The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07


voice like a foghorn. Without an instant's
hesitation the answer came clear:
Say yes"
Everyone of us started. 1t was throwing
the gage of battle. Our word had gone out;
the division was pledged; the fight was on.
The next evening the strikers, through
some mysterious channel. got word that the
Flyer was expected. About o'clock
crowd of them began to gather round the
depot
1t was after I o'clock when No 1 pulled
in, and the foreman of the Omaha round
house swung down from the locomotive
cab. The strikers clustered around the en-
CINE like a swarm of angry bees; but that
night though there was plenty of jeering,
there was no actual violence. When they
saw Neighbor climb into the cab and take
the run west there was a sullen silence.
Next day committee of strikers, with
Andy Cameron, very cavalier, at their head,
called me.
Mr. Reed" he said, officiously, we've
come to notify you not to run any more
trains through here till this strikes set
tied. The boys won't stand for it; that's
ALL With that he turned on his heel to
leave with his following
hand as 1 spoke; that's not quite all. 1
suppose you men represent your grievance
committee?"
Eyes, sir"
"I happen to represent, in the superin-
tendent's absence, the management of this
road. simply say to you and to your COM
mittee that L take my orders from the
president and the general manager; not
That's ALL"
Every hour the bitterness increased. We
got few trains through, but we were ter
ribly crippled. AS for freight we made no
pretense of moving it, Trainloads of fruit
and meat rotted in the yards. The strikers
grew more turbulent daily. They beat our
new men and crippled our locomotives.
Then our troubles with the new men were
almost bad. They burned out our crown
sheets; they got mixed up on orders all the
time. They ran into open switches and into
each other continually, and had us very
near crazy.
L kept tab on one of the new engineers
for week. He began by backing into a
diner so hard that he smashed every dish I'm
the car, and ended by running into a siding
q few days later and setting two tanks of
IL
l figured he cost US $4,000 the week he ran.
Then he went back selling windmills
After this experience I was sitting in NV
Office one evening. when a youngish fellow
in a SLOUGH hat opened the door and stuck
his head in.
What do you want?'' 1 growled.
''Are you Mr.. Reed?"
what do you want?"
"Well what is it?''
"Are you Mr. Reed?'
"Confound you, yes! What do you
want?''
me? I don't want anything. I'm just
asking. that's ALL
His impudence staggered me so that
took my feet off the desk.
Heard you were looking for men" he
added.
Nor 1 snapped at don't want any
men"
Wouldn't be any show to get on an en-
CINE, would there?"
week earlier I should have risen and
fallen on his neck. But there had been
others.
There's a show to get your head broke"
1 suggested.
1 dOn mlnd tnat, III Il get my time.
what do you know about running an en-
gine?"
Run one three years"
'On threshing machine?"
ION the Philadelphia & Reading"
''Who sent you in here?"
Just dropped in
''Sit down."
eyed him sharply as he dropped into a
chair.
when did you quit the Philadelphia &
Reading?"
About six months ago.
"Fired?'
strike"
began to get interested After a few
more questions 1 took him into the super
intendent's office. But at the door thought
it we'll to drop a hint
Look here. my friend. If you're spy
you'd better keep out of this. This man
would wiring your neck as quick as he'd
suck an orange. See?"
Lets tackle him, anyhow" replied the
fellow. cycling me coolly.
introduced him to Mr.. Lancaster. and
left them together. Pretty soon the SUI
perintendent came into my Office.
What do you make of him. Reed?" said
he.
What do you make OF him?"