A Hillbilly on the RV

While I was working on the RV, guys came and they went. Many left (or were fired) after a few days, weeks, or months. One guy was a hillbilly, is the best way I can describe him. He looked like he never took a bath. George Clark didn't like him. Clarkie was a pretty good judge of character and could tell a lot about people. One time, he told me that when us employees cashed our paychecks he could see where they were cashed. He said most guys cashed them at banks or some kind of business. Clark said this guy's checks were always cashed at Frenchy's Bar in Roselle Park.

He was in an altercation on Westfield Ave. He was flagging the crossing and an impatient man driving a convertible scoots around him and the approaching train. He whacked the guy's car with the flag. The driver came to a halt by the gas station there and got out. They got into an argument. I didn't get involved and told Frank Froat, the engineer, "c'mon, let's go" and we continued over the crossing. Meanwhile, the driver goes to drag our hillbilly brakeman off the engine. He goes up to the tool box on the back of the engine and grabs the spike bar and goes after the driver with the bar. Soon enough there was blood about the engine steps.

The driver ended up suing the railroad. I was called in for a deposition. The driver and the railroad settled the cars but I don't believe it was for much, maybe a couple hundred dollars. The last I heard of our hillbilly brakeman was that he had moved out to California and was working on a railroad out there.