The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-15
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walked into Sprague TO get material to re-
/ pair the bridge There they found that
I Company X, of Tekoa. Second regiment,
had been taken unawares and stalled.
! United States troops came in rom the east
l later, while Col. Green's men were oTioge-
| building. and helped them our. AS soon
/ as the tools. etc, were obtained oy COL
/ Green's men they were paced on hand
| car under guard of the company ana re-
/ turned TO the train. During the
/ absence of the detachment 70 get material
company under command OF capt.
! Weissenbsrger had cleared all the deoris
I from the rails that were still hot and had
/ carried ties from one-haIs a mile below the
bridge and had everything ready Tor the
| rails. The ditch over which the bridge
| ran was about twenty feet across and
eight feet deep. Ties we're thrown into
the ditch one on top OF the other until
roadbed across it was obtained.
The clearing up of the wreck and get
| ting the bridge ready to cross took only
| about two hours and half, and the sol
| diers did all the work, only one railroad
| employe being present and he afraid TO
work. The train was then pulled across
the newly made bridge and a portion OF
the troops placed in the cars. The engine
was heavily guarded on both sides, with
detail OF thirty sharpshooters placed on
and around it. In this way the train
rolled slowly into the hotbed of the
strikers at Sprague. The streets were
crowded during the stop OF the
train, bur no opportunity was
given the mob to commit any
depreciation. The crowd tried to inter
fere with the coaling OF the engine, but
Col. Green sent platoon of men after the
strikers, who cleared out. After the en-
CINE was coaled and watered the train
proceeded on its way to Spokane, which
was reached about IL AS at night without
further molestation.
Everything was quiet. but it was ru-
mored on the streets the next day that the
Spokane people were so Disguised with the
action of the boys that they had planned
TO have all the baby carriages in the city
ct the depot to take them home II
the train had got IN at the
time expected. Brig. Gen. Curry left
the train at Spokane. and the
troops stayed in Spokane that night and
next day. occupying the cars in which the
trip had been made. 1t was O'Clock the
following morning when the train pulled
out for the return trip. The train was
double-header with thirteen cars, includ-
ing an express Pullman diner and sleeper.
On the return trip Sprague was very
quiet. the regulars being in possession,
and no incidents occurred until Ellens-
burg was reached. There it was found
that the long Howe truss bridge spanning
the Yakima river had been burned through
and that one end had dropped into the
river twenty feet below. A detail of
twenty men was placed at the disposal
of the construction department of the
railroad, and assisted in repairing the
break. The burning of the bridge caused
delay of thirty-six hours, during which
time the detachment was in Eilensburg.
During the night some of the militiamen
were passing the United States deputy
marshals. when the latter were heard to
make some remarks about "tin soldiers"
The boys Immediately reported the mat
ter TO Col. Green, who was retiring.
The colonel lost no time in going in per-
son to the deputy marshal and asking him
what was meant by such actions. The
deputy marshal would not repeat
the remarks and tried to pass the
matter off lightly. The explana-
ton was not satisfactory to Col.
Green, who informed him that he would
not tolerate insults to his men, and if any
thing more was heard action would be
taken in the matter. The deputy marshal
had nothing more to say and when the
train pulled out the deputies were not in
sight.
Near Buckley a nearly fatal accident
happened TO one of the regulars, who had
been on duty watching bridge for thirty
six hours without relief. lie was dazed
and, on rising from the bridge to get out
Of the way, miscalcuiated his distance.
The engine struck his carbIne and
knocked him of the bridge. The train was
stopped and DR.. Dawson, with his hospital
corps. returned TO the place where the
accident occurred but could not ind the
man. who had gotten mp and gone to his
camp. His hands had been badly
laeerated, his face and his shoulder and
leg also badly bruised. The corporal IN
charge of the post allowed the soldier to
be taken on the train to Tacoma, where
his troop is stationed. DR.. Dawson
dressed his wounds on the way TO Tacoma
The troops arrived in this city without
further incident and marched like regulars
TO the Armory. Last night the Whatcom
detail left for home By steamer.
Col, Joseph Green was just retiring last
night when a PosI-INrEILIsENcER reporter
rang the door bell of his handsome resi-
dence on Rainier avenue. near Lake
Washington, and asked him for
4 few words about the conduct
OF his men. The colonel smiled and actu-
ally forgot how tired and sleepy he vas.
They are good men, every one of them"
he said, and behaved splendidly." Every
word and action Of the colonel showed
plainly that he was proud of his regiment
and felt sorry that he had 10 leave some of
them at home.
At Yakima the boys were invited to the
Commercial Club, and the president of the
club complimented the staff and Spkdiers in
high terms.