Old Wash. S---- is known by almost every railroad engineer, at least
by reputation. A better engineer, one who could make better time, draw
heavier loads, or keep his engine in better repair, I never knew. But
Wash. had one failing, he would drink; and if he was particularly
elated with any good fortune, or was expecting to make a fast run, he
was sure to get full of whiskey; and though in that state never known
to transgress the rules of the road by running on another train's time,
or any thing of that sort, still he showed the thing which controlled
him by running at a terrible rate of speed. At one time they purchased
a couple of engines for the E. road, on which Wash. was running. These
engines were very large, and were intended to be very fast, being
put up on seven feet wheels. From the circumstance of their being
planked between the spokes of their "drivers," that is, having a piece
of plank set in between the spokes, the "boys" used to call them the
"plank-roaders." They were tried, and though generally considered
capable of making "fast time" under favorable circumstances, they
didn't suit that road; so they were condemned to "the gravel-pit,"
until they could receive an overhauling, and be "cut down" a foot or
two. Wash. had always considered that these engines were much abused,
and had never received fair treatment; so he obtained permission of the
Superintendent to take one of them into the shop and repair it. At it
he went, giving the engine a thorough overhauling, fixing her valves
for the express purpose of running fast, and making many alterations
in minor portions of her machinery. At last he had the job completed,
and took her out on the road. After running one or two trips on freight
trains to smooth her brasses, and try her working, he was "chalked"
for the fastest train on the road, the B. Express. All the "boys" on
the road were anxious for the result, for it was expected that "Old
Wash." and the "plank-roader" would "astonish the natives," that trip.
Wash. imbibed rather freely, and was somewhat under the influence of
liquor when the leaving time of his train came, though not enough to be
noticed; but as minute after minute passed, and the train with which it
connected did not make its appearance, Wash., who kept drinking all the
time, grew tighter and tighter, till at last, when it did come in, an
hour and a half "behind time," Wash. was pretty comfortably drunk; so
much so that some of the men who had to go on the train with him looked
rather "skeery," for they knew that they might expect to be "towed" as
fast as the engine could run. How fast that was no one knew, but her
seven feet wheels promised a near approach to flying.
At last they started, and I freely confess that I never took as fast
a ride in my life. (Wash. had got me to fire for him.) Keeping time
was out of the question as far as I was concerned, for I had my hands
full to keep the "fire-box" full, and hold my hat on. We had not run
more than ten miles, before the brakemen, ordered by the conductor,
put on the brakes, impeding our speed somewhat, but not stopping us,
for we were on a heavy down grade, and Wash. had her "wide open,"
and working steam at full stroke. At last the conductor came over and
begged Wash. not to run so fast, for the passengers were half scared
out of their senses. Wash. simply pointed to the directions to use all
"due exertion" to make up time, and never shut off a bit. So on we flew
to B., forty miles from where we started, and the first stopping place
for the train. Here the conductor came to Wash. again and told him if
he did not run slower, the passengers were going to leave. Wash. said,
"Let them leave," and gave no promises. Some of them did leave, so also
did one of the brakemen, and the baggageman, but away we went without
them to O., where a message from head-quarters was awaiting us, telling
them to take Wash. from the engine and put another man on in his place.
I told him of the message, and picking up his coat, he got off and
staggered to a bench on the stoop of the depot, where he laid down,
seemingly to sleep. I started back to the engine, but Wash. called
after me, and asked me "how we got the orders to take him off?" I told
him "by telegraph." "Humph," said he, rolling over, "_wish I'd known
that, the confounded dispatch never should have passed me!_"
Wash. of course was not reinstated, but the "plank-roader" never made
the running time of any of the fast trains with any other man on the
"foot-board."