The Yale expositor., 1914-01-15


South America is a land of magnificent dis
ttnces also of surprises some of which are not e.
actly welcome, although on the whole it is a yer
interesting part of the world said Mr. lsham, r.
counting some of the experiences that befell them
the trip. You are constantly running on TO
the unexpected so that there is no danger of be
ing wearied by lack of variety.
We met one man who has the most trying
position of which | know. He's American
a big. broad shouldered, athletic chap, with the
polish of university man 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 Trans-Andean
railroad is kept free from land and snow slides.
That doesn't sound so bad, does it, because
you can have conception of what il means un-
less you have the country. The TransAn-
dean railroad is thirdral 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 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 il is case
of climbing almost every foot of the way and at
times ii seems though the locomotive must fall
backward on the. cars that follow.
This chap lives in a little stone house close by
Inca lake. in the Andes, $1,000 feet above sea
level He has a gang of natives under him, and at
certain seasons of the year they are kept on the
jump battling with slides, which bury the
tracks deep that it requires days OF the hard
est kind of work to clear them.
Then the mountains have a playful habit of
casting off 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 buried beneath a slide. Last
"A
ice came crashing down that were en-
deavoring to clear the tracks Part of them
ped 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 so long.
You're fine lot, he stcrmed, why you left
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 three Of four months every winter when
trains few and far between, and the district
is virtually cut oil 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 ny
i'll fortune to draw seat I'm double compart-
meat with three Spaniards. Now, they not
exactly the travelling companions YOU would
lect for a 2Ihour ride across the plains a journey
nd thp nle
"They are passionatey fond of onions of a par
tcularly rank variety. Without exception they
smoke cigarettes that make burning rubber rem
injscent of altar of roses. Most of them af-
ferted with bronchial trouble They detest fresh
air Also they never have acquired liking for
cold plunge before breakfast-or bath any other
time for that matter When was ready to enter
the train three of the most disreputabe 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 his
way to Buenos Aires. He had the same luck
three of the unwashed in his compartment For
tunatey he was able to talk some Spanish
Lets bride the guard and see If we can't get
compartment to ourselves | suggested
mo sooner said than tried. Presently my
found friend came back We had with train
a virtuous guard offered FIVE dollars to effect
the desired change he spurned the tender with
fine display OF Indignation. He could not be hired
for such a paltry sum. But for ten dollars he
would throw the dirty rascals out bag and bag
gage.
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
gehtine air blue with picturesque profanity as
they protested against this summary ejectment
They produced tickets TO show they were
entitled 20 seats in this particular compartment.
The guard in his most imperous manner inform
ed them 'bnt he cared not what their tickets
called foi bid not he have the official chart OF