The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-05
HERoIsM OF ENGINEER BEST.
The striker who Nearly Caused the
Great Northern TO Re HE'D Up.

The striker who Nearly Caused the
Great Northern 10 BE lied Up.
WEST SUPERIOR, Wis. Sept. 4.-Engineer
William Best now appears in a different
role from that he played during the Great
Northern strike. Best abandoned his en-
cine and train in ST. Paul, when the East
ern Minnesota was tied up, in such way
as to block the yards. At least this was
the charge of the Great Northern, and
when the strike was settled the road re-
fused to re-employ him. American Rail-
way Union officials threatened another
strike. but the difficulty WAS referred TO
arbitration and the arbitrators decided ia
favor Of Best's restoration. He seems by
his heroism 10 have demonstrated his TT
ness for a permanent place in the cab.
He tells the following story;
IS oon after leaving Superior at is y.
m. had TO light the headlight. owing to
the dense smoke which turned day into
night The heat As we approached Hinck-
lev increased. expected that when We
reached that point We would get INTO an
opening and escape the smoke. Ny sur
prise was great, therefore, when We found
The IRE right upon the town. IL took but
a glance 10 see the towp was doomed. The
wind blew with great velocity, and the
flames fairly leaped through the air. Peo-
ple were taken by surprise and were help
less. The coming of the fire seemed to be
more like a stroke Of lightning. Almost
IN an instant the town Was swept by bill
lows Of flame We could not pass Hinek-
Iax and there was no Csc 10 look for
orders for communication was cut of. To
stay and rescue as many a. We could was
our duty. of course. but the great qDes-
tion and the one upon which hung the
B~zrs reAs ~ hnU frny a a rfs
we waltz Ed Barry, who was there with
anvina No u and A. u. Campbell. ths
conductor, we're as piucky and brave tel-
Iow. a. ever passed mile pole. We knew
We we're making time, for We could re-
turn on No. IS tine. NehastiIy coupled
a uortion Of Campbel's freight train with
the engine ahead onto the rear Of our
tain The people rushed towards our
trntn and piled into the cars. Some we're
.raf and helpless Tae women and chill
ftren had 70 be helped aboard We had 20
shitt the POSITION Of the train several
tines to prevent % catching hre- We
were al breathing ire as IL VAS
We saw many sights that would
have filed Us with horror II tssn
uuder other circumstances. bat there was
horror everyN here. We sas people fall
Aown overcorns By heat and smoke. /
saw mothers w4sh babies make q last de-
spairtnr effort 10 shelter their helpless
charges We saw people surrounded by
firs. but there IS no use trying TO asscFies
IL - vou feE % cur passengers be-
came pamic-s;riksn and wanted me 20 pail
ont REGARDLESS Of others AZ Hiaekley. but.
of course, none Of us thoaght Of dong
such q cowxrsiiy and selfish act We got
ABOUT so people from Hsackiey aboard,
raawbe more. and slippea away 70 taKs
others whA hsd run up the track We
could nos rescue any more " The people
for they could not get 20 the train A
vrrv large percentage of those sbo re-
rnained perisaed. Away ws vent Through
the b!szlng woods- IL sas race with
death. The telegraph poles sad ties we're
on FIRE and a stream of flames pressed
upon the train. The people sere packed
- closely thai . sAs iFapossihie 20 move
W~ naSs@d several bridges that we're on
IRE. Al Partridge vs procured water Tor