The daily gazette., 1877-07-31
THREE DAYS AN AUTOCRAT.
THE BRAKEMAN WHO WAS THE
PRAISE OF THE PITTSBURG
~ TRAINMEN.
Fro,n the Pittsburo Posi-.

q TRAINMEN.
y From the Pittsb,ro Post.
An important action Of sub-commit-
tee on Public Safety yesterday was
conference with MIR. Robert Almond,
brakeman for the past year on the Pitts
burg, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad,
who rejoices in the honor of having, for
three Gays, taken from the hends of
General Manager Laying the sole control
and management of the road and its
branches. On Saturday evening he wFs
o humble brakeman, on Sunday morn
ing hs was great railroad manager and
magnate, despatching trains, receiving all
dispatches from employees. officials,
stockholders, even from Manager Laying
himself; on Tuesday evening he had re-
signed his high Office, and sat In the door
of his little cottage, with his blooming
wife and child, SIMPLE brakeman again
happy that the burdensome responsibility
had been shifted from his mind.
I Knowing his influence with the train
man the subcommittee requested Tie
conference for the purpose of inducing
him to use his power to effect the raising
of the freight blockade ON the road, as
far at least as was necessary for provis-
ioning the city. The result of the con-
ference was that Mr.. AmmOnd promised
his influence 10 this limited extent and
committee of seven members of tbs
Committee OF Safety was appointed to
meet jointly with committees of conf
ence previously appointed by the train
men and the officials of the road respec-
lively. Subsequently Mr.. Almond
called upon Mr.. Laying to plead with him
further to restore the ten per cent. SUBJ
tracted from the wages of the employees,
and thus secure at once two blessings,
the provisioning of the city and the rails
sing OF a disastrous blockade. The con-
sultation was not at all satisfactory to
either citizens or trainmen.
Late yesterday afternoon meeting of
train-men was held in Dietrch's Hall
Allegheny. The Committee of Sever,
from the Committee of Public Safety,
were present. with Mayor Phillips and
Mr. Ammond.= The meeting Jagged.
Speeches were made by members Of the
committee friendly and pacifcatory in
in character. Ali weLt quietly until Arr
mond arose and offered resolution in
effect that Que locomotive be steamed
up and a train of fourteen freight cars
manned, aud taken out in the interest of
dealers, who should use the train, provi-
sion 1t, tak9 thlrteeen cars, and give the
fourteenth to the lrAinmen in remunera-
tion for their services, they To distribute
the contents OF tile car TO the strikers and
their families. 1t was a strange, very
communistic proposition, ignoring all
claim OF the Pennsylvania Company to
remuneration for their uce of their prop
eriy, but that was not the thing at stake.
The resolution failed. and The meeting
soon adjourned. the only subsequent ac-
tion of importance being the passage of
resolution which provides that the train
men will furnish men to run passenger
train to Chicago and return every day,
one to Erie and return, one to Enon and
one through mail train per day each
way, and concluding with cynical clause
permitting the Pennsylvania Company 10
run any other trains they wish, 'provid-
ing they can get the men,"
Near The upper end of Adams street, In
a LILLE white cottage which stands far
back from the street, leaving room for a
pretty lawn,trellised grape vines aud beds
of flowers, lives the retired magnate. He
is in his tw wenty-tifth year, tall, slender,
intelligent, quick, and forcible. He is
well connected, his father being Mr.. Au-
gust Ammoud of tue Miners and Manu-
tacturers' Duquense Company, Wood
street. Excess in habit. has given him
some trouble. but he is now proud and
staid pater fanlilias. With all his mistakes
he AYERS that he has never tasted drop
Of strong drink. A year ago he came with
letter of introduction to Mr.. Laying
! I.,J t,ayh ha 70 haaY, tuilH hut
, ing desire to reform. He was placed
, on the road as bIeak man, soon attained
: wonderful Influence among his fellows
and never failed in attendance to duty
When the crises came last Saturday, anC
, it was judicious for the attainment o.
their object for the trainmen to take com
plete possession of the rold, he was unan
imously chosen 10 the Office of Genera
Mana er. =r. ....I.
Duling the three days when he held the
office not single mistake Or accident oc
, CURED, though excitement and dange
attended everywhere The conduct o
g the road was entirely in his hands, ever
9 to the issuing of passes. Mr.. Laying him
0 self could not have dead-headed it ovel
9 the road without pass countersigned b.
Il Robert Almond. Disaffection began it.
: work, however. The older heads anon!
# the strikers lay close together and whis
y pered thar'Bob'' was too young too unex
o perience for so grave responsibility. A
n conference was held, and two of thes
d sold heads" appointed to counsel ant
n advise with him in his work. The grea
IS managers proud spirit could not brool
rs this slight, and he stepped down and on
,e in the midst of his Office glory.
" 81 am glad ofit," said he to the reporter
20 'Had an accident happened like that oil
the West Penn, while the road was Il
my care, the citizens would have hange
me to the first lamp post"