Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-01-25
FOLLOWED.

The most desperate and lawless men
in the west-I speak from twenty
years experience ON the plains-are
the gamblers, confidence men and rob-
bers who follow the lend of track"
when a railway is pushing through
new and unsettled territory.
At every side track a new town
springs into existence, so suddenly as
to suggest the western expression
dropped there by q cyclone. At
each of these new communities the
first corners are usually men of the
kind | have mentioned
Along the roadbed, wherever a sid
ing is to be laid, a dozen or more big
tents, respectively labeled Saloon, I"
dance House, sometimes very ap-
propriately, "Satan's Hole" or the
Devils Den," are always found set
up in advance of the arrival of the
track layers.
A certain harvest awaits the owners
of these groggeries, as the rail
reader, " of a certain class, takes his
slime" from his foreman at frequent
intervals, in order that he may cash
his ''time check" at the nearest saloon
and gambling place.
He quickly squanders the proceeds
of his check in drink and play, or is
robbed of them, lies about in stupid
condition for day or two, and then
goes to work again, penniless.
Such a person accepts all the evils
of this mode of life with philosophy
that would be commendable if shown
under adversely of a different sort A
shirt pantaloons, shoes and SLOUGH
hat usually comprise the whole of his
possessions, and so long as he can get
the means to satisfy periodic appe-
tite for drunken excitement he seems
to be satisfied with his lot.
This description of large class of
railroad laborers, it should be distinct
ly noted, does not apply to the many
sober, steady fellows who save the
large wages they get, and often settle
and become prosperous citizens in the
country they have helped to open to
civilization
1t is upon the earnings Of dissolute
wage workers of the track and grade
that the gambler, whisky seller and
assassin thrive, and, to secure their
plumber, they follow the progress of a
new railroad like vultures in search of
prey.
The day laborer upon these pioneer
roads is not the only victim of the
robber and sharper. 1t is unsafe for
any man who visits one of their mush-
room towns to let the fact be known
that he has considerable amount of
money in his possession.
Yet men who know the nature of
the dangers about them sometimes
neglect to take proper precaution to
insure the safety of money in their
charge, and thus the writer allowed
himself to be caught, two years ago,
in a "snap" that came near ending his
career, and that taught him lesson
in caution that he hopes will never
again be needed, at least by him.
l was acting as paymaster and chief
commissary clerk for firm of grade
contractors upon the Northwestern
road, which was then pushing through
northern Nebraska into the adjacent
territory Of Wyoming.
We were doing some heavy grading
and rock work, and with a large force
were pushing the work day and night
in order to get out of the way of the
track, which had then advanced to a
point within days ride of u.s.
We had let pay day slip by without
paying the men, and hoped to satisfy
them by the issue of time checks until
the track should overtake us, and our
money could come to us with little
risk on the construction train. But,
three or four days after paying off,
time, some of the men began to grow
suspicious and to grumble, and threat
ened to quit work until their checks
were cashed They were afraid we
might somehow slip up on them and
they wouldn't get their money.
AS we were in desperate need of
every available hand, is was necessary
that the men should be satisfied. So
it was determined that should go to
Chadron, our supply base and bank
ing point, and bring up enough
money to pay the men their last
months wages, which amounted to
about four thousand dollars.
decided to go alone. set out that
night on horseback, and reached the
lend OF track" at Crawford siding the
next morning in time to Leave my
horse at a neighboring ranch corral,
and get aboard supply train which
mad Just unloaded and was now gong
back.
At Chadron, the supply store of the
main contractor, a huge, roughly
built shed stood at side track about
forty rods from the main street of the
town. Here / was accustomed to Or
der supplies and get drafts for money
from the bookkeeper from time to
time.
That morning, after finishing my
business with the supply department,
/ went to the bookkeeper to procure
a draft. A crowd of railroad laborers
were waiting before his window to get
their time checks cashed, or secure
passes to go up or down the road. l
noticed that two of these men were
better dressed than the others, but
thought nothing of the circumstance.
| awaited my turn at the window,
and handed the bookkeeper slip of
paper on which was written, -Four
thousand three hundred and forty
seven dollars and fifty cents, Pay Roll
Rodney & Curtis He made me a
draft for the amount named, folded it
carelessly, thrust it through the win
dow, and took the receipt which / had
just written, and then turned to the
next man.
AS left the store | passed the two