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Show A MAN WHO DIDN'T STHIKfc Uty Temra Awltehmrii on (lis Central II One Halted Two Itaglmanta. Down nt Sluyvesant, on the Central-Hudson Central-Hudson Road, there Is stationed n switchmen who has been at his post over since the first train passed over tho rails, aud had been in tho com- Jinny's employ boforo that, almost rom the day whon the tlrst tlo was laid and tho "tlrst splko wns driven. This man did not strike when Leo's ordor went over the wires on the evening even-ing of Aug. 8. He is not mado of that sort of stuff of which they aro made that blindly follow tho beck and Call of an autocratic leader. Old Patrick, Sweeny remained at tho post which ha has faithfully guarded for nearly Blxty years now. Although he Is slightly Illiterate his inontnl powers havo a natural vigor that is remarkable Onco the com. pnny issued an order directing that all switchmen who could uot read or write woro to quit its service Pat got a boy in his shanty to teach him how to read tfio numbers of tho engines so he could report thu tlmo nnd number of trains that passed his flag shanty every day. Tho old man had apparently passed tho ngo when tho mind ran yet be turned back and made to grasp what it has outgrown, for ho (Uncharged tho boy, but his ear was still keen. In loss thau a month he hud learned the number num-ber of overy ongtuo on thu road by tho sound of its bell, and norer made n single error in Ids reports. ThN is vouched for by pcnplo who havo known Sweeny half a century. He does not known what fear is. and a story is told how ho once defied two regiments of soldiers because he knew what his duty was nnd thoy did not. It wus In April, 18C2. during war times. Swcouy was at his post on the road, which was thon double-trucked north of Sluyvesant, but had but onu truck between that town and Now York. Fifteen car-loads of soldiers on a special train, bound for Nuw York, reached Sluyvesant early one morning, nnd Sweeny, who was ou tho lookout, stopped tho train, because the train which had immediately preceded it carried no signal to give wanting that tho special wns behind it. It was before be-fore tho days of block siguals nud much dupen'ded on a remembrance of orders as to how trains wero to bu run. Tho commandant of the troops could not understand u hy thu, train had come to a standstill. Leaping from the train ho began making inquiries, and found Sweeny standiug at the switch, which ho had locked. "What does this mean?" thnudered tho ofllcor. Dou'l you know theso aro Federal troops, under orders from Washington to proceed to Now York without delay? What do you mean by stopping this train without orders?" bvveeny pointed his thumb over his shoulder in tho direction f the single track. . "The train ahoad carries no signal for ycz," said ho," "und thoro beos an up train on its way.." "Unlock that switch instantly." commanded com-manded tho o fliccr, drawing his sword. "Not a moment's delay, now. Unlock itl" "I'll not," said Swoony.and tho words wero scarcolv out of his mouth boforo a dozon soldiers, in obedienco to an order, bustled tho switchman into his shanty. Ono thrust his bayouct into tho boards alongside of Sweeny's nock. Tho otbor pinned him in-a similar manner man-ner under tho arms. Half a dozen others placed tho muzzles of their loaded load-ed muskets within a few inches of his head. "Givo us that koy and let this train proceed," was the command, and, whllo no threat accompanied it, tho switchmen know that tiio noxt order would bo to pull thu trigger. He never flinched. "Not ono foot docs this train move," ho said without a tremor. "I will givo you ono uiln " At that moment n shrill whlstlo was heard, and beforo the offlccr could Unlsb his ordor tho train for Albany camo flying along at thu rato of forty miles an hour. Swoony's watchfulness had provcuted a terrible disaster. Ho knew well that tho first train should havo displayed signal flags to ludlcato that thero was another fo lowing. Had ho, permitted tho train carrying the soldiers to proceed thoro would havo bcon a frightful collision nt about Stockport, whero a curvo through a rocky cut shuts out all view 200 yards aboard. It didn't tnko either tho officers offi-cers or tho mon long to reallzo what a narrow cscapo they had mado and to apprcclato the bravery of tho switchman switch-man who was ready to givo up bis own life rather than pormit a thousand men to put theirs In danger. Famous Sam Sloan was President of tho Centrnl In those days, and when he heard of Swcony's couragcons conduct ho sent blm a chock for a generous amount and summurllv discharged tho engineer nnd crow of tbo train that had run through without a signal. And, strango to say, no strike was ordered bocauso of tholr discharge nor was President Sloan asked to specify reasons. rea-sons. Albany Express. |
