Connecticut western news., 1890-01-15
GIANTS, IN THESE DAYS.


 Some Powerful Men Who Pull
 Trains and Bore Into Moun-
 tains.
 "The most powerful man ever saw was Zulu, called 'Spotlet,' who worken next to me when we were dig ging the Panama Canal,'' remarked Patrolm an Conklin, of the Indianapo- lis Anannias club. "What in other men was strenuous effort was to him the meresJ child's play. He saved tho company great deal of money In blasting powder alone. Anything he could get firm grip on had to come. rock out of the ditch as easily as Patrolman Davis can jungle 8 weiner- wurst"
 .When I was in Paree," said Patrol man Asch, II saw man used instead of locomotive on one of the rail- roads. He would be coupled to train and would pull it at a good, fair speed. Of course, he didn't make the time that an engine would make, but if my memory serves me right he made about fifteen miles an hour. l had quite talk with the superintendent of the road, and he was much pleased with the experiment. He said the company would very likely use men to ? haul it's trains exclusively. 1t was much cheaper, and the danger from collisions was not great This would make up for the lack of speed. The expense of shoeing and feeding tho man was considerable, but still he was cheap as compared with the average locomotive.
 "A funny thing happened on the road few days before left. The n-engine drank too much wine. and in staggering from one side of the track to the other, kept derailing the cars, and the entire traffic of the road was delayed for several hours. or until the engine got sober enough to go ahead. The scheme like this would be a good thing in this country, think"
 .'In 1850 I was in San Francisco" clipped in Patrolman Jim Pope. ''The gold fever was raging, and every one had exalted ideas of the wealth that was to be found in the earth. 1 was much younger than l am now though you would hardly think it to look at me-and, like every one else, went to the mountains to dig gold. had a peculiarly formed pickax, which I used with great success. In the point of the pickax was placed dyn- amite cartridge, and every time would sink the pick 6 inches into the rock. the cartridge would explode. thus blasting out the stone and saving great deal of extra work. had been picking away for about two months on top of mountain and had made quite hole. The yield was pretty fair. and l had about &18,00O in gold mug gets laid away. One day l went down into my mine and was working away like good fellow. Suddenly the stone floor slowly raised for a dis ner to haul me up, for didn't know friend,' said a voice under the stone talk to you.' sure enongh head pop ped through the aperture.
 Did you say howdy?" said the stranger with laugh. I know said howdy. Pretty tight squeeze, but 1 made it. Of course you understand, friends, was considerably rattled.i
 Who are you and where did you come fromp' asked.
 Before furnishing tho required diagram and accompanying explana- tion let me inquire if you have any chewing tobacco about youp' said the stranger. I handed over @ slab of black strap plug, and after helping himself literally, the stranger handed the plug back, remarking: That's good stuff. We'll, as to who l am, I'm not ashamed to tell you. My name is Sardanapalus Boiling, Esq. My home is in Boston. You needn't tell me your name, for know you. You are Jim Pope, of Indianapolis. I suppose you want to know how l came here. We'll, I have no objection to telling you. About three months ago start ed tunnel at the side of this moun- tain, thinking that would find plenty of ore. l met with poor success, and. after had gone in half mile, had about made up my mind to abandon my claim, when something seemed to tell me to bore up instead of down. I thought it wouldn't do any harm to try it just for luck, and so com menced. had taken out good deal of ore when heard you pounding up above me, and 1 concluded to come on and join you. and here l am.'
 '''B But where are your toolsP' I ask ed in astOnishment. 'IoOlsP exclaim- ed Mir. Boiling, of Boston. I had no tools. l did all my tunneling with my hands, head and feet. would just put my head against the earth. whirl around, and have a hole about to my shoulders, and then I would tear out the earth or rock, or whatever 1t might be, with my hands. Sometimes I would lay down on my back and kick hole with my heels, but I didn't like to do that very much, because would get dirt in my eyes. We'll, to make 8 long story short, the mining firm of Pope & Boiling was formed, and we worked together for three years. We became very wealthy. established line of steamships between San Fran ciso and Cape Cod, and when Boiling died he was worth $1O, GOO. 900. The money made I've got yet. ".
 And then the Ananias Club adjourn.