The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-17
EARLY RAILRoADING IN MICHIGAN.
How John Hall, the New Conductor,
Collected His Fares.
From the Detroit Free Press.

From the Detroit Free Press.
group OF railroad men sat together
one day last month on the cool and airy
office balcony of the Union depot in De-
troit. They were conductors and engn-
GERS for the most part, though some of
them had seen service in many branches
of railroading. AS they smoked and chat
ted and listened to the puff puff of the eng
Ines and the changing of bells in the yard
below they were reminded of mishaps and
adventures that had befallen them or their
acquaintance in the course of many years
on the road. AS their cigars grew shorter
their stories grew longer and stronger I'M
til one wound up a lurid tale bristling with
shining pistol barrels, flaring torches,
cracks Of revolvers, frightened passengers
and masked bandits in a midnight setting
on lonely Nebraska prairie.
"Wel,' said the Old Timer, when the
silence following this recital began to grow
oppressive, you can talk about the wild
and woolly until your tongue is tired but
III tell you there was a time right here
in Michigan when we trainmen had Gus
toners to deal with that would simply
have teleScoped and deraied all the reck-
less hlghwayme west of the Missouri"
When was that?" asked the former
speaker, obviously.
That was along some time after the
war; Sdy, III tn6 early seventies, ana the
place was up in the woods in the northern
part of the lower peninsula Those were
the days when the great lumber camps
were in the hight of their glory. A single
railway track ran up into the heart of
the forest, and was used all winter for
hauling logs and freight. Men went up
into the woods in the fall of the year and
came out in the spring. These were about
the only occasions upon which a passen-
ger train went up into the wilderness.
1T was all right taking the lumbermen
up in the fall. That was easy. They were
dead broke perfectly sober and as quiet
and orderly as Sunday school class just
before Christmas
But coming back!
"They were the most obstreperous pas
sengers a conductor ever had to collect
fares from. The way those wild-eyed
wOodsmen coming out in the spring would
pile Into the cars and scarEable through a
train would take the nert% out of most
any conductor in the United States to-day
They were like band of school boys just
let out for a lark only ten times more
dangerous. Their pockets were stuffed
with greenbacks and whisky TASKS. They
shouted and fought, cursed and sang out
of pure high spirits. They were good-na-
tured, as a rule, and only anxious to get
home and spend their money, but any show
of restraint upon their action or move
mentS would plunge tHeIu Instantly INTO an
ugly and furious temper.
"There was a conductor working for the
Detroit, Lansing and Northern in those
days whose name was Mclaughlin. He
was a professional wrestler before he took
to railroading and was considered one of
The best in the country. He was a man
os fine physique strong 1.-THE and over six
feet tail He il was whom they always
sent uD TO the camps to bring the lumber
amen home and as he never failed to COLI
leet at least three-fourths of the fares he
was looked upon as "A wonder.
'eTbe log rollers came to know him in
time and had great respect for his Prov
ess. They looked for his coming in
the spring and sometimes arranged friend
Nv bouts between Mac and whoever hap
peued 10 be champion scrapper OF the sea-
son.
etRut there came a spring at last when
Mac did not appear. He had left the De
troit. Lansing and Northern Railroad and
gone West think he now runs on the
Northern Pacific Railroad out of Minneap-
oils. In his stead the wondering lumber
men now saw a medium-sized man that in
no respect resembled the muscular and
giant framed Mac swing off the train when
A. slowed up at the station In the woods.
The new conductor was Johnny Hal, who
had been sent out to do the best he could
In Macs place.
posed to themselves what they thought
would prove humorous and agreeable
pastime. Every man jack of them agreed
not under any circumstances to pay his
fare to the new conductor. SO they board
ed the train in high glee at the prospect
of a free ride home.
Meanwhile John Hall had not failed
to notice a few signs which, when he re-
membered the evil repute In which his
passengers were held by all railroad men,
gave the future an omnous look. He
walked forward and spoke a few words
to his engineer. You can't get back to
civilization a minute too soon. Steve, he
said. Jerk her through the woods for all
she'll stand
1T was just nightfalI when they pulled
away from the Lonely station and plung-
ed into the gloom of the forests Of hem
lock, pine and tamarack that lay before
Shem for $50 miles. Johnny Hall started
at once to collect his fares. He appeared
at the rear end of the last coach with his
punch in his right hand his lantern hang
ing from his left arm and one burly brake
man alongside of him.
There was one husky woodchopper In
the last seat. Fares Please, said
Johnny.
Z" Fares be d., said the passenger.
f0Ihe other Messengers continued their