Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-08-20

After three months vi very hioSu
lar and trying work | was assigned to
a regular run on No. 1443, an OLD Ten
wheeler In very bad shape.
One night alter particularly vex-
atious doubling trip | hurried to the
hash-house, ate quickly. and fastened
to bed exhausted,
had slept perhaps two hours when
l was awakened by some one pound
ing on my door.
Whats the matter?" ] drawled
sleepily.
ITS Red" the call-boy's voice
sounded over the transom, you've got
to 20 north ON fruit train. Hurry
up"
My body ached with fatigue. and |
realized that in my condition ! was
not fit for the cab.
Tell the old man I'm sick and can't
60 out" called.
TO my surprise. Red hurried away
without word, but before had fallen
into slumber once more he had re-
turned and was again pounding on my
door.
Whit the devils the matter" !
cried angrly,
Jaw, who are yer yellin at7" yelled
Red. Can | help the old mans or
ders? He says ii Yer don't come on,
you'll be canned"
sonny" says !. restraining a pro-
fame outburst, tell the old man that
said he can take the job and go north
with 1t. II he likes"
awoke much refreshed at one In
the afternoon, and after hearty
breakfast fastened to the super's Of.
fee.
He greeted me with a frigid good
evening"
81 suppose can get my time?" ]
asked.
He nodded.
But I'm not going to fire you" he
added "A 60-day rest will do think.
1t will give you chance to realize
that orders are orders
rode to Smoky River on No. 81.
and on arriving at my destination,
proceeded to headquarters of the
Sand Mountain division Of the p. F.
& s. w. applied for place, but
was informed by the master mechanic
that they had hired number OF new
engineers and were not then In need
Of any more
was contemplating a return to Hill
Top when ] met an old acquaintance,
who told me that the p. F. q 3, w,
was short OF brakemen.
The road was paying s2.c5 for
hundred miles, so | decided to take
the Job and endeavor to hold 1t for
about forty or sixty days Of my lay-off.
made my first trip on No, %,
fast freight One of the roads new
engineers, Slim Post. was our hogger.
We made very good time, clubbing
them down Sand mountain at furi.
Gus rate Slim knew that we were do
ing this and afterwards boosted that
he could hold any train on that incline
with the air
We laughed at him, and one old
timer. Williams. warned him that he
had better be careful, for he might not
show us more than once.
My next trip out of Smoky River
was made on No. "A. with Slim on the
seat Of the S57.
At South Smoky River, the 8. NJ. &
s. crossed our rails. 1t was the usual
order OF things to pass the crossing
at about five miles an hour.
noticed with some wonder that
we were making more than ten miles
when we clicked over the crossing,
and my amaZement increased when
Slim dumped US over the summit OF
Sand mountain at almost twenty
miles.
Jimmy, the other brakeman In tho
crew, was back near the middle of the
string as we went whizzing down the
grade. ] was somewhat startled when
| saw him set the brakes and hurry
back to the dog-house.
Our speed rapidly increased, and
had almost decided to ask Slim II any.
thing was wrong when he whistled for
brakes.
set what Jimmy had left and we
slowed up slightly. To my astonish.
ment, Jimmy and the con cut off the
caboose and put the brakes on hard.
Again Slim called for brakes. high
balled him. Again he whistled, and
once more high-balled.
BY this time, was thoroughly
alarmed, for we we're travelling so
miles an hour and swapping around
curves like whip. We hurled down
the hill, and my terror did not sub.
side until we came to a stop about
three miles below the station.
Slim backed us up to the station.
and the operator came out with orders
asking us to proceed to Waverly, the
division point.
You. the dispatcher. and the whole
road can 60 plumb to perdition"
bawled Slim. Not another inch DO ]
go on a line with such hills as these"
He meant 1t, too. for he walked back
to Smoky River rather than ride over