The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-01-15


South America is land of magnificent dis
tances also of surprises some of which are not ex
acty welcome, although on the whole it is yer!
interesting part of the world" said Mr.. lsham, re
counting some of the experiences that befell them
on the trip. You are constantly running on to
the unexpected, 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
a big. broad shouldered. athletic chap, with the
polish of a university man and the breezy open
hearted manner of true westerner
HE is engineer, and it is his duty to see
that the Chilean division Of the TransAndean
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 I'M
less you have seen the country. The Trans-An-
dean railroad is third-rail system in the stricest
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 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 are kept on the
jump battling with snow 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 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 a 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 a few square of snow and rock and
ice came crashing down on a 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
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 a fine lot he stcrmed, why, you left
me in there two hours It 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 l 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
ican his Job.
7 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 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 a double compart
ment With three Spanards. Now, they are not
exacf the travelling companions you would Sc
1ect for 24hour ride across the plains, journey
that is trying under the most favorable condltlons
"rhey are passionately fond of onions of par
+;cularlv rank variety. Without exception they
smoke cigarettes that make burning rubber rem
iniscent of altar of roses. Most OF them are al
fected with bronchial trouble They detest fresh
air Also they never have acquired liking for
cold plunge before breakfast-or bath any other
fine for that matter When was ready to enter
the train three of the most disreputable repre-
sentatives of their species were setteo comfort
ably in thescompartment. Delightful prospect
"Just about that time had the good fortune to
run into an American engineer Wlo was on his
wav 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.
"'Iet's bribe the guard and see If we can't get a
compartment to ourselves, / suggested.
mo sooner said than tried. Presently my new
found friend came back. we nad WIN our train
virtuous guard offered five dollars to effect
the desired change. he spurned the tender with a
hne display Of indignation He could not be hired
for such paltry But for ten dollars ne
would throw the dirty rascals out bag and bag
gage.
"Glady contributed the other half of the bribe
Soon baggage began to fly out on the platform
followed by jabbering trio, who made the Ar
pentine 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 mperious manner, inform
ed them that he cared not what their tickets
called for Did not he have the official chart Of
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