Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-02-19
SUNDAY.
MARTINS FIREMAN.


81 I'D you ever hear of a railway
ii Upresident running as fireman on
an engine? Well. know of one
who did, and, if you've got time to lis
ten to it, l will tell you the story now.
1t was in the summer Of 1885 that
was firing on a single track line that
runs up from Junction City through
Georgetown, a matter of ITO miles, The
line was owned mostly by a man
named Thedford, who was president
and superintendent all in one
l had been firing on the line for two
years back; all the time with one
driver, Bob Hunter by name, and a
finer man never lived. l suppose it
would be only natural for me to speak
well of Bob, anyway, for l was clean
head over ears in love with his pretty
daughter, Molly, and was only waiting
for bit of rise in my pay to make her
Mrs. Jim Martin. Though l didn't see
any chance for that rise where l was,
l didn't like to leave and go on an
other line, for that would take me away
from Molly.
One day Bob says to me:
"Jim, amt you and Molly never 60
ing to get married?"
Just as soon as l can get my RISE"
says l, ''but don't see how Pm going
to get it here"
why don't you go and ask Billy ?'
says he.
You see, Billy was always what we
called Mr.. Thedford-behind his back.
of course-for warrant you, we were
mighty polite to his face.
He won't do anything for me-" saws
1. ''for you know either one of the clean
ers up to Georgetown would be glad
enough to jump into my place, and he
amt going to give me a rise Just to
please me-"
Well" says Bob, at won't do any
hurt to try it."
So next day l washed up and went to
the company's office, and asked for Mr..
Thedford. After a few minutes he sent
word to me that he would see me, and
In went. There he sat-a large, heay-
lily built man, with big side whiskers
and pair of gold-rimmed glasses on
his nose.-
What is it, my man? I'm very busy"
says he.
So up and told him what l wanted
'How much are you getting now ?''
says he.
''Forty-five dollars month";" saws 1.
II don't see how We can give you any
thing more, my good fellow. You see.
yours is not very responsible position.
merely one that requires little bodily
strength. And we can find plenty of
men who would be only too glad to take
your place at that salary"
With that he turned to letter he was
writing, and knew had no more busi-
ness there. tell you felt sore to be
told it didn't take much to know how
to fire an engine, and l came mighty
near throwing my job up and trying to
get on another line. But Molly persuad-
ed me to- hold on little longer.
Now, before come to the particular
point of this yarn, l want to tell you a
little about the line. l have said it was
single track one running from juno
NLOu OibJ W NcOTSelOWu. LIE latter
place was little town of 500 or 600
inhabitants; but in the summer a great
many Chicago people came up there,
and so l suppose the line paid. Any.
how, Thedford, who had a summer
place there, was rich enough to run II
for himself alone if he wanted to.
Bob lived at Georgetown and board.
ed with him. Our trips began at s in
the morning, and we generally ran the
110 miles in five hours. Then at 8 il
the afternoon we came back, getting
home at 8. AS soon as we reached the
roundhouse at Georgetown our days
work was over, for the cleaners took
the engine then, cleaned and polished
her. and laid the fire already to star
the next morning.
Well, as l said, hung on to my job
hoping that something would turn uI
that would give me Lift till one day