful prospect.
Just about that time had the good fortune to
run into an American engineer who on his
way to Buenos Aires He had the same luck
three of the unwashed In his compartment For.
tunately he able to talk some Spanish.
Let's bride the guard and see IL we can't get a
compartment to ourselves suggested.
NO sooner said than tried. Presently my new
found friend came back We had with our train
virtuous guard. offered Ave dollars to effect
the desired change he spurned the tender with a
fne display Of indignation. He could not be hired
for such a paltry But for ten dollars he
would throw the dirty rascals out bag and bag.
gaze
Gladly contributed the other half OF the bride
Soon baggage began to fly out on the platform
followed by a jabbering trio. who made the Ar.
gentine air blue with picturesque profanity as
they protest& against this summary ejectment
They produced tickets to shew they were
entitled to seats in this particul compartment
The guard. in his most imperioGs .-S.sner inform
ed them that be cared not what Their liSsrsss
called for. Did not be have the ofnciai chart Of