Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1920-07-02
A Highland Boy.
Sanfrancisco, Calf. !.
June, II 1920
Dear Mother.


Dear Mother:
AS this letter will consist mostly
of my experience, breaking in as
locomotive fireman, / know others
will like to read of the wild exper-
fences, so if you care you may send
it to the Recorder for publication.
I started my R. r. career at Los
Angeles, May II as engine Waterman
and on June / was sent to the Flls
co to be made fireman. arrived here
in Frisco June '4th.
Have felt fine since my arrival, ex
cept for a cold which I contracted
by reason of the change from Los An
geles' torrid climate to the rejuvin
ating breezes of San Francisco.
For the first few days I was order
ID to ride around in differant locam
olive cabs in the yard at the round
house an learn all I could and also
given books from which was to com
nit to memory lot of rules and reg
ulations preparatory to examlnat
ion for fireman.
On June 8 I was sent on my first
student trip onthe Berry Extra from
Frisco to Berry Junction. At $50 we
moved off the siding into the main
line, The fireman ordered me to sit
ahead of him in the Cab window. AT
ter we got good swing on the main
line and the powerful locomotive be-
gan rocking, my eyes were not on
the engine, but were scanning the
bank, looking for a place to land my
trembling frame, because I thought
she was going to leave the rail.
The Fireman was taking his first
trip over the road and he made such
smoke that every thing ahead the
engine was obscured. Of course I will
not take time to repeat the loving
phrases that passed from the engin-
eer to the new fireman for raising so
mush uncalledfor smoke. After few
miles we all got tanned down and had
less smoke. We travelled along the
edge of San Frincisco Bay for several
miles and then in another direction
thru some very pretty and rich coun
terry and at P. NJ. we were in Wat
sonville Junction, 100 miles from Fris
co.
June 9th a passenger train was
due there at 1880 a. m. bound for
Frisco. had pass on any engine SO
stepped up and asked the engineer
if 1 might ride back to Frisco and the
old engineer said, certainly. He was
real friendly, his name is Bob Wat.
: II and is knn.'n es Bob al along
hi: division. lie pills the fir st trail
in Calf. 1t consists o. Pu.liaan cars
ard sure is snil,'o lii run 4ng thain.
Old Bob and ',.lH like old tire
friends when we pulled into the stat
ion at Frisco. He asked me- to his
home and to take ride with him
some time.
When I came back I happened to
notice where Jack Dempsy, Heavy
weight champion was on trial for ev-
aiding the draft I Immediately struck
out place of trial. When 1 arrived !
found a long line of people awaiting
a chance to enter the court room.
Court adjourned before I gained emit
rance but I worked my way through
the crowd and got to see the Champ
ION leave the room and go down the
elevator.
June the 18th: This morning I
went to the Southern Pacific Depot
and from there was sent down on Mar
ket street to buy a watch. Upon my
return to the depot I took the fire
mans examination and passed o. K.
and tonight at II I am to receive my
first call to go firing.
Hoping this has not taken too
much space and that I will be per-
mitted to let you all hear from me
again through these columns of the
good old Recorder.
Love to all,
Cyrus w. Colaw