The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-10-17

/ ssGSAseNNEp4lFI Smoky River &
| 80 5sEsrG3 Southern railroad,
| tG1:sS9 .r55iSaTi fHDMN where was
NlAdI placed on the ex-
| ira list
| After three months Of very irregu-
lar and trying work was assigned to
q regular run on No. 1443, an old ten
| wheeler In very bad shape.
One night after a particularly vex-
attous doubling trip hurried to the
hash-house. ate quickly, and fastened
to bed exhausted.
| had slept perhaps two hours when
was awakened by some one pound
ing on my door.
What's the matterg" drawled
| sleepily.
Its Red" the cali-boy's voice
sounded over the transom, you've got
to go north on fruit train. Hurry
| up!"
MY body ached with fatigue, and I
realized that In my condition I was
not At for the cab.
Tell the old man I'm sick and can't
| go out, called.
To my surprise, Red hurried away
without a word, but before had fallen
into slumber once more he had re-
| turned and was again pounding ON my
door.
What the devils the matter" i
cried angrily
Jaw. who are yer yel1in' att. yelled
Red. Can help the old mans or
ders? He says II yer don't come on,
you'll be canned
Sonny" says /, restraining d pro-
fame outburst, tell the old man that
said he can take the job and go north
with it, IL he likes.
awoke much refreshed at one In
iISthe afternoon, and after hearty
bsaak1ast fastened TO the supers of
deeeeted me with : frigid good
Dose ! can gel M time T.
rs nodded.
uBut I'm not going TO fire you, he
| added. A 6o-day rest will do. think.
It will give you a chance to realize
that orders are orders I.
rode to Smoky River on No. ST,
and on arriving at my destination.
proceeded to headquarters Of the
Sand Mountain division Of the P. r.
& s. w. I applied for q place, but
was informed by the master mechanic
that they had hired number of new
engineers and We're not then In need
of any more
was contemplating return TO Hill
Top, when met an old acquaintance.
who told me that the P. #. & s. w.
was short of brakemen.
The road was paying s2.25 for
hundred miles, SO I decided to take
the job and endeaor to hold Il for
about forty or sixty days Of my lay-off.
made my first trip on No. SO, q
fast freight. One Of the roads new
engineers, Slim Post. was our hogger.
We made very good time, clubbing
them down Sand mountain at furi-
GUS rate. Slim knew that we were do
Ing this and afterwards boasted that
he could hold any train on that incline
with the air.
We laughed at MIN, and one old
timer, Williams, warned him that he
had better be careful, for he might not
show us more than once
My next trip out OF Smoky River
was made on No IA, with Slim on the
seat Of the S57.
At South Smoky River, the s. NJ e
S. crossed our rails It was the usual
order of things to pass the crossing
at about five miles an hour
/ noticed with some wonder that
we were making more than ten miles
when we clicked over the crossing,
and my amazement increased when
Slim dumped US over the summit Of
Sand mountain at almost twenty
miles.
I--oerrs JlsyyrS the other brakeman In the
crew, was back near the middle OF tho
string as we went Whizzing down the
grade. was somewhat startled when
I saw him set the brakes and hurry
back to the dog-house.
Our speed rapidly increased. and L
had almost decided to ask Slim If any,
thing was wrong when he Whistled for
brakes
set what Jimmy had left and We
slowed up slightly To my astonisE-
ment, Jimmy and the con cut off the
caboose and put the brakes on hard.
Again Slim called for brakes. high
balled him. Again he whjstled, and
once more highrhalled.
By this time, was thorou shIy
alarmed. for we were travelling so
miles an hour and swapping around
curves like a whip. We hurled down
the hill, and my terror did not sub
side until we came to a stop about
| three miles below the station.
Slim backed us up to the station,
and the operator came out with orders
asking US to proceed to Waveriy. tie
division point
| You. the dispatcher, and the whole
road can go plumb to perdition, 9
] baWled Slim. Not another inch do ]
go on line with such hills as these.
He meant it, too, for he walked bach
to Smoky River rather than ride az.
Sand mountain