The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-06

H1Gl SMOKY On inc west Ih"'
49, The general superintendent hap
pened to be with US when the news came.
You can't handle it. boys" said he.
nervously. What you'd better do is to
turn II over 10 the Columbian Pacific"
Our contracting freight agent on the coast
at that time was fellow so cratic that ne
was named Crazyhorse. Right in the midst
OF the strike Crazyhorse wired that he had
secured big silk shipment for New York
We were paralyzed.
We had no engineers, no firemen, and no
motive power to speak of. The strikers
were pounding our men, wrecking our
trains. and giving US the worst OF II gen.
orally; that Is, when we couldn't give 1t TO
them. Why the fellow displayed his activ-
ity at that particular juncture still remains
mystery. Perhaps he had a grudge against
the road. II so, he took an artful revenge
Everybody In the system with ordinary
railroad sense knew that our struggle was
20 keep clear of freight business until we
got rid of the trouble. Anything valuable
or perishable was especially unwelcome
But the stuff was locked and loaded and
consigned in our care before We knew It.
After that q refusal to carry 1t would be
like hosting the white flag; and that Is
something which never yet flew on the
West End.
Turn IL over to the Columbian" said the
general superintendent: but the general
SUPERINTENDENT was not looked up to on
our division. He hadn't enough sand. Our
head was a fighter, and he gave tone to
every man under him.
NO" he Numbered, bringing down his
fist, mot in e thousand years! Wen move
IL ourselves Wire Montgomery. the gen.
eraI manager, that we will take care OF it.
And wire him to fire Crazyhorse-and to
do Ii right or" And before the silk was
turned over 10 US Crazyhorse was looking
for another job. 1t is the only case on
record where a freight hustler was dis
charged for getting business.
There were twelve carloads; 1T was In
sured for $4,000 a car. You can inquire no"
far the title is wrong. but you never can
estimate the worry that stuff gave US. II
looked as big as s12,00O0O0 worth. In fact,
one scrub car tInk with the glory of the
West End at heart, had a fight over the
amount with a skeptical hostler. He main
tanned that the actual money value was
Size. 100000: but 1 give you the figures just
as they went over the wire, and they are
right.
What bothered US most was that the
strikers had the tip almost as soon as we
had 1t. Having friends on every road IN
the country, they knew as much about our
business as we ourselves. The minute IL
was announced that we should move the
silk, they were after US. 1t was de-
fiance: a last one. If we could move
freight-for we were already moving pas
sengers after fashion-the strike might
be well accounted beaten
Stewart, the leader Of the local contin-
gent, together with his followers, got after
me at once.
.You don't show much sense, Reed" said
he. You fellows here are breaking your
necks to get things moving and when this
strikes over IL our boys ask for your dis
charge they'll get IT. This road can't run
without our engineers. We are going
TO beat YOU If you dare try to move
this stuff we'll have your scalp when
it's over. You'll never get your silk to
GAINESVILLE, I'll promise you that And If
YOU ditch 1t and make a million-dollar loss
you'll get let out anyway, my buck"
I'm here to obey orders, Stewart" 1 re-
torted What was the use Of more? felt
uncomfortable; but we had determined to
move the silk: there was nothing more to
be said.
When I went over to the roundhouse and
told Neighbcr the decision, he said never
a word but he looked great deal. Neigh
boris task was to supply the motive power.
All that we had, uncrippled. was In the
passenger service. because passengers must
be moyed-must be taken care of first or
ALL In order to win strike you must have
public opinion on your side.
Nevertheless Neighbor," said I, after We
had talked a while, I'VE must move the silly
also"
Neighbor studied: then he roared at h.
foreman:
"Send Bartholomew Mullen here" He
spoke with a decision that made me think
the business was done. 1 had never hap
pened. IL is true, TO hear Of Bartholomew
Mullen in tho department OF motive power;
but the impression the name gave me was
of a monstrous fellow. big as Neighbor, or
old mar Sankey. or Dad Hamilton.
sIn put Bartholomew ahead Of it." NUT
tered Neighbor tightly. A boy walked into
the Office.
Mr. Garten said you wanted to see me-
sir" said he, addressing the master me-
chanic.
at do, Bartholomew" responded Neigh
Dor.
The figure In my minds eye shrunk in
twinkIing. Then it occurred to me that 1t
must be this boys father who was wanted
"You have been begging for q chance to
take out an engine, Bartholomew, began
Neighbor coldly: and knew 1t was on.
EYES, sir"
''You won't to get killed. Bartholomew"
Bartholomew smiled. as IL the idea was
not altogether displeasing.
How would you like to go pilot to-mor-
row for McCurdy? You TO take the A and
run as first Seventy-eight. McCurdy will
run as second Seventy-eight."
~ know / could run an engine all right"
ventured Bartholomew. as IL Neighbor
were the only one taking the chances in
giving him an engine Il know the track
from here to GAINESVILLE. 1 helped McNeff
for one week.
Then go home and go to bed and be here
at O'Clock tomorrow morning. And sleep
sound for IL may be your last chance"
1t was plain that the master mechanic
hated to do 1t; it was simply sheer neces-
sity.
Hes a wiper" unused Neighbor. as