The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-04-27
Misccllanp.
CAPTAIN TOMS FRIGHT.


excepting once" he added reiectively.
How was that, Captain?" said l, detecting in
ticatons of yarn, 'ets have it ii its worth tell
ing"
The captain lit cedar splint Mt the fire and
proceeded to ignite his pipe. the flame OF the dry
stick bringing out his strong quiet features and
yrayish hair and beard IN relief against the
black woods behind him.
The captain had the coolest way of talking
about his personal frights, way which we all
understood perfectly, for most of us had too Of
ten seen him in action to believe his astounding
accounts of his own cowardice. l actually be-
lieve to this day, many causual hearers of his
yarns thinks that Capt. Tom was the coward
he painted himself, for often would q stranger
ask, after hearing him narrate some of his ex-
pleits, how such shameless sneak could remain
in the service with honor
''Well, fellows" began he, II feel sort of con-
hdential tonight strange feeling for me, by
the way and | think some great piece of luck
must be awaiting me III consequence Howev-
er. will tell YOU the story, although 1 never
told it to living soul before, and the very
thought Of now telling it sends a chill up nv
nv back. so You must not be astonished if turn
childish before | get through. You must know
that in the summer and fall OF 1850 was in my
profession of engineer rebuilding long bridge
on the Sunset & Great Western railroad. My
station was ten or fifteen miles from any town,
and had Il gang OF thirty or forty of the widest
Irishmen you ever saw caught, beside the sober
mechanics who did the joiner work on the bridge
A pretty lonely life led for there was hardly
any one with whom II was pleasure to associate
for any lengeh of time, though perhaps, that, to
some extent,was my fault, for was always rather
distant and reserved with the men, more from
fear of seeming to ntrude, or from the oppo-
site horror of seeming to court popularity,
than from any othor reason. My station was at
the end of a long and perfectly straight stretch
Of road. l suppose there must have been fifteen
miles of track without curve of any sort, save
that which belongs to the surface of the earth
As the line neared the river an easy grade raised
it a few feet so as to carry the roadway of the
bridge clear of floods. Rather more than half
way mp the bridge, was cutoff or side track,
crossing the river temporary tressle-wOrk,
and intended to remain only while the main
bridge was undergoing its repair. The cutoff
set at very acute angle, so that the speed OF
passing trains was scarcely checked while cross
ing the river. One could stand on this little
grade and see the approaching trains at least
dozen miles off, when the air clear, as they
came tearing across the prairie and up the
grade and over the bridge, whirling past US in a
momentary glimpse of the world and its life
Perhaps the conductor if he was clever fellow,
would throw us off a package of papers. This is
all we knew of outside life, for none but gravel
trains condesended to stop at little station
Our quarters consisted of a cluster of board
shanties, with one of more luxurious build for
me, all located for convenience of getting water,
quarter of mile above the bridge, where
the banks OF the river were accessible.
Those of you who have lrishmen in your COM
panies well know that whiskey naturally CRAWL
tates to their vicinity, and almost always on a
Saturday night supply was on hand in our lit
tie community, on which the weeks wages were
nt,,1> Id ,,.,I,I
always distinguished by tearing spree, which
invariably terminated in free fight but as the
combatants were usually too drunk to do much
harm to one another when the time came around
no material damage was ever done. There was
among those fellows with whom, from the
first, had foreseen trouble. A thick-set surly
dog he was, Pete MCGEE by name, and Ear
aowner" by birth. he had always some fault to
find about his pay, always srumbling, con-
tinually Sinking his work, ant was withal a
mighty drinker, and when DRUM mighty man
TO lead the crowd. Our antipathy to one another
seemed to be led to climax by fortune, and l
had good to believe that twice already
had Pete instigated an attack on me in my
house, said attacks having been easily repealed
by sundry discharges Of my revolver at high
elevation.
One day was watching the labors of a gang
who were shoveling dirt out of a drain which
had been filled by recent storm. | had noticed
that Pete was Sinking frightfully by taking
mighty small quantity of earth on his spade, and
throwing it as short distance as possible. He
saw that / noticed him, and by a muttered re-
mark to his companions he let them know that
he did. In a few minutes / saw that the whole
gang had word of the Sinking of Pete and nv
observance thereof. l made up my mind to have
it out with him, for the sake of discipline.
had with me a threo-and-a-half foot which al
ways carried for measuring purposes--a good
stout hard cane of hickory, of which thanks to
long residence with an old English Lakewood
man, l knew also the use in self defence
"Pete," said /, IF you don't do your full share
Of work from this on, your name goes off the
roll tomorrow night, and you leave by the next
train"
Pete stopped work and looked at me moment
from under his shaggy brows then leaned his
spade against the ditch side, hitched up his trow-
sers, removed his dudeen from his mouth and
stuck it in his hat, and then climbed slowly out
Of the ditch Pete's shillalah and brown lug
were never far from him, and he walked cody
toward them, remarking.
aye dirty spalpeen I'll break the head of YES
sure as my names Pete MCGEE. an We can take
me name off the roll and be damned to yo"
In an instant he had his bit of black thorn in
his hand, and knocking off his hat, pipe and all,
he frightened his belt and came toward me, as
ugly looking specimen rs you would wish To
meet. l heard man remark bows. here's n dis.
cusslon wild shtioks, sure enough, and saw the
hands stop work and watch the progress of
events with the enthusiastic interest of Irish.
men when they become aware that a fight is s,,-
proaching My authority was ut an end i'll back.
ed out, whereas it | made good fight might
retain my authority even if whipped So
N snpt lint