The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-12
THE sUB-coNrRACrs LET.
Preparing to Push the South Bound
a Contractors Experience.

Preparing to Push the South Bound.
A Contractors Experience.
It's expected that next week will be a
lively one on the South Bound. Henry G.
Lang. of the firm Of L. B. Harper & Co.,
who have just completed eighty-six miles OF
road on the Norfolk and Carolina in Vir-
ginia, has received a sub-contract to grade
eleven miles of road from the Central cross
ing to the fourteen-mile post. Mr.. Curry, a
wel-known railroad contractor, has the
next eight miles, and the next three miles
have been sub-Iet to a third contractor.
Thomas Brown, who was employed in
the construction of the new quarantine
wharves, has secured the contract for all
the bridge work on the South Bound from
Savannah 70 the Savannah river.
MIR. Lang says he expects 10 break ground
Monday by setting his axmen TO work, and
he hopes to be throwing dirt in ten DAYS.
He will work 300 men on his section, which
he expects to have ready for the track layers
by Sept. /.
Mr.. Lang built about five miles of the
Tytee road on McQueen's Island, and he
says he had great difficulty in keeping his
hands together on account of the wet and
marshy character Of the work. He had TO
furnish high top boots, impervious to
water, and complete working outfit to the
colored hands he employed, and he says he
lost 5000 or 500 from assertions by those
who were indebted to him. In a group of
friends yesterday on the return from
Cockspur Point, Mr.. Lang told,
In an amusing way, how he
finally broke up the practice of runa ways.
He said that he had to keep some four or
five rowboats for ferrying his men and sup
plies to the island. These boats cost him
from 80 TO Sl2 apiece. Nearly every night
some of his hands would desert, and after
stealing boat and eros, ing the creek they
would set the boat adrift. and that would
be the last of it. In addition TO 80 or SO
advance money to every deserter there
would be the added loss Of boat.
81 was determined to break up the prac-
tice, y said Mr.. Lang, land so one night
tied one end of a fishing line to one OF the
boats and the other end of the line around
the pillow in my bunk, and turned in.
Along about midnight was awakened by
having the pillow jerked violently from
under my head. 1t dazed me for minute,
but l soon recovered myself and realized
that my trap had been sprung l bur
ried on with my boots, and with
a brace Of revolvers started down to the
creek. lt was bright moonlight night, and
saw five men well out in the stream making
off with my boat. | hailed them and told
them to bring the boat back, or l would
open fire on them, but they did not pay any
attention until / began firing. didn't try
to hit them. but | made up my mind 1
would sink the boat, and before l had
emptied the contents of two revolvers in
her side. they jumped into the water and
made for the shore. They swan back to
the island and the boat went down. AS
the deserters scrambled out some distance
from me, and as | thought l had them
pretty safe, | went back to my tent and
went to bed. The next morning early some
one ferried them over to the mainland. 1
summoned a big trusty colored man, who
could easily have whipped all five Of the
deserters and who was anxious to do it, and
started in pursuit, intending to make them
give up the clothing had advanced them.
but the rogues had too much of start of us
and made good their escape"
Mr.. Lang has had wide experience in
railroad building, and had 900 men EN-
ployed on the East Georgia road, but he
says his experience on the Tybee road,
where, as fast as he would get we'll ready
to get to work, the tide would come up and
stampede the men, will never be forgotten
by him.