The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-09-02
Master of
the Strike
BY FRANK ID. BLUE
BY FRANK ID. BLUE
Copyright, 1901. by Frank d. Blue

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"All the men went out at East Cor
inth this morning; not a train out"
was the laconic telegram handed to
the superintendent when he reached
his office. With him action was first,
| reflection afterward. and he shouted:
Here. you boy, go hunt up Caddigani
Get him hereI Hustler
In an incredibly short time Caddigan
showed up, hat on one side Of his head,
hands In his pockets. coolly whistling
the latest popular air. the picture of
unconcern, a striking contrast to the
bustling activity Of his superior OH
| Ger.
Say. Caddigan. do you know there's
| a strike at East Corinth?"
| yep; heard So" was the brief re-
l sponse.
We'll, what in blazes are you doing
here anyway? Why amt you down
| there? Get down on first train. II
leaves in ten minutes. And see that
you get trains out Do you hearr'
Underneath the apparent indifference
of Caddigan lay quiet, calm and cool
| action, and long before he had made
all plans to go to East Corinth. 1t
would never do to say SO, however, to
the superintendent, who had a failing
for always wishing to be first to give
orders.
''AIl right; I'll go. Any further or
I ders|
Yes; you fire every son Of a gun
that won't go back to work at once.
Do you understand
And Caddigan did understand. He
understood the superintendent better
than the latter understood himself and
well enough to take his instructions
with a grain of allowance
Don't compromise the company In
any way. and send an immediate re-
port Of things when you get there
were his final Instructions.
East Corinth was 300 miles away.
and it was late In the evening when
the superintendent received the follow
ing telegram:
All men out "Red Jack Podeck is
running strike Swears not a train shall
leave here. All sympathize with yard
men, Things shaky. CADDIGAN.
Caddigan was very popular among
the men. He had risen from them
having himself twisted brakes and
shoveled coal, and reaching his present
position, train master, by sheer force
Of character, combined with hard and
willing work.
The strike ran along without Incl
dent for several days. Each attempt
to get a train out resulted in failure
The men were watchful and headed
or each move toward getting yard
work done. 1t would seem no hard
matter to get trains out once In awhile
as the engineers, firemen, conductors
and brakemen were not engaged In
the strike. but sympathy ran rampant
and failure was recorded each time.
One evening the superintendent re
ceived a section of a telegram reading
81 will get a train out tomorrow
apparently from Caddigan, but the op
orator said the wire went down, and
he could not get the rest, and direct
communication ceased.
All trains had to pass the telegraph
tower, where the interlocking switche.
were, a point closely guarded by the
strikers. pickets being constantly OF
guard Caddigan knew this point held
the key to the situation, and he direct
ed his attention to it, He tried to gel
authority from headquarters. but ths
telegraph operators. though not on &
strike and apparently playing fair
managed to favor the strikers. 1t is 8
comparatively easy matter to have tbs
wires down" Nothing daunted b,
this Caddigan resolved to stand the
layout aud "go 1t alone"
To get dependable men not in sym
pathy with the strikers was not al
easy matter, yet IL was accomplished
In time. Taking these men aside, hs
told them to go down into the yard al
noon, a time when few strikers wers
around. and disconnect all the brak,
chains on train of cars that had beer
ready to go east since the strike be
gan. He then went to the tower. Nor
| Collum. -one of the best known oper
ators OF the middle west, was il
charge.
Mort" Caddigan said. 81 want yol
to give a clear track for an outbound
freight at ! O'clock"
"All right, sir" he said But dom
you think you had better wait til
wings grow on your box cars? You'll
never get a car by on wheels"
1T won't cost much to try" Caddi
gan laughingly replied. "and at tn;
worst 1t can only be another failure"
Caddigan then went 10 the engine
house aud had old l42 fired up. Sh,
was In charge of Andy Devine.
Il want you to be right on time
Andy" said Caddigan. Back righ
down into the yard. couple on to tha
train Of cars and start for Europe
straight across the pond. Pay no at
tention to any stop signals until yol
are at least ten miles out"
"Pll do II. sir. but suppose lose m,
cars
60 on, Andy" Caddigan calle,
back. You'll have your cars all right
Trust me for that"
The engine went to the yard withou
trouble. and no effort was made to pre-
vent coupling on to the cars. Whei
the train reached the tower. many stol
signals We're given; but, obedient to or
ders. Andy paid no attention to them
Instead, every effort was made to ge
up speed before passing the towe