Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1914-01-16

q
tances also of surprises, some Of which are not
Rctly welcome, although on the whole it is yel
interesting part of the world, said Mr.. Isham,
counting some of the experiences that befell them
en- the trip You are constantly running on to
the unexpected, so that there is no danger OF be-
ing wearied by lack of variety.
I'VE met one man who has the most trying
position of which l know. He's an American
big broad shoudered, athletic chap with the
polish of university and the breezy open
hearted manner of true westerner.
He is an engineer, and it is his duty to see
that the Chilean division of the TransAndean
railroad is kept free from land and slides.
THAT doesn't sound so bad, does it, because
you can have conception of what it means IN
less you have seen the country. The Trans-An-
dean railroad is a thrdrail system in the strctest
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 almost perpendicular course.
"On the Chilean side of the Andes it is a case
of climbing almost every foot of the way, and at
times it seems as though the locomotive must fall
backward the that follow.
This chap lives in little stone house close by
Inca lake, in the Andes, $4,000 feet above
level. He has gang of natives under him, and at
certain seasons of the year they are kept on the
tracks deep that it requires days of the hard
est kind of work to clear them.
Then the mountains have playful habit of
casting off good big slice of rock End 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 who buried beneath slide. Last
winter few square acres of snow and rock and
ice crashing down crew 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 26 hours
they came upon a sorry fgure-a battered section
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 / They
try to keep the road open the year round, but
there are three CT four months every winter when
trains are few and far between, and the district
is virtually cut off from the outside world.
1.-THE. scenery along the route is impressive
but somehow didn't envy this particular Amer
lean his job.
down to the Argentine plains you strike one of the
widest gauge railroads in the world. Service on
the line is not so 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
ect for a 24-hour ride the plains, journey
that is trying under the most favorable conditions
"They are passionately fond of onions of a par
ticularly rank variety. Without exception they
smoke cigarettes that make burning rubber rem
iniscent of altar Of roses Most of them are af-
fected with bronchial trouble. They detest fresh
air Also they never have acquired liking for a
cold plunge before breakfast-or bath any other
time for that matter. When 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 was on his
way to Buenos Aires. He had the same luck as
three of the unwashed in his compartment For
tunately he was able to talk some Spanish.
Let's bride the guard and see If we cant get
commandment to ourselves ! suggested.
aNo sooner said than tried Presently my new
found friend came back. We had with our train
q yirtuous guard. offered five dollars to effect
The desired change he spurned the tender with a
fine display or indlgnall0n lie couid not pc nlreu
for s,lch paltry sum. But for ten dollars he
would throw the dirty rascals out. bag and bag
gage.
GLADLY contributed the other half of the brbe.
Soon baggage began to fly out on the platform,
followed by jabbering trio, who made the AT
gentine air blue with picturesque profanity
they protested against this summary ejectment
HThey produced tickets to show they were
entitled TO seats in this particular compartment.
The guard in his most imperious manner, inform
ed them that he cared not what their tickets
called for. Did not be have the official chart or