The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-03
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NV GAINESVILLE we had $50 engineers
- and hremen on the pay roll. One
EEGEEa hundred and seventy-nine of these
49, men walked out. One fireman
just one-stayed with the company; that
was Dad Hamilton
YES" grOwled Dad. combating the pro-
tests Of the strikers committee. II know it.
/ belong to your lodge. But I'll tell you
nOw-an' I've told you afore-I amt gOin'
TO strike on the company so long as Neigh
Dor is master mechanic on this division.
Amt a gOin' TO do it, an you might as
well quit. F you jaw here from now till
Christmas 'twon't change my mind mar a
bit"
And they didn't change it. Through calm
and through storm-and it stOrmed. hard for
a while-Dad Hamilton, whenever we could
supply him with an engineer, fired relig-
iously.
No other man in the service could have
done IT without getting killed; but Dad was
old enough to father any man among the
strikers. Moreover. he was a giant physic-
ally. and eccentric enough to move along
through the heat OF the crisis Indifferent to
the abuse of the other men. His gray hairs
and his tremendous physical strength saved
him from personal violence.
Our master mechanic. Neighbor, was an
ether big man-six feet and an inch in his
stockings, and strong as a drawbar Be
tween NeighbOr and the old fireman there
existed some sort of a bOnd-a liking, an
affinity. Dad Hamilton had fired on our di-
vision ten years. There was no promotion
for Dad; ne could never be an engineer,
though only Neighbor knew why. But his
Job of firing on the river division was sure
as long as Neighbor signed the pay rolls at
the rOundhOuse.
Hence. there was no surprise when the
superintendent offered him an engine, just
after the strike, that Dad refused to take it.
I'm a fireman. and Neighbor knows 1t. 1
amt no engineer. I'll make steam for any
man you put in the cab with me, but 1 won't
touch a throttle for any man. 1 laid it down,
and I'll never pinch it again-an' no offense
{ you. Neighbor, neither"
Thus ended negotiations with Dad on that
subject; threats. entreaties were useless.
Then, too. in spite OF his professed willing
ness to throw coal for any man we put on
his engine, he was continually rowing about
the green runners we gave him. From the
standpoint of a railroad man they were a
tough assortment; for a fellow may be a
good painter. or a handy man with a jack
plane. or an expert machinist. even, and yet
a failure as an engine runner.
After we got hold of Foley. Neighbor put
him on awhile with Dad, and the grizzled
fireman quickly declared that Foley was
the only man on the pay roll who knew how
to move a train.
The little chap proved such a remarkable
find that 1 tried hard to get some of his
Eastern chums to come out and join him.
- "a -
half a dozen more Reading boys for our new
corps OF engine men, but the east-end Off
cials kept all but one Of them on their own
divisions. That one we got because nobody
on the east end wanted him.
They've crimped the whole bunch, Fo-
ley" said 1, answering his inquiries.
There's just one fellow reported here-he
came in on 5 this morning. Neighbor had a
little talk with him, but he doesn't think
much of him. / guess we're out the trans
pOrtatiOn on that fellow"
What's his name?' asked Foley. us he
off the Reading?'
Claims he is; his name is McNeal-'
'McNeal?' echoed Foley. surprised. "Not
George McNeaI?"
nothing but a boy"
Dark complexioned fellow?''
Perhaps you'd call him that; sort of
soft spoken"
"Georgie McNeal. sure's you're born. If
you've got him you've got a bird. He ran
opposite me between New York and Phila-
delphia on the limited. L want to see him
right off. If it's George. you're all right"
FOley's talk went a good ways with me
any time. When 1 told Neighbor about it
he pricked up his ears. While we were de-
batting. in rushed Foley with the young fell
low-the kd-as he called him. Neighbor
made another survey of the ground in short
order-run a new line, as Foley would have
said. The upshot of it was that MeNeal
was assigned to an engine straightway.
AS luck would have it, Neighbor put the
boy on the pa with Dad Hamilton; and
Dad proceeded at once to make what Foley
termed "a great roar
whats the matter?' demanded Neigh
Dor, roughly, when the old fireman COM
planned.
"If you're going to pull these trains with
boys l guess it's time for me to quit; I'm
getting pretty old, anyhow
What's the matter?' growled Neighbor.
still surlier. knowing full well that if the
old fellow had a good reason he would have
blurted 1t out at the start.
"Nothin's the matter; only I'd like my
time"
1870 AOAA ~
ly. Go back on your run. If McNeal don't
behave, report him 20 me, and he'll get his
time"
1t was a favorite trick of Neighbours.
Whenever the old fireman got TO ''bucking''
about his engineer. the master mechanic
Threatened to discharge the engineer. That
settled il; Dad Hamilton wouldn't for the
world be the cause of throwing another
man out of a job. no matter how little he
liked him.
The old fellow went back to work molli-
fed; bet IT was evident that he and McNeal
didn't half get on together. The boy was
not much OF a talker; yet he did his work
well, and NeighbOr said. next TO Foley, he
was the best man we had.
Whats the reason Hamilton and Nc
Neal cant hit ii off. FOley?" L asked one
night.
They'll get along all right after a while, Z"
predicted Foley. You know the old mans
stubborn as a dun mule, amt hep The in
Jectors bother George some; they did me
Hell get used To things. But Dad thinks
he's ~green-that's what's the matter. The
kid is high spirited, and seeing the ole
mans kind OF got 1t in for him he won
ask him anything. Dads sore about that
too. George won't knuckle TO anybody that
don't treat him right"
You'd better tell McNeal To humOr the
old crank" / suggested: and | believe Foley
did SO. but il didn't do any good. Sometimes
those things have TO work themselves out
without outside help. In the end this thing
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