The Syracuse Journal, Volume 28, Number 41, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 6 February 1936 — Page 3

*IN ■■■■■ ■■■■■Hl I : Ul I II I

ADVENTURERS' fO CLUB „ I “Brakeman's Jump for Life* 1 By FLOYD GIB BON 8 Famous Headline Hunter. GATHER around, fellow adventurers, and meet the new member of the club. He is Norman E. Spencer, and don’t bother wheeling out that big, comfortable easy chair for Norman, because he isn’t used to that sort of thing. If you want to make him feel right at home, just let him hang by his knees from the chandelier. For Norman is a railroad brakeman and, from the looks of his story, railroad brakemen must spend most of their time dangling by one hand or one leg, or one eyelash, over several assorted kinds of certain death. Anyway. It Is that sort of experience Norman Is going to tell us about today, and I would advise ytou all to take a good, deep breath before be' starts, because you're going to be holding It a long time before he Is finished. Norman became a railroad brakeman Just about the time the United States entered the World war. Those were the days when all the able-bodied men were running for the recruiting stations, and six. teen year-old kids, like Norman was then, were being dragged out of high school to fill their jobs. He worked two or three years on that brakeman Job and did It darned well. But It wasn't until February, 1918, that he ran into the adventure on which he Is now going to give us the lowdown. It was late at night and the train Norman was braking had Just started down a nlne-mlle hili at Harper's Ferry, W. Vs. Norman bad just gone back over the top of the train to set up air retainers on the 10 cars nearest the engine and he was on his way back when his lantern went out, tearing him to travel the tops of the cars In darkness. One Little Slip Might Cost Legs or Life. Picking his way back carefully over the swaying car tops he managed to get back to the first car. But when he came to jump from the front ear to the engine tender he hesitated. The gap was wider there than It was between the Illi ifjrt Norman Took His Timo About Gauging That Jump. cars and the unsteady light that came from the firebox of the engine cast moving shadows that made It hard to judge the distance. Norman took his time about gauging that last Jump, but luck that night was running against him. For, at the same Instant that his foot left the end of the car, the engineer opened the throttle up wide. The train leaped forward, ruining Norman's carefully timed leap, and down he went between the engine and the car, headed for certain death beneath the wheels. He fell feet first. "Like a drowning man," he says, "I was grabbing at anything I could get hold of. I guess It wasn't my time yet, for somehow I managed to get one hand on a small chain that runs down the back of the tank to the coupler. And there I hung, with my feet and tegs dragging on the ties, my body sort of stretched out by the speed of the train and the pull of the ties as my legs rubbed against them. Norman Struggles Inches From Doom. "Sly feet were only inches away from the wheels of the front car and I knew that any sudden lurch of the train would throw my feet right under them. I tried to pull mysejf up on the chain, hut every time I gained a few inches away from the wheels of the front car the friction of the ties would pull me right back again." f It could have been only a few seconds that Norman was struggling with that chain, but It seemed like hours to him before it was over. Time and again he would pull himself up almost to the point where ho could get hold of something more solid and rigid than that chain only to become exhausted and fall back again. Finally he got hold of an Iron bar that crossed the back of the engine tender, but still his troubles weren't over. He had literally to chin himself on this bar and at the same time edge himself over to the right In order to get to a ladder that ran down the back of the tender. It was a feat that called for the trained muscles of an acrobat, but Norman had to do it—or die: And, to make matters worse, the train at that point roared Into the tunnel just east of Harper's Ferry and be was all but stifled with the smoke and heat and steam that poured back on him from the engine. He had to hang on in that difficult position until, at last, the train shot out of the tunnel before he dared try to edge his way any farther along the bar. Norman Climbs His Tallest Ladder—for Life. Once the train was out In the open again he started his slow, difficult journey. Inch by Inch be worked bis way across the bar,- while his muscles ached and threatened to give out on him. At length, though, he made It—got to the ladder on the side of the tender and began to climb up Never before, and never since, has that ladder seemed so long as It did to Norman's tired and aching muscles that night When, finally, be got to the top of the tender he lay down fiat on bls back. , ‘ * **l just lay there," he says, “and looked at the stars. And I know they were more lovely. When I got back Into the cab the engineer remarked that it had taken me a long time, and I didn't say a word. It wasn't until we had got to the yards and the rest of the crew and I cleaned up and were about to have something to eat that the } reaction set in. I trembled so then that the other fellows thought I . had a chill and gave me a big hooker of whisky.. 'Just for safety's * -* sake,’ they saidj But I thought to myself that I should have had that hooker an hour ago. the other side of Harper's Ferry." ©—WNU Serrlc*.

Lonely People of World Found on Small Island* The loneliest Britons are to he found among the smaller islands of the Hebrides, observes a writer in Pearson's London Weekly. Many of them believe In fairies and in ghosts; the ghosts are* always green. Several of the isles bav« less than a dozen Inhabitants. some less than half a doseo. No roads, no motor ears, no cinemas, no dances, no hospitals. The world’s loneliest petrol pump Is Bldon Cinq, la the middle of the Sahara desert. In Algerian territory. One Arab looks after it, selling water besides petrol. The first Arab put la charge went out of bls mind. Sailors say the loneliest lighthouse is out in the Red sea. off Suakin. It to known as the Widow’s Tears, because it was built by the generosity of a British captain whose ship was wrecked on the Djebef Ter rock. For * long time no keeper would agree Room for Improvement •Dey’s havin’ a heap o’ talk," said Uncle Eben. •'bow .what dry teaches in de school where I janitors. De only comfort I sees Is data lot o’ chiilun ain’t study In’ enough to learn anything to hurt ’em." -'i ' "■"■7 ’ " Crime Scant in Indie* Crime Li almost an unknown qoan tily In the tmalter islands of the West Indies. Rarely will the natives steal money Or vaioabte*. Highway robbery is ur.ikci^wn^. ; ,, „?.

to dwell there, and Its tending eras entrusted to convicts, who were let off part of their sentence as a reward. Britain's loneliest band is that of the bagpipe players of the isle of Arran more, off Donegal. Night watchman are the loneliest workers In dries. Month after month, and year after year, they go their solitary rounds through stores and warehouses. until the pale light of dawn call* them home, to bed. Tib* Scotch-Irbil Scotch-Irish are chiefly of Scotch descent, though they came to this country from Ireland, la Wil Klug James I began colonizing Ulster, a barren and neglected part of Ireland, with people from Scotland and the northern fart of England. They began migrating to America about the year 1730. and at the outbreak bf the Revolutionary war about one-sixth of the population of the colonies was Scotch-Irish The Title • Ewroho*’ The title “esquire" comes from the Latin through old French. It was derived /from ears. a word now spelled ecu. which means a shield. The title esquire was given to a shield bearer or an attendant of a knight Longest Town io AhmHc* The series of towns of Crossleys. LaPeace and Shorter generally referred to a* Shorter, Ala, constitutes the longest town in America. It to 300 yards wide and 13 mites tong.

Our Beloved Patriot

K "•$ Hhh nt Rra w : I I • i ' '-'3 '■'S • 1 ' - HL 111 ■ v;. 'lll

When LINCOLN “ Coached, ” BEHIND one of the most dramatic and important momenta in the annals of the American people. In which Abraham Lincoln and General Grant were the chief actors, there Is an appealing human story that to this day remains virtually unknown. It Is revealed in obscure and priceless original documents, says a writer in the Washington Post The event to which the yellowing manuscripts relate Is the appointment of Grant as lieutenant general In command of all the Union forces in the Civil war, an epochal step taken by President Lincoln more than 70 years ago. Lincoln had watched with Increasing satisfaction the military record of the stocky and taciturn Grant With the victories at Vicksburg and Chattanooga, the President reached the decision to place him in command of all the Union armies. To this resolve Lincoln held despite extreme pressure from numerous disaffected elements. Grant was called to the White House and told of the President's intention. Lincoln called Grant aside and told him be understood the general's "dread of public speaking," and in order to make things a bit easier on that score, he, the President, had written out "the few lines" he intended to say to Grant on the occasion of the formal delivery of the appointment. With characteristic breadth of vision, Lincoln urged Grant to say something

in reply which not only “would be an encouragement to the North," but which also “would soothe the feelings of jealousy among other officer* of the army." Thereupon, Lincoln banded over to Grant the firmly Inscribed an an nscript of tho remarks be had prepared. In the following words, President Lincoln turned the course of history:

Gea. Granti Th* Naftaa** *w*e*ef*ti*a as what yea hav* San*. and Ita reliaae* nyan yw far what renal** ta de tn th* otottaUF gy—t totrw**te* mw ymaented with thia eaatatfawiaa ean> •tltatinc y*a lleatenaat general in th* Am*s at th* Valted State*. With thia Huh hanar devale** ayaa y*a ala* a r*rr*a»*adlns re*y*n*ibMJty. A* th* caaatry beret* , treat* yaw. a*. ander Gad. It wIU aaataln pan. I aeareety need t* add that with what | her* >»enk far th* Nattan ■**• at awn heart* Prepared as be had been by ah "advance" of President Uncoin’s remarks, General Grant replied: ■r. Bmddeat i B neevyt th** ee*M*l**fen with far th* Mgh hanar cans erred. Wttb th* aM ot th* aabl* arwlea that hav* faaaht aa a* ataay •etdn far *ar ******* ta*at»y. It will b* ar net feel th* tail bnttta* naw develv'lnn aye* **» and I know that W they ar* *et ft wtn be Sa* ta thee* arnica. aad abava all ta th* favar as that Prevfd**** whleh land* bath natlaaa and awut. The manuscript of Lincoln’s words Is clear find the ink as strong and THUS MXGOLX DBBATK TH *5 llr*t at hlaterfe B*ht* eala-IDaaciaa Sebat** waa heard la Ottawa. UL. In 1838. tfacala bayed the debate* weald atke bla» •eaatar fra* Illtnat*, be waa the eaadMate *f the Wbte* C* tbe toftalatare. They didn’t, far th* Deamerntfe taadMafe, Steyhe* AroaM Da*****, waa able ta retain enaaah rate* t* be elected. Bat tbe atteaj I tft** l.l*ealn watt via th* deb* tee

SYRACUSE JOURNAL

mmcolivs birthplace: TH® eabla la which Llbcolb waa ban* waa bailt of loga. The Moor waa naeke<-<iowa Slrt. Oae door swaaK oa leather hinges. At the left of the door as oae faeed the handles there waa » little wiadow. A stlek-elsy ehlmaey waa at the right ead of the eabln. It was two aad oae-half mites from Hodgenville oa the Big Soath Fork of Nolia’s creek la Keatacky.

black as though written yesterday; that of the Grant acceptance is quite faded, barely legible. This, Incidentally, is among the relatively few pieces of Grantiana and Llncolnlana still kept in the Grant family here. It is not nniikely that eventually these priceless relics of a great event also will find their way into tlfc archives of the federal government which was held Intact by the statesmanship of Lincoln and the military genius of Grant Lincoln had to bear the brunt of heavy criticism in his appointment ot

i[!

Grant to succeed George Washington and Winfield Scott as the only lieutenant generals of the United States army up to that time. Criticism came not only from officers of the army, as Lincoln noted, when he reminded Grant to say something to "soothe the feelings of jealousy." It came from many quarters. It came from men who pointed to Grant’s Isck of outstanding success

at West Point, to bls resignation from the army and return to private life in 1854. to his financial difficulties as farmer, storekeeper, and real estate salesman. And it came from others who struck holier-than-thou attitudes. But Lincoln was not interested In Grant’s past nor In his personal habits. As tbe Chief Executive, Lincoln was Interested in just one thing—the winning of tbe war to preserve the federal union. Lincoln had tried maov leaders to gain that end—beginning with McClellan and running the gamut of tbe Burnsides and the Hookers and others almost too numerous to mention. Grant gave the dispirited North its first thrill when he captured Fort Donelson, and when his answer to tbe Confederate General Buckner became public, be was known to every urchin as “Unconditional Surrender” Grant He wrote to Buckner: “No terms except unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move Immediately upon your works.” s Grant’s successes in the West were in striking contrast to the decidedly poor showing made by the commanders in the East Lincoln watched Grant all through tbe years of 1882 and 1883. Knowing full well the criticism which would be leveled at him. within .the army and out despite the remarkable record achieved by Grant Lincoln nevertheless made bis decision and went through with it So it was that the man who bad acknowledged himself to be a failure before 1861, received tbe highest military command within tbe power of the nation to bestow. He received it at tbe bands of an unerring judge of bo* mtn kind who felt be finally had found the leader he had been seeking for three long and bitter years. And Grant had answered “It will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations.” Lincoln’, Humor Lincoln told laughter-producing stories. But the extreme moroseness of tbe man and the extreme gravity of his time—the Civil war period—devoured the impression of his humor. Urged Freeing of Slaves As early as March 6. 1862, Lincoln urged congress In a special message to co-operate with any state for tbe gradual emancipation of its slaves, with compensation from the government. I have no other ambition so great as that of being truly esteemed by my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy

Shanghai: Market Place for Half of the People of China

200,000,000 Inhabitants of the Yangtze Basin Make Business for City. A new 130-mlte highway recently opened between Shanghai and Hangchow forms a modern link between the famous Chinese seaport and the vast Yangtze basin of which it is the leading market “It is doubtful whether there is another extensive region of wealth in all the world where the people depend to as great an extent upon a single market as do the Inhabitants of the Yangtze basin upon Shanghai,** says a bulletin from the Wash ngton (D. C.) headquarters of the National Geographic society. “Approx imately 200,000.000 people, half of the population of China, live In the fertile area. Their needs, beyond those supplied directly by the products of their own bands, make business for Shanghai. Mixture of East and West. “Though living and growing by the commerce of the Yangtze, Shanghai is not actually on that great waterway. It is located. Instead; some 13 miles up the murky Whangpoo. a tributary of the Yangtze. “Even before setting foot on the spacious, bustling Bund, the traveler, who has pictured Shanghai tn his mind as a typical Chinese city, is bewildered by its cosmopolitan atmosphere. Foreign commerce has had much to do with delivering the city from the Whangpoo marshes. Clusters of matting-covered sampans and the gaudy bows of clumsy junks lend an aspect of the Orient to the river panorama, but they mingle with motor boats and steamboats of the latest design. Rose Out of Whangpoo Flats. "The skyline marks Shanghai’s waterfront also breathes an atmosphere of the West. Until the turn of this century, low commodious Chinese buildings of two and three stories served the majority of the business concerns, but the Introduction of excellently equipped modern offices has initiated a period of extensive building. The tendency of the city’s building program has been skyward In the last few years because of congestion in the business areas brought about by-meteoric trade expansion. “A short walk _f.rom ’new’ Shanghai, however, demonstrates to the traveler that the city has not discarded all things Oriental In the Nantao district, on the southwest

a n"* -- d . [X | b EWHO*BIeI KJIMi SCXf icf I ES3EDSGBSIEB /£? I I * M,WI BlWflffs I Whether you operate one / . / * I ‘■"“fiEß I truck or several, decide now to put I HOH-SKip MILEAGE I Firestone Gum-Dipped Tires on every * / •* wheel. They will save you money and give you more dependable service. f ' ' The body of a Firestone Tire is built with Gum-Dipped High Stretch cords. That’s why they run cooler and give you longer mileage. The heavier, more rugged tread is securely locked to the cord body by two extra layers of Gum-Dipped High Stretch cords. These are patented Firestone construction features not used in any other tire. Equip now with Firestone Gum-Dipped Tires and start saving today. The nearby Firestone Auto Supply and Service Store or Firestone Tire Dealer is ready to serve you. * Listen to the Voice of Firestone featuring Richard Crooks or Nelsonjzddy — with Margaret Speaks, Monday evenings over Nationwide N. B. C. — WEAF Network eim.F.T. AK.CO.

side, one can readily imagine that conditions have been little altered since the first foreign firm marked out its business site in the muddy Whangpoo flats. “The Chapel district, which recently was a place of world Interest when It was the battle ground duis ing the Sino-Japanese incident, also Is a native quarter, but It is somewhat more modern and progressive than Nantao. “The foreign settlements constitute the focus of Shanghai, particularly among foreigners, for in them have been loosed the remarkable Incentives and expanding forces that have built this modern seaport The so-called American settlement was Incorporated with the British in 1863 'and Is known as the International Settlement The French have chosen to remain apart and admin-

Here’s Very Fast Way to “Alkalize” Acid-Indigestion Away Amazingly Fast Relief Now from “Acid Indigestion” OverIndulgence, Nausea, and Upsets IF you want really quick relief frequent sufferer from “add from an upset or painful stomach," use Phillips’ Milk of stomach condition—arising from Magnesia SO minutes after meals. acidity following over-eating. You’ll forget you have a stomach! smoking, mixtures of foods or \Vh e n you buy, see that any stimulants — just try this: or bottle you accept is dearTake —2 teaspoonfuls of PM- ly marked “Genuine Phillips’ ‘ lips’ Milk of Magnesia in a Milk of Magnesia." full glass of water. OR — 2 — —— • Phillips' Milk of Magnesia p-—— rftaVaS e ‘ ,Ui '“' eM SIGNS WHICH OFTEN This a® almost immediately to ***« . alkalize the excess add in the min tfm unis UffPiiUNts stomfich. Neutralizes the adds ftitnis «f «*««» iibicestiin that cause headaches, nausea, ~»r r nr and indigestion pains. You feel foeooent beuaues results at once. Try it AND —if you are a , iZZI nUmiALMIIIM.IMMeIJIIHM

3

Opportunity May Knock, but More Likely She’ll Pass By It Is a dartgerous thing to wait for opportunities until it becomes a habit Energy and Inclination for hard work ooze out in the waiting. Opportunity becomes Invisible to those who are doing nothing, or looking somewhere else for it It is the great the man who is alert for chances, that sees them.—O. S. Harden. Ister their own concession. The administration of the International Settlement has been a unique ex-' periment The municipal council or governing body Is composed of a group of members elected by the taxpayers of American. British, Japanese and Chinese nationalities. There are 15 members. The settlement has 1,008,000 people. Paving, policing, planning—a multitude of tasks—face the paternal body which, gratis, guards the interests of international Shanghai. Seventeen other men handle the affairs of the French concession."