The Elbert County tribune., 1914-01-16

South America is a land of magnificent d
tances, also OF surprises, some of which are not
actly welcome, although on the whole 1t is We
Interesting part of the world" said Mr.. Isham,
counting some of the experiences that befelI them
the trip, you constantly running to
the unexpected, that there Is danger of be-
ing weared by lack of variety.
I'VE met one man who has the most trying
position of which know. He's an American
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
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 1t means
less you have seen the country. The Trans-An-
dean railroad is thirdral system in the stricest
sense of the word. That third rail is located be-
tween the narrow gauge strips of steel 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
"On the Chilean side of the Andes it is case
of climbing almost every foot of the way and at
times 1t seems as though the locomotive must fall
backward on the cars that follow.
This chap lives in little stone house close by
Inca lake, in the Andes, 10000 feet above sea
level. He has gang of natives under him. and at
certain seasons Of the year they kept on the
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 of good big slice of rock and dirt, which
comes tumbling down across the tracks and puts
an end to travel until 1t 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 poor
section man who buried beneath a slide. Last
winter few square acres of and rock and
ice came crashing down that were en-
deavorng 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 fgure-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 stormed. why, you left
in there two hours. 1t wasn't your fault that
didn't die
And the hands 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 Godforsakep spots | 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
ican his job.
Crossing the crest of the Andes and getting
down to the Argentine plains you strike one of the
widest gauge railroads In the world Service on
the line is not bad-in some respects
They have single and double compartment
for male and female passengers. 1t was my
Ill fortune to draw seat in double compart-
ment with three Spaniards Now. they are not
exactly the travelling companions you would Sc
1ect for 24hour ride across the plains journey
that is trying under the most favorable conditions.
They 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
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 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 luck as
I.-three of the unwashed in his compartment For
tunately he was able TO talk some Spanish.
Let's bribe the guard and see II can't get a
compartment to ourselves suggested.
mo said than tried. Presently my new
found friend back We had with our train
a vrtuous guard offered FIVE dollars to effect
the desired change he spurned the tender with a
for such patry sum- But for ten dollars he
would throw the dirty rascas out bag and bag
gage.
"Gladly contributed the other half of the bribe
Soon baggage began to fly out on the platform
followed by jabbering trio. who made the Ar
gentine air blue with picturesque profanity as
they protested against this summary ejectment
They produced tickets to show they were
entitled to seats in this particular compartment
The guard, in his most imperous manner, inform
ed them that he cared not what their tickets
called for. Did not he have the Official chart OF