Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-28
Rutland Canadian Manage
ment Outwit the Grand
Trunk Men
BRIDGE AT ROUSES POINT
Vermont Attempted to Push . Rridge
Across Ahead Of the Rutland Sys-
tenn Engines Try Their Mstaiin
Pushing and One stolen.

Rouses Point, n. y, Dec. 2o.--LonS
standing differences between the Rutland
Railroad owning the o. x L. c. II. r., and
the Grand Trunk Railway owning the c.
V. K. H.. eliminated Sunday in a conflict
eventua ting in a tactical and mechanical
wumph for the Rutland interest.
AT nine o'clock Sunday morning the
Grand Trunk or Central Vermont people
attempted to throw bridge from the
west end of their half of the bridge over
to the shore hoping to cut across just
ahead of the Rutland Co, which had just
begun to extend theis half of the bridge
towards the east shore of the lake. BY
dcXtrous manipulation on the part of the
local force here and the bridge men
brought from up the line as far as Malone
about thirty Rutland mon outwitted and
outmanoeuvred forty or fifty Gcand Trunk
men, gathering in one of their best mogul
engines and sending them back at one
O'Clock Monday morning discouraged and
defeated.
The O. and L. c. bridge gang under
Foreman c. f. Flint began last week
Monday morning to build the extension to-
wards the Alburgh shore from point 300
feet west Of the extreme eastern end of
tho O. ana Il. G.. half of the bridge, The
company owning to within "A few feet OF
the draw Within a week the gang had
built about 80 feet of bridge, on pare of
which they had laid the rails
Having worked all the week without mol
estation from the Grand Trunk or G. v
peon!e it was supposed that things were
safe II be left Saturday evening tor two
days and he gang dispersed to their
homes for Sunday and Christmas. But ON
Sunday morning at o'clock as Station
Agent Barney stepped out Of his home he
saw the G.. V. construction train on the
bridge and hastencd down. Meeting Sec
ton Foreman Crowley he found that tho
G. V. people had begun to build an extern
sion from the end of their half of the
bridge a few feet west of the draw to-
ward a point on the Fort Montgomery res
erva ton shore from which the Grand
Trunk has tho right 10y an old charter to
throw a bridge across the lake.
The object was to build across the point
where the Ogdensburg and Lake Cham
plain extension would soon go in its east
ward bearing, thus effectively cutting that
, road off from its extension for it is con-
trary to law that one railway track shall
cross another on bridge forming dia-
mond over the water.
At once the heavy Ogdensburg and Lake
Champ.din shifting engine 3l7 was @nt
over and 1t pushed the lighter Central
Vermont engine back with it's construc ton
train and pile driver and stood firmly
where the Central Vermont extension was
to begin and greatly impeded the work,
compelling the Central Vermont bridge
| gangs WHO were present from 81. Abrams
and New London to carry their timbers
past it. all of which greatly impeded the
work.
However, very heavy engine was sen,
for to st. Adams by special telephone wire
laid for the purpose, II is believed and
when she came at noon she showed the
shilter back on the Ogdensburg and Lake
Champlain track several rods and anch
orcd herelf there with chains and spikes
Then the track was torn up behiud her sc
/ that the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlai II
people would smash their own trestle
work If they should push her back. The
Ogdens burg and Lake Champaign peopl,
then sent three of their BEST engines dowr
from the yard and roundhouse and b,
quick def work released the Central Yer
mont engine, hitched to her by a chain
her stin shacke having been pulled
against this emergency, and drew her will
her brakes set and steam reversed by he
fireman, who staid with her, la triumph
to the round house, where she was he'll,
until midnight Meanwhile it Jared badi,
with the Central Vermont gang. Thei
structure settled a foot and a half, almos
letting their pile driver into the lake
which is % feet deep at this place
Whether in the confusion of the confio
an q. and l.. c. man dropped railroa,
spike into the gearing none of them viii
tell although they admit the possibility q
At amy rate the pile driver quit work a
dark and was taken away, the gang IL
naming until midnight doing what the,
could The o. and Il. q. men stayed will
them until morning but by daybreak no
vestige Of the Central Vermont's ney
extension could be seen while a numbe
Of their men were out in skins savinI
timbers which the o. and l.. c. peopl
think may have hoated up the river iron
Lacolle against the south wind whic
ragged all dlf Sunday and into the nirh
greatly compicating the difficulties Of I'll
conflict on the bridge and over heavr,
rolling sea.
In the meantime word had ben sen
out and o. and L. c. Attorney Hasbrouc
came from Ogdensburg while Presiden
Clement of the Rutland arrived Sunda
night a few hours later via Whitehall
over the d. and II The episode was finish
cd, however before they came Presiden
Clement expressed himself as especial
pleased With the defence OF his company
interests.
rhe o. and j.. c. men are very jubilan
and feel greatly elated over their victor
in the face Of such strong odds.