Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-01-16

South America is a land of magnificent d
tances, also of surprises, of which not e
actly welcome, although the whole it is a We
interesting part of the world" said Mr.. Isham,
counting some of the experiences that befell them
the trip. You constantly running on to
the unexpected, chat there is danger of be-
ing wearied by lack of variety.
I'VE met one man who has the most trying
position of which know. He's American
big. broad shouldered, athletic chap with the
polish of a university and the breezy open
hearted manner Of true Westerner
"He is an engineer and it is his duty to
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 it means un-
less you have seen the country. The Trans-An-
dean railroad is thirdrail system in the strctest
sense of the word That third rail is located be-
tween the narrow gauge strips of steel on which
the travel and is a cogged affair into which
teeth the driving wheels of the locomotive
slip giving sufficient grip to pull the heavy trains
Up the almost perpendicular
ION 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 cars that follow.
This chap lives in a little stone house close by
Inca lake, in the Andes, 10000 feet aabove sea
level He has gang of natives under him, and at
jump battling with 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 off good big slice of rock and dirt which
comes tumbling down across the tracks and puts
end to travel until it has been removed.
Sometimes these FRANKS 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
winter few square acres of snow and rock and
ice came crashing down on 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 sorry igure-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 so long.
You're fine lot he stcrmed 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
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 off 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 so bad-in some respects
"They have single and double compartment
cars for male and female passengers. 1t was my
iu fortune to draw seat in a double compart
ment with three Spaniards Now they are not
axactly the travelling companions you would Sc
lect for n 24-hour ride across the plains, journey
that is trying under the most favorable conditions
"Thev are passionatey fond of onions of par
ticuiarly rank variety. Without exception they
snoka cigarettes that make burning rubber rem
iniscept of altar of roses. Most of them are al
tocted with bronchial trouble. They detest fresh
or Also they never have acquired a liking for a
cold plunge before breakfast-or bath any other
time for that matter When was ready TO enter
the train three of the most disreputable repre-
santatives of their species were settled comfort
iii, IN tba commitment. Delightful prospect.
"Iust about that time / had the good fortune to
r,n into an American engineer who was on his
wav In Buenos Aires. He had the same luck as
three of the unwashed in his compartment For
turetelv he was able to talk some Spanish.
LETS bride the guard and see IL we can get
oor,nortment to ourselves l suggested.
NC sooner said than tried. Presently my new
tound friend came back We had with our train
a virtuous guard. offered five dollars to effect
the desired change, ne spurneo lhe lehueI Win
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. -
"Cladlv 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 protested against this summary electment-
"They uroduced 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
callsd TO, hid not be have the official chart of