The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-12-28
Oddities ofLife
at It Re Rock Ok Quarry
Many Singular Events Transpire
Where Hundreds Of Men Are
Engaged at Work.

Nello D. Johnson, who has charge of
affairs at the Mayger rock quarry, :
came down Sunday and is to return
tonight. Mr.. johnson reports that op-
erations have been practically suspend
ed at The quarry, and now only about
26 men are at work there. The gov
ernment will not accept any more rock
for some time to come.
Mayer camp life is very interesting,
according to Mr.. Johnson, and many
exciting experiences come to him in
his capacity as company agent there.
When the quarry was being operated
to its full extent several hundred men
were employed. and the vast crowd of
workers represented about all that is
Interesting in life. One of the men
recently employed at Mayer was a
Harvard professor at one stage Of his
career, and his knowledge OF Greek,
Latin, French, German and other lang
uages was surprising indeed to Mr..
johnson. who himself has graduated
from college. The professor had gone
down the line through his inability to
break himself of the morphine habit,
and it was necessary to discharge him
at the quarry because of his threat to
stick knife in a man.
During the fall two crazy men broke
the inonotony of camp life. One was
an elderly man, whose relatives lived
in Portland. He had been placed in
charge If The dining room as head
waiter and the responsibilities turned
mis- mind Finally he ran away from
camp and took to swamp. where
great difficulty was expenienced in cap
turing him. He was finally secured
having been in one of the sloughs, and
| on his return to camp was undressad
and put to bed. When the train came
along the man declined to dress him
| self. One of the men who had been In
the PARTY which captured the crazy
thought of way to induce the unfor-
tunate fellow to put on his clothes, and
it worker very nicely. Suddenly rush
| ing into the crazy's tent, he cried out
that a train had teen wrecked down
the track ana 40 people killed ard
called upon everyone to turn out in
stantly and go to the assistance of the
injured. The crazy jumped from bed,
dressed himself and was placed aboard
the train. He was taken to Portland,
but when ne arrived there he declined
to have anything to do with his rela-
tives, who had been notified of his con-
dition. He was committed to the
asylum, and it found that he had been
there previously.
Another man, a very powerful fellow.
began lcting queerly, and about 4
o'clock one morning went to Mr.. john
sons sleeping quarters and asked him
to let him have some food for one
legged man who was out in the brush.
Mr.. Johnson sent the fellow over to
the watchman's tent, and, receiving lit
tie satisfaction there the man started
to look for the one-legged man. He
visited every tent in the camp, which
was soon in an up: oar. 1t was de-
cided to send him to st, Helens and
turn hin. over TO the civil authorities,
but he refused to leave. He was event.
ually taken to the county seat. how
ever, and while being exercised ond day
by deputy sheriff, made his escape.
The two men had come to a corner, and
the crazy picked up large club.
"You 60 that way AMI I'll SO this way"
ne said, branishing the club in threat
ening manner, and the deputy, being
unarmed, was compelled to do his bid
ding. The crazy started down the. road
and party went in pursuit. He ran
al top speed for five miles, and, seeing
that his pursuers were about to over
take him. jumped into the river and
swan to a small island. Here he built
sort Of fort and when his pursuers
approached threw rocks at them. He
was driven from his fort" aud again
took 10 the water. swimming to another
island. where he again fortified himself,
He was captured after much difficulty,
Many of the men VINO seek employ
ment in the quarries are unfortunates
who have been unable to weather the
storm Of life. They come from the
large cities. where the advertisements
for men are eagerly read. As rule,
the unfortuoates are victims of the
drink or "dope" habit. Some of the
men are steady fellows, who do their
work we'll, and with whom the man
agement has no trouble.