Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-05-17

| venture to say, that | cannot re-
late a true story that will be
wonderful enough for the Bang
town Trumpet"
There is, however, one incident
which came under my especial no.
tice some years ago, that | have
never yet related TO the reporters
or to my more private friends
an incident which, to the best oil
my knowledge aud belief, did not
find Its way into the newspapers at
the time of Its occurrence.
In the year 1870 1 was the super
intendont of motive power on the
third division OF the Chicago and
Arizona railroad. My duties con
sisted of supervising the move
ments of some forty locomotives
and their crews. l was also in
charge of the shops Of Axleborough
although they and the great round
house we're under the more im-
mediate care of the master me-
chanic.
One day l stood on the huge
turn table in the yard, just outside
the round house, talking to my
friend John Bottom, one of our
best passenger conductors. While
we we're chatting together, a small
boy trotted up. l recollected hav-
ing seen him once or twice about the
yard and in town, but knew moth
ing 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 as bright as
a new dollar and looked as smart
as a whip, but he was exceedingly
small and / Judged him to be about
twelve years old.
0It Won please, slr,p he said,
looking me full II he face, "are
you the chief OF the locomotive
department ?"
"Well," replied with grim
smile, suspect), "that is not what
they call me, although on this
division of the G. & A. | am in
charge of the shops and lOcOmO-
tiyes. Whyl"
"Because, sir, want job. l
mean to be railroad man, any
how, and want to be an engineer
If possible, Can 60 TO work in
the shops 7"
laughed, but John Bolton pat
ted the boy good humoredly on
the back and said :
"Good for you, my son."
"Indeed, SIR" continued the boy,
who was evidently very much in
earnest, 81 know a great deal
about machinery and locomotives
just try me-"
did ask HIM a few questions
about the construction of an en-
gine, and the boy actually gave
me wonderfully intelligent an
swers.
"You 90 to school for another
year or two, and grow up a few
more inches, my boy. Then ifyou
come to me l will put you to work
in the shops
His face clouded as | spoke, and
he offered a last word in his own
behalf:
81 know l sm small, sir, but Pm
older than l look. I'll soon be
fifteen, and ! am quite strong"
"Oh, give the boy a show, Rem
nie,' said Bolton, il h is slow, good
natured drawl. "He1l pan out all
right
"Well," 1 said, rele nting, "what
is your name ~
"Charles Stockwell, sir"
"Then, StOckwell, 1 will give
you the first vacant apprentice
job.T
The lad thanked Inc jOyOusly
enough, but noticed that he
grasped burly John b BOlton's hand
and thanked him twice oyer.
Three weeks later put young
Stockwell to work in the locomo-
tive repair shop.
Six months passed away, and in
the autumn a bitter quarrel was in
progress between the Chicago &
Arizona Railroad company and itt
employees, chiefly the engineers
At the same time the engineer
being for the most part a highly
intelligent and sensible body o
men, no serious trouble had thu
far been experienced, nor was an!
looked for by the company and IT
officials. All freight traffic wa
suspended, but the engineers de
tailed certain OF their number 4
run the mail and passenger trains
But there we're just a couple o
men of whom the officials wer'
somewhat afraid, and who the en-
gineers themselves we're fearfu
would involve them in seriou
trouble and 80 damage the caus,
Of the strikers. These were Mix,
DAILY, an engineer, and his fireman
men fearless and thorough,
capable at their work, but VIII
would stop at nothing to accom-
pIish a mean revenge when the
considered thems elves injured.
One evening xpress tram No.
stood in the big barn like depot
Axleborough, about to start 70
the west. A locomotive had jus
/ ~