Railroading In Early Days

The death of Hiraui Knook, nn oldlocomotive engineer, recalis to the Chatham (N.Y.) C'ouriersowe memories of railroad travel in the past. "Inour youthful estimation, "says tho editor, "Hi Shook and Bob Best occupied positions only equaled, but scaroely excelled, by the President of the United States. Every boy along the line knew at half a inile distanoe, with h9 eyes shut, the individual puff, ring and whistle of eaoh separate engine. The highway leading from Frisbee gtreet to East Chatbam partly follows the old road-bed, wheru the grade was eighty feettothe raile. The old 'injine' used to have a tough timethere, and itwascommon for the fireinan to sit on the oowcatcher with a pail of oand siftiug it on the rail with his hand. This sometimes f'ailed to niake the drivers stick, und we boys often belped the flremen piek up; sinall stones.laying them alongthe rails at short intervals. Our incliuation to put big ones on so as to ' see her smash '('iii,'wiisvehomentiyrebukedbysaidfireman. The cry uf 'Old Shook isstuok again' would send a sinall army of us down to his rescue at any time. Our reward woutó bea ride up to the crossing hauging on to the car steps. Frequently at these times the water would gut low in the boiler, and was supplied trom the creek with pails. One very dry sumuier the grasshoppers were excefdingly plen ty, and the hot iron attracted them in such numbers that the traius were several times stoppod."