Mower County transcript., 1904-05-18
CHAPTER, Xxx.

~ money received for this had, all
bSeni turned back INTO the Com1ppany's .
funds. I From al single camp Of twenty
five men the concern had Increased to
six large; we'll, eqpipped; communities lll1
Of so to 100 men apiece, using nearly
200 horses and hauling as far as eight
or nine miles. 49,. v e. "a. = : ,r, q, j..
Near the port stood a mammoth saw
mill capable of taking care Of 22OO0,-
COO feet year, about which lumber
town had sprung up. Besides its orig
NAL holding the company had acquired
about 150,O0O,OOO more back near the
headwaters of the Ossawinamakee.
During the four years in which the
Morrison & DAILY company shared the
stream with Thorpe the two firms
lived in complete amity and under.
standing. Northrop had played his
cards skillfully. The older capitalists
had withdrawn suit. Afterward they
kept scrupulously within their rights
and saw to it that no more careless
openings were left for Thorpe's
shrewdness.
And as the younger man on his side
never attempted to overstep his own
rights the interests of the rival firms
rarely clashed. AS to the few disputes
that did arise Thorpe found Mr.. DAILY
singularly anxious to please. In the
desire was no friendliness, however.
Thorpe was watchful for treachery
and could haSdly believe the affair
finished when at the end Of the fourth
year the NJ. & D. transferred it's op-
erations to another stream a few miles
east
"They're altogether too confounded
anxious to help us on that freight,
Wallace" said Thorpe, wrinkling his
brow uneasily. Il don't like it. 1t
isn't natural"
Thorpe's Camp One was celebrated
in three states. Thorpe had set out to
gather around him a band of good
woodsmcn. Except on pinch he
would employ no others.
Il don't care if l get in only 1000
feet this winter, and if boy does
that" he answered Shearers expostu-
lations, its got to be a good boy"
The result Of his policy began to show
even in the second year. Men were
little proud to say that they had put in
a winter at ''Thorpe's One" Those who
had worked there during the first year
were loyalty enthusiastic. AS they were
authorities others perforce had to ac-
cept the dictum. There grew Il desire
among the better class to see what
'"Thorpe's One" might be like. In the
autumn Harry had more applicants
than he knew what to do with. Eight
cen of the old men returned. He took
them ALL but when it came to distribu-
tion three found themselves assigned
to one or the other of the new camps.
And quietly the rumor gained that
these three had shown the least willing
spirit during the previous winter.
Tim Shearer was foreman of Camp
One, ScOtty Parsons was drafted from
the veterans to take charge of Two,
Thorpe engaged two men known to
Tim to boss Three and -Four, but in Sc
lecting the ''push'' for Five he sought
~AI ooAAA AAttuNuy ~
accept the commission.
"You can do it, John," said he, "anl l
know it. want you to try, and if you
don't make her 60 I'll call it nobody's
fault but my own"
The result proved his sagacity. Rad
way was one of the best foremen in the
outfit. He got more out Of his men, he
rose better to emergencies, and he ac-
c0mplished more with the same re-
sources than any of the others except
ing Tim Shearer. AS long as the work
was done for some one else he was ca
pable and efficient. Only when he was
called upon to demand on his own ac-
count did the paralyzing shyness affect
him.
But the one feature that did more to
attract the very best element among
woodsmen was Camp One. Old woods
men will still tell you about it, with a
longing reminiscent glimmer in the
corners of their eyes as they recall it's
glories and the men who worked in it.
10 have "put in'' winter in Camp
one was the mark of a master and the
ambition of every raw recruit to the
forest.
But Camp One was a privilege. A
man entered it only after having
proved himself; he remained in it only
as long us his efficiency deserved the
honor Its members were invariably
recruited from one OF the other four
camps, never from applicants who had
not been in Thorpe's employ.
So Shearer was foreman Of a picked
crew. Probably no finer body of men
was ever gathered at one camp. Some
OK them had the reputation of being
the hardest citizens in three states;
1thers were mild as turtletloves. They
were all pioneers. They had the indie
pendence, the unabashed eye, the in
SuDordination even, of the man who
has drawn his intellectual and moral
nourshment at the blHast of Il wild
nature. They We're afraid of nothing
alive. From no one, We're he chore lboy
or president, would they. take Il single
word, with the exception always OF.
Fin Shearer and Thorpe. 2s .55:S 3.55S
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