George C. Hardin's Story
Hardin's Garage
Bridger, Montana
June 1st, 1925
With reference to the town of Hardin, Montana, getting its name. I will relate here what happened, and how it was named Hardin.
During the summer of 1906 I was employed as a Locomotive fireman on the C.B.&Q. Ry working out of Sheridan, Wyo. This was the same time that the U.S. Government was doing the Registraring for the Crow Reservation. In the month of June 1906, I was called to fire an engine running as an extra East at 7 o'clock a.m. with Engineer Roy Jackson. We left Billings, Montana at 7 a.m. and made TOLUCA for Passenger train No. 41 and headed in on east bound passing tract taken the coat. An extra West pulled in, which we had no orders on, just on the time of Passenger No. 41 time, which was due on time card but was running 20 minutes late, but we had no time on the running late, this extra West headed in on their respective passing tract. They had a car of water next to engine which was picked up at Fort Custer. Water was hauled to Toluca at that time.
They cut off of the train with water car, came down main line headed in on water spur, spotted car over Sistern when brakeman pulled the pin after calling the clack the car started to roll and a heavy grade to the Big Horn river about 12 miles. This Brakeman went to the car and discovered there was no brake and he got off of car and it in the face of a passenger train with 12 miles of a heavy down grade to carry it.
Roy Jackson hollered to me in an excited tone of voice saying that that Brakeman had let that water car get away and it would get 41. 41 is past due here now. I was sitting almost asleep on my seat. I said, "Oh no, it won't" as I was an experienced Switchman and had great confidence in my handling of railroad cars and brakes, I grabbed the coal pick and ran and mounted it. To my great disappointment I discovered there was no brake and the car was gaining speed and doing better than 60 miles per hour. I attempted to fix the brake, got down on the step and discovered there was so much chain that when it wrapped the staff that it would not pass thru the bracket and cause it to lodge and was right.
I thought I would get off, but car was running so fast that it would kill me. Then I thought I would ditch it so that No. 41 would be saved. I took the coal pick, started to tear up the board which was the cover of the car. They were 3 inch by 12 inch. I succeeded in getting three of them up together.
I see No. 41 coming at the Big Horn river then, and dragged the plank over to the head end of the car and threw them over in front of the car. I felt quite uneasy myself but was doing and thinking as fast as I could, and I began to call on GOD to help me, as I was helpless myself. It had been a long time since I had prayed. But I called to GOD so loud that I believe my voice was heard in Heaven. However I threw the plant and it turned over the wheel on the right side, caught the plank and slided the wheel. Car began to slow down and and stopped right where the depot at Hardin is. Hardin is my name. The superintendent, Mr. Widenhimmer was on the train. He came up when the train stopped and called to me, what was I doing out there on the main line with that coal car. I was a little nervous and could hardly answer him.
He went up and measured the few feet between the engine and the car and looked up to me and said, get that board out from under the wheel, couple on to her and shove it back to Toluca and never let me catch you on the main line with a car like this again, and when you get to Sheridan come in my office. I want to see you. I thought from the way he spoke that he was going to discharge me for that. Then I began to talk for myself and said it was no fault of my own that I did that, and that I nearly got killed, that the car had no brake and should not be in service until fixed.
However, I did as he demanded of me and we got into Sheridan the next a.m. I went to my room and went to sleep and about 9 o'clock the caller came after me and said that the Superintendent wanted to see me in his office. I arose and called at his office. The train master said, go right in, the Superintendent wishes to see you. This train master was Mr. Linan.
I walked in his office, he turned around in his chair and said, You are that Billings switchman that came down here and went firing, are you not? Yes, sir, that's me, I said. He said that was a good act you done up there on the Crow Reservation yesterday and the C.B.&Q. Ry Co. will remember you forever and they are going to place your name there where you stopped the car, and any time you ever want a ride during your lifetime just call or write into any General Superintendents office and you will get it, or if you are ever down and out or need a little help call on the C.B.&Q. and they will help you. You savey life and properly and left your own engine and duties which you did not have to do. But he said that he thought that it was any employee to leave his own duties to save theirs but they had no way to force it.
I wanted to tell him that GOD stopped the car and saved my life and saved the passenger train and not me as that coal car was out of my control, and that I appealed to the Highest Powers for assistance, and I received it. I will say that I asked them twice for a pass after I left their service and did receive it, and I have asked them two times in the last five years the General Manager at Omaha writes me that they would be glad to give me a pass but it is against the law and they are not to do it, as they would have to pay a fine and so would I and that there is no way they can do it.
I am located in Bridger, Montana, and am a garageman at the present time.
(Signed) George C. Hardin.