The Columbus journal., 1889-05-01
TRAIN NO 5.

I am an ''old railroader. " and I think.
In view Of the fact that it is almost forty
years since did my first days work On
the iron horse, my claim to that sobeiquet
is . good one. l am a prominent
official" now. and am permitted to trans
act most Of my business in q pleasantly
furnished Office overlooking the broad
and busy street Of large western city.
Quite frequently old associates. moro
recent acquaintances and newspaper
men drop in to visit me. and. when they
see that am not particularly busy. they
are apt to linger long and will sometimes
worry me for ''a railroad story" Espe-
cially Il this the case with tho reporters
when ''things are dull'' in their own e.
pecial line.
SHOW, Mr.. Rennie," one VIII say,
I'VE all know that you are an old stager.
Your record is public property. You
have Travelled east and west, north and
south. probably half . million miles
Tell US . rip snorting' yarn. for The
Bangtown Trumpet"
Whereupon will occasionally l,umor
them and resurrect an old dead and
buried Renaissance, but moro often I
will reply in this wise:
ut is very true. gentlemen: I am in
deed an old timer. I have fired up,
bossed the throttle, graded roadbeds, dis
patched trains and managed two or
three thousand miles Of railroad prop
erty, and yet, venture to say. that l
cannot relate a true story that win b
wonderful enough for The Bangtown
Trumpet"
There is, however, one incident which
came under my especial notice some
years ago, that I have never yet related
to the reporters or to my more private
friends-an incident which. to the best
Of my knowledge and belief. did not find
its way into the newspapers at the time
Of its occurrence.
In the year 1870 I was the superinteud-
ent Of motive power on the thir: .isiou
of the Chicago and Arizona .oad.
Ny duties consisted of SUPERVISE; the
movements of some forty locomotives
and their crewa was also in charge Of
the shops at Axleborough, although they
and the great round house were under
the more immediate care of the master
mechanic.
One day stood on the huge turn table
in the yard, just outside the round
house, talkingto my friend John Bolton,
one of our best passenger conductors.
While we were chatting together, q small
boy trotted up l recollected having
seen him once or twice about the yard
and in town, but knew nothing about
him, not even his name. Bolton, who
was a whole souled, genial fellow, passed
the time Of day to the boy. though he
knew no more of him than did.
The little fellow was a. bright a. Q
new dollar and looked a. smart as q
whip, but he was exceedingly small and
judged him to be about 10 years old.
IF you please. sir, " he said, looking
me full in the face, ''are you the chial
of the locomotive department."
'Well," I replied with q grim smile.
I suspect), ''that Is not what they call
me, although on this division Of the C.
and A. am in charge Of the shops and
locomotives. Why7"
Because, sir, I want . job. I mean
to be railroad man, anyhow, and want
to be an engineer il possible. Can I go
to work in the shops?"
laughed, but John Bolton patted the
boy good humoredly on tho back as he
said:
GOOD for you, my SON."
Indeed, sir" continued the boy, who
was evidently very much in earnest, 81
know a good deal about machinery and
locomotives-just try me-"
I did ask him a few questions about
the construction Of an engine, and the
boy actually gave me wonderfully intel
ligent answers
"You go to school for another year or
two, and grow up q few more inches,
my boy. Then If you come to me I viii
put you to work in the shops"
His face clouded as spoke, and he Of
fered a last word in his own behalf:
II know I'm small sir, but I'm older
than look. III soon be Is, and I'm quite
strong"
"Oh. give the boy . show, Rennie, :"
said Bolton. in his slow, good natured
drawL Hell pan out all right"
"Well." l said. relenting. "what Il
your nameY'
Charles Stockwell, sir."
'Then, Stockwell, I viii give you the
first vacant apprentice job"
The Lad thanked me joyously enough,
but noticed that he grasped burly John
Bottoms hand and thanked him twice
over.
Three weeks later put young Stock,
well to work in the locomotive repair
shop.
Six months passed away. and in
the autumn a bitter quarrel was in
progress between the Chicago and Ari-
zona Railroad company and its employees,
chiefly the engineers. At the same time
the engineers being for the most part
highly intelligent and sensible body Of
,uen. no serious trouble had thus far
been experienced, nor was any looked
for BY the company and its of6cialA All
freight traffic was suspended, but the
engineers detailed certain Of their num-
ber to run the mail and passenger trainA
But there were just couple Of men of
whom the officials were somewhat afraid.
and who the engineers themselves were