The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-29

been stricken down by rioters and lay in
sensible in charge OF the physicians. Ma
than thought the situation demanded re-
enforcement at once; so did old Gray
Fox. commanding at Omaha, and the lat
ter ordered thither just one man. cap
tain OF infantry senior In rank TO Ma
than. What they needed was a cool head,
said he. not cold feet. and, lest the unln-
itiated should misinterpret the phrase,
let II be explained here and now that
cold feet is soldier synonym for
scare"
Things were indeed In grievous shape
when the vice presidential car rolled into
the Seattle yards and ranged up along
side that of Captain Nathan. BY that
time, thanks TO Santley. sentinels had
been thrown about the sacred precincts,
and. seeing no rioters In the immediate
neighborhood. Nathan had measurably re-
covered his nerve. He hoped TO make
favorable Impression on his wife's pluto
cratic uncle. but Mr. Barclay shifted the
fumes OF smoldering thousands, and the
sight OF half a mile OF smoking ruins up
the track soured him utterly. All this
could have been prevented had Nathan
shown any dash. pluck, energy-any OF
the qualities railway men admire and
go many possess. And then to think that
even now the Big Horn was openi He
had seen Channng's first train whistling
down the opposite side OF the gorge. He
learned from his satellites boarding tho
car to the east OF the town, OF the almost
miraculous rescue OF the Big Horns
buildings. tremendous story II made
by that time, and the heart OF the mag
nate was sore In his bosom that such I'll
should have befallen the Seattle such
good fortune the Missouri valley. He
hated Claiming, anyhow. Claiming was
sprung from the ranks and had worked
his way up step by step from section
boss TO superintendent In one road after
another. He had been assistant general
superintendent of the Seattle oNy few
years back. when the vacancy occurred
that should have been rendered to so
energetic and valuable a man II was Bar
clay who opposed Il. "Channing's all right
FOR an assistant or subordinate" said he,
"but he hasn't the education or the so
cial position a superintendent should
have" So n man with Barclays require
ments got the promotion over Channfng's
head. whereat the latter instantly resign
cd went over to the Northern Pacific tor
n short term. and then II was the Big
Hcrn that rendered him the superintend-
encS and within another year made him
general manager.
IF the president and board OF direct
ors will look after the finances" said
he. "I'r run the road" And run Il he
had and marvelously we'll. to the secret
d,smay OF the Seattle. And now at the
first serious clash he had Strengthened
things out for his own road while the
strikers were smashing things for tho
Seattle. and Barclay could have cursed
the day he let him go.
But that wasn't all.
II took hours to gather his forces and
count the costs. Then he could have
sworn that MelviHg had so ordered the
distribution OF troops as purposely 20
expose the seattle's yards. whereas Mel
Vile had sent more troops 10 the south
side than he had retained on the north,
little McConville. with four companies,
having been detailed TO cover the Seat
sles lines, and Mac" had saved their
stock trains. though he couldn't be every
where at once and so protect their sheds
and shops. Barclay had only succeeueu
iu getting his division superintendents.
with improvised crews at work and MS
cattle of their cars and into the corrals
when nightfall came. He had fousd only
| n meager half dozen laborers for the nc
! cessary work, Claiming having earlier
| gathered I'm every willing hand the town
| afforded, and when tho morning OF the
morrow dawned the Big Horn shop whis-
| tle sounded as OF yore. and It's east bound
| train set forth on time, while there were
stlll only silence and smoldering rum
| throughout the yards or the Seattle.
Late that afternoon, weary, hollow
| eyed unshaved. but feeling hopeful ana
we'll nigh content with his work. Eric
Langdon was making the rounds OF ,ne
| Big Horn yards, visiting the sentries
whom he had posted. Win the full con-
sent and cooperation OF the little major
| and az the earnest request OF Charming
| he had assumed the duties OF military
adviser" had personally coached three or
four companies besides his now devoted
| followers OF Company q and was recog-
4 nized as n sort OF field officer OF the Gay.
respected and looked UP 20 by the entire
! command.
McConville. differing with Nathan as
1 TO the management OF affairs, had with