Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-10-07

hiiuSuity VI. Out iOuu-
way across the mouth Of this little trib-
utary that in the months of melting
SHOWS became boiling torrent and
the expense of constructing a massive
bridge, while the spectacular effect
was lost on its passengers because that
right of way was scooped out at the
base of steep, rocky cliffs that shut en-
tirely the view of the cascade and rap.
ids until the car was directly under
them and was then too close to get the
best effect, whereas from the opposite
bank the passengers of the Seattle line,
sweeping round fine curve, concave
to the north, were treated to a capital
view not only of the foaming, spray
tossing little cataract and the leaping
rapids back of and above the Big Horn
bridge, but Of the fine bridge itself and
the really magnificent gorge of the
Red Water between the lines. Big
Horn people thought it rough that the
Seattle should so profit by what was
practically their property Some of the
directors advocated boarding up the
whole north side of their steel truss,
thus hiding the sight from Seattle's
4 eyes. But. said others, that would
spoil it for our own patrons besides
making it dangerous for the bridge,
+ for whenever a blizzard did sweep
from the north-a rare occurrence near
Brentwood - it came for all it was
worth down that selfsame crosscut
gulch and beat in fury against the
bridge at its foot. The massive stone
piers were of double strength and the
stanch truss of tempered steel, that
would stand any vertical strain the
possibilities of railroading could heap
upon it, had twice been perceptibly
shifted by this lateral pressure. 1t
was for this reason that a siding had
been let into the bank for a quarter of
u mile west of the bridge and train
of flat cars. heavily laden with railway
iron, was kept there until certain guys
and anchors could be made and set and
the bridge stiffened laterally-a long
operation. The object was to run those
cars out on the bridge, set the brakes
and by this vast increase Of weight so
add to its stability as to bid defiance
when the elements threatened. The re-
pairs had been made and that auXili-
airy train removed before the manage
ment was. called on to resist a storm
of far greater magnitude and very diff
ferent character. But the siding was
still there. ut may come in handy
some day" said the division superin-
tendent, and the day appeared to have
come. Old hands minded them of that
4
loaded up" The American is never
satisfied with the powers of his own
} yerbs-to add to load, to open, to sad
} die and others of that ilk. He must, as
he conceiyes, strengthen each by the
superposition of up" despite the fact
that when correctly done there is no
difference in the result Of adding up or
, adding down. The schoolboy still talks
: of adding UP a column, the section boss
, "loads up his teams. the railway
"opens up the new region, the trooper
7 saddles up his steed. and the news
: paper sanctions and follows the exam
pie. Old hands knew it wouldn't do to
I, hinder the mail trains. so the bridge
r was not destroyed or even blocked
2 against them, but on the rumor that
9 troops were coming conservative fell
4 lows among the strikers ran those iron
: laden cars down grade to the siding
? and there held them in readiness to be
i showed out on the bridge the moment
it was known the dreaded train had
Y started from Gunnison, 20 miles to the
n east. One by one the heavy cars were
o then showed across the bridge until the
: east approach and the span itself Were
covered. Then the more determined
e took things in their hands, also picks
e crowbars and shovels, and SO under
:. mined the track at point some q
r yards west of the bridge foundation
that, should the troops succeed il
II reaching the bridge and then attemp
It to move the obstructing fats westward
e out of the way, their weight would
d break through the weakened roadbet
$, and pile up a barricade of tangled rail-
n and ruined fiat cars that, without dam
q age to either engine or troop train
e would effectually block their passage
st since men and tools and the wreckin:
e train would be needed to clear tn
e. track, and as matters stood on thi
~ LOlu VI 1NONellDGl luSSS WelS hoL u
IS be had.
er And now at 4:3O in the wintry gloam
a ing silent save for occasional muttel
he ing shivering bit from mingled coll
e and excitement, q hundred or more o
rs the hands, backed by twice their mum
u Der of "toughs'' and tramps, were gath
a. cred about the bluffs at Bridge siding
'i- listening with all their ears for tn
IL first sound of the coming train. Th
+. rush of the Red Water over its rock
e. bed in the gorge below was the onl
Of sound that steadily bore upon the eal
III Some few Of the men, painting not a Ii
I'd tie. were laboring up the steep wit
he hats or hands full of rocks. Over 0
", the opposite--:he southern-shore til
e. concave curve of the Seattle was line
a for third of mile with sympathi;
re ing operatives of the rival road, an
T. for Il time shouts of encouragement t
er each other and defiance to the manage
Of ment had echoed from bank to banl