The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-30
THREE DdYs AN .IUTOCRAT
The Brakeman who wa. the brains OF the
Pittsburgh Trainmcn.

An important action Of subcommittee
on Public Safety yesterday was conference
with Mr.. Robert Almond. n brakeman for tho
past year on the Pittsburgh. Fort Wayne and
Chicago Railroad. who rcjoiccs in the honor Of
having for three days. taken from the hands of
General Manager Laying the sole control and
management Of the road and its branches. On
Saturday evening he was an humble brakeman:
on Sunday morning he was u great railroad
manager and ma4snatc, dospat hing trims re-
cciving all dispatches from employees officials.
stockholders. oven from Manager LAYING him
self; on Tuesday evening he had resigned his
high office. and sat in the door of his little cot
ti,gr with his blooming wife and child. a simple
brakeman again. happy that the burdcnsOme
responsibility had been shifted from his mind.
Knowing his influence with the ralnmcn
the sub-committce requested the conference for
the purpose Ui indu'ing HIM ~ use ms power
to elect the raising OF the freight blo"kadc ON
the road, as Tar ~ least AS was necessary Tor
provisioning the city The result Of the con-
ference was TINT Mr.. Almond promised his in
huenrc to thus limited extent. aud u committee
vf seven mHmbers Of the Con m!ttec Of Safety
was appointed to meet Jointly with committees
II conference previously appointed 10y the
traium"n and the oil ,iuls Of the road respect
iVely. Subsequently. MIR. Almond oalled upon
Mr.. LAYING to plead with HIM further to restore
the ten pee cent. suitrnrted from the WAGES Of
the employees. and thus secure ut ono" two
blessings. tn provisioning of the city and the
rnistug of a disastrous blockade THIS consult
taton WIS not at all satisfactory 10 either clti-
Late Yesterday afternoon a meeting ~ train
mon WAS held in ll"iricns Hal. Allegheny
The Committee Of Seven. from the Crm!nltirc
On Public Safely. were present, with Mayor
Phillips and Mr.. Almond. The meeting
Jagged. speeches were made Tow members of
tho committee friendly and pa IN HOry in
churuat'r All went quietly until Almond aror-c
ana 0lirr 'd resolution IN Ell 'rt that one loco
monty" ro steamed W. an tram Of fourteen
freight ,.rr manned. and taken ont in the in
t'r'st ~ d"aler-. vino should us" tn" train, pro-
Wis un 70, iiNH thirteen cars. ana ElNe the Tour
t"enth t. tho tralnmen IN remuneration Tor
tIrii serve tn.p % hrlfi9ulc W. contents ~
th. ear Co the strikers and thHir families. Ii
was strange. "a very ruwmuAStl" lrNplS ton.
Ignoring all clum of the lrnnsylNunia COM
plny % 'muncratuu ter the U.s. Of their prop
.rtN. tut tlat WIS not the thing at STAKE. the
resolut un failed, and ia" meeting soon hd
Inurned. N" only subsequent alton ~ inn
lion which provide, Tia, the truinmrn viii
furnish m"n to run passenger trnn t.
Chicago AID return every day. one 20 Erie and
return, one e. Lnon and return. and one
through mil tram pr day 'anh WAY. and cOu-
lsnuSl lvauiu Company Co. run any oiner TIRE ns
Near the ull"r yni "f Adams street M MI"
w'iit" ,ottis" w.iirh stands far back from the
street leaving room Tor Ltct'y avn, tr,llis'd
crap" vines and beds of flowers. lives the re-
tired masnat'. He IL IN lI- twenty ATTN year.
tall. slender ntellis quick. and furc,bl'. He
il well connected, his father h"ing MIR. August
Almond of the Miners and Manufacturers Du-
qu"sne Company. Wood street. Ia c~s IN habit
has given hun some trouble. but he is now a
IN stakes he ayers that he has never tasted
drop OF stronl drink. \ ,ar 4so he came with
a letter of inirplu ton Goo Mr.. l4yn-,. admitting
u" tad been " .id. hut expressing 20 desire tu re-
form. III" wiis placed un tine road ~ brakeman.
soon attained a wonderful influence among his
fellows. ant never failed ia att nduur" tu dUty.
When the CRISIS came last saturday. ant Il wis
ludicious Tor TIA" attainment of their oil"f for
the trAlnmen To take complete possession of Ia"
road. he was unanimously chosen 10 tho Ullicc
Of General Manager.
During the three days when he held the ofl'c
not single mistake or a''liHut % CURED,
though excitement and danger attended every
wh"r" The conduct Of IN" rond wis entirely
in hi- hands. oven Ia the issuing OF pNsSc- Mr..
Laying himself could not have dead h"ai"d Il
over the road without pAs- countnr-ign"d 10y
Robert Almond. Dsafr,4'tion began l. work
however. The older heads among the ~ir. k"rs
lay close together and whispered that Bob"
/ was too Young. too inexperienced for 50 gray" a
/ responsibility. A conference WAS held. aud two
/ of these old heads appointed to counsel and
advise with him IN his work. The great mama
gers proud spirit could not brook this slight
| and h. stepped down and out Ia the midst vi has
/ on ,lal glory.
4" | am glad Of it," said he 10 tho reporter
/ Had an accident happened like that GA tho
/ Nc-t Penn. willie the road WAS in my are. the
/ citi1ens would have hanged ms ~ the first lamp
post"