The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-01-21
STEALING COAL.
EASTERN TOWNsPEoPLE CONFIs-
CATE GOAL FROM PASSING
TRAIN,

| 1hA1Ns
How They did it at Arcola Illinoil
Two Women Whose Bones
Become Brittle and Break
Their Joints Become
Stiff and Movement
is Impossible.
ArcoIa, ILL.,, Jan. 11.-With 6
North Dakota blizzard bowling over
the place at fifty miles an hour
and a drop in temperature of so de-
grees within II hours, the people
of this hustling town of 1000 in.
babitants look upon the confsca.
ton of nine carloads'of coal belong.
ing to the Illinois Central Railroad
Company as providential.
"It was a godsend," declared
Thomas Lyons, president of the
State Bank, "if any one seeks to
make trouble over the theft that
person will be run out of Arcola."
"We needed the coal; peoples
lives were at stake" said S. L.
Woodwork, manager of the Arcola
Electric Light plant, "the fuel was
simply coniscated by those who
had the most urgent use for it. 1t
was paid for, and order was observ-
ed in the summary process follow
ed. We anticipate no legal trouble
over the affair.""
''The railroad company has no
kick coming" asserted William J.
Bradbury, who weighed the coal on
his scales and took. cash, payne mt
for it. .It got rid of a lot of infe
rior stuff at top prices. The money
for every pound taken from the cars
is in nay possession, and will be
turned over to the railroad officials" "
Mr.. Bradbury is member of the
board of education and coal deal
er.
George Wall, barber, was the
first to solve the fuel problem. It
was about 5 o'clock and still dark.
Mounting a car, he threw down
enough chunks to fill wheelbarrow
which he trundled home. He sur
prised his neighbors, and in few
moments dozen figures were in
dustriously at work laying in sup
ply of the precious fuel. The train
crew ordered the marauders, but
they refused to leave. Like wild
fire the news spread that there was
plenty of coal to be had, and that
every one was laying in a supply.
The emergency committee atonce
assumed charge of the distribution.
William Bradbury was installed as
weigher at his scales fifty yards
away. Col. Beggs, formerly on
Gov. Tanners staff, became grand
marshal aud accountant.
stNo one can have more than
ton. A fair distribution must be
made. Every bit of coal must be
weighed on Bradbury's, scales and
the cash paid to me upon delivery"
shouted the colonel to the crowd.
There were cheers Of approval.
The Rev. Edward Beach, pastor
of the Presbyterian church and
past moderator Of the Mattoon
Presbytery ran up.
II want some Of that COAL" he
said. ''The rectory's like a cold
barn."
II join with my colleague" de-
clared the Rev. W. F. Prout, of the
Free Methodist church.
Every one worked with desperate
energy the FIRST few hours. No one
could tell when the engine from
Champaign would arrive and haul
away the precious cargo. Persons
who could not secure teams carried
off all they could get in boxes, bar
rels and baskets, and wheelbarrows
and pushcarts did a thriving bust
ness. All proceeded to. the Brad
bury scales, where <eol. Beggs held
the crowd in line and received pay
ment.
The cars were rapidly being emp
tied. Nearly every man in town
made himself useful in disposing
of the cargo. All morning and af.
ternoon the operations continued
uninterrupted. At six o'clock when
most of the bins in the town had
been supplied, $50 tons had been
nnloaded and delivered. A dealer
figured that it would have taken
one man and team nine weeks to
do the same work, with shifts of
ten hours day. About 8 o'clock
P. M. the engine arrived from
Champaign and hauled the train
away. But Arcola had laid in a
supply OF coal that will last "a week.