davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

train had his camera swapping at the
ram. The town, gathered in single
great mob. looked silently on, and lis
tened to the frosty notes of the SKY
scrapers as they went through their
preliminary maneuvers. Just as the
final word was given by Sankey, In
charge, the sun burst through the
feecy clouds and a wild cheer followed
the ram out Of the western yard-it
was good luck to see the sun again.
Little Neeta, up on the hill. must
have seen them as they pulled out;
surely she heard the choppy, icebitten
screech of the 566; that was never for
gotten, whether the service was spe-
cial or regular Besides, the head cab
of the ram carried this time not only
George Sinclair, but her father as We'll
Sankay could handle a slicebar as well
as z punch, and rode on the head en-
gine. where, if anything. the big
chances hovered. What he was not
capable of in the train service we never
knew. because he was stronger than
any emergency that ever confronted
him.
Buckng snow is principally brute
force: there is little coaxing. Just west
of the bluffs, like code signals between
a feet of cruisers, there was volley
of sharp footing. and in minute the
four ponderous engines. two of them
throats bursting, steamed wildly into
the canyon.
Six hundred feet from the first cut
Sincalir's whistle signaled again,
Burns and Cameron and Kennedy an
swered and then, literally turning the
monster ram loose against the dazzling
mountain, the crews settled themselves
for a shock.
At such a moment there is nothing
eternity is too close to consider. There
comes a muffed drumming on the
steam chest-a stagger and a terrthc
impact-and then the recon like the
stroke of triphammer. The snow
shoots into the air fifty feet, and the
wind carries cloud OF heecy confu-
sion over the ram and out or the cut
The cabs were buried In white and the
great steel frames of the engines
sprung like knitting needles under the
frightful blow.
Pausing for hardly a breath the sig
Mailing again began. Then the backing,
I'D and up and up the line, and again
the massive machines were hurled
screaming into the cut.
You're getting there, George, ex-
claimed Sankey when the rolling and
lurching had stopped. No one else
could tell a thing about 1t, for 1t was
snow and snow and snow, above and
behind, and ahead and beneath. Sin
clair coughed the fakes out OF his
eyes and nose and mouth like baffied
collie. He looked doubtful Of the claim
until the mist had blown clear and the
ouivering monsters were again recalled
for a dash. Then II was plain that
Sankey's instinct was right; they were
gaining.
Again they went IN. lifting q very
avalanche over the stacks, packing the
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

paying compliments-when George
pulled into town on No. 2, If it was
Sankey's train, the big skyscraper
would give a short, hoarse scream. a
most peculiar note, just as they drew
past Sankey's house, which stood on
the brow Of the hill west Of the yards.
Then Neeta would know that No. 2
and her father and, naturally, Mr.. Sin
clair were in again and all was safe
and sound.
When the railway trainmen held
their division fair at McCloud there
was a lantern to be voted to the most
popular CONDUCTOR gold-plated Ian
tern with a green curtain in the globe.
Cal Stewart and Ben Doton, who were
very swell conductors, and great rivals,
were the favorites and had the town
divided over their chances for winning
IL.
But during the last moments George
Sinclair stepped up to the booth and
cast a storm of votes for old man San
key. Doton's friends and Stewards
votes kept pouring in amazingly. The
favorites grew frightened; they pooled
their issues by throwing Stewards vote
10 Doton; but it wouldn't do. George
Sinclair, with a crowd of engineers
Cameron, Moore. Foley, Bat Mullen
and Burns-came back at them with
up they fairly swamped Doton. San
key took the lantern by thousand
votes, but I understood 1t cost George
and his friends a pot of money.
Sanaxey said all the time he didn't
want the lantern, but, just the same,
he always carried that particular Ian
tern, with his full name, y Sylvester
Sankey, ground into the glass just be-
low the green mantle. Pretty soon,
Neeta being Is, IT was rumored that
Sinclair was engaged to Miss Sankey-
was going to marry her. And marry
her he did, though that was not until
after the wreck in the Blackwood
gorge, the time Of the big snow.
1t goes yet by just that name on the
West End, for never was such a win
ter and such a snow known on the
plains and in the mountains. One
train on the northern division was
stalled six weeks that winter and one
whole coach was chopped UP for kind
ling wood.
But the great and desperate effort
Of the company was to hold open the
main line. the artery which connected
the two coasts. 1t was a hard winter
on trainmen. Week after week the
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

banks Of the cut with walls hard a.
ice. Again a. the drivers stuck they
raced In frenzy, and into the shrek
OF the wind went the unearthly scrape
of the overloaded safeties.
Slowly and sullenly the machines
were backed again.
shes doing the work, George"
cried Sankey. For that kind OF cut
she's as good as a rotary. Look every
thing over now while / go back and
see how the boys are standing 1t.
Then well give her one more, and give
1t the hardest kind"
And they did give her one more
and another. Men at Santiago put up
no stouter fight than they that made
that Sunday morning In the canyon OF
the Blackwood. Once and twice more
they went in. And the second time
the humping drummed more, deeply;
the drivers held. pushed, painted and
gained against the white wall-heaved
and stumbled ahead-and with a yell
from Sinclair and Sankey and the fire.
man, the double-header shot her nose
into the clear over the Blackwood
gorge. As engine after engine flew
past the divided walls each cab took
up the cry-it was the widest shout
that ever crowned victory.
Through they went and halfway
across the bridge before they could
check their monster catapult. Then
at q half-full they shot IT back at the
cut-it worked as we'll one way as the
other.
The thing is done" declared San
key. Then they got into position in
the line for a final shoot tozelose the
eastern cut and get head for a dash
across the bridge into the west end
OF the canyon, where lay another
mountain OF snow TO split
Look the machines over close,
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

snow kept falling and blowing. The
trick was not to clear the line, it was
to keep it clear. Every day we sent
out trains with the fear we should not
see them again for a week.
Freight we didn't pretend to move;
local passenger business had to be
abandoned. Coal, to keep our engines
and our towns supplied, we were
Obliged to carry, and after that all
the brains and the muscle and the mo-
tive power were centered on keeping
! and 2, our through passenger trains,
running.
Our trainmen worked like Ameri-
cans; there were no towards on our
rolls. But after too long a strain
men become exhausted, benumbed,
Indifferent, reckless even. The nerves
give out and will power seems to halt
on indecision, but decision is the life
Of the fast train.
None of our conductors stood the
hopeless fight like Sankey. Sankey
was patient, taciturn, untiring and, in
a conflict with the elements, ferocious.
All the fighting blood of his ancestors
seemed to course again in the struggle
with the winter king. ! can see him
yet, on bitter days, standing along
side the track, in a heavy peajacket
and Napoleon boots. a sealskin cap
hair, watching, ordering, signaling,
while No. 1, with its frost bitten sleep
ers behind rotary, struggled to buck
through the ten and twenty foot cuts,
which lay bankful OF snow west of
McCloud.
Not until April did It begin to look
as II we should win out. A dozen times
the line was all but choked on us. And
then, when snow plows were disabled
and train crews desperate, there came
a storm that discounted the worst bliz-
zard Of the winter. AS the reports
rolled in on the morning Of the 5th,
growing worse as they grew thicker,
Neighbor, dragged out, played out men
tally and physically, threw up his
hands. The 9Th II showed all day, and
on Saturday morning the section men
reported thirty feet In the Blackwood
Canyon.
It was O'Clock when ws got the
word, and daylight before we got the
rotary against It. They bucked away
till noon with discouraging results, and
came In with their gear smashed and
a driving rod fractured. It looked as II
we were beaten.
No. got into McCloud eighteen hours
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

late; it was Sankey's and Sinclair's
run west.
There was a long council in the
roundhouse. The rotary was knocked
out; coal was running low in the
chutes. If the line wasn't kept open
for the coal from the mountains it was
plain we should be tied until we could
ship 1t from Iowa or Missouri. West
OF Medicine Pole there was another big
rotary working east, with plenty OF
coal behind her, but she YVES reported
stuck fast in the Cheyenne Hills
Foley made suggestions, and Dad
Sinclair made suggestions. Everybody
had suggestion left. The trouble was,
Neighbor said, they didn't amount to
anything or were impossible.
It's a dead block, boys" announced
Neighbor, sullenly. after everybody had
done. We are beaten unless we can
get No. through to-day. Look there.
By the holy poker is showing again!"
The air was dark in a minute with
whirling clouds. Men turned to the
felt the same--at least all but one. San
key, sitting back of the stove. was
making tracings on his overalls with a
piece Of chalk.
You might as we'll unload your pas
sengers, Sankey," said Neighbor
You'll never get 'em through this
winter"
And it was then that Sankey pro-
posed his double-header.
He devised a snowplow that combined
in one monster ram about all the good
material we had left, and submitted the
scheme to Neighbor. Neighbor studied
IL and hacked at 1t all he could and
brought it over to the office. 1t was
like stalking everything on the last cast
tn al
of mind which precedes a desperate
venture. 1t was talked over for an
hour. and orders were finally given by
the Superintendent to rig up the double
header and get against the snow as
quick as it could be made ready.
All that day and most of the night
Neighbor worked twenty men on San
keys device. By Sunday morning 1t
was in such shape that we began to
take heart.
"If she don't get through she'll get
back again. and that's what most Of
'em don't do" growled Neighbor, az
he and Sankey showed the new ram
to the engineers.
They had taken the bss. George SIN
clair's engine, for one head and Burns
4s7 for the other. Behind these were
Kennedy with the s14 and Cameron
with the 2s6. The engines were set In
pairs. headed each way, and buckled
up like packmules. Over the pilots and
stacks Of the head engines rose the
tremendous piows, which were to tackle
the toughest drifts ever recorded, before
or since, on the West End. The ram
was designed to work both ways. I'm
der the coal each tender was loaded
with pigiron.
The beleaguered passengers on No.
1, sidetracked in the yards, watched
the preparations Sankey was making
to clear the line. Every amateur on the
The San Francisco call., 1904-06-12

y o vegetate in a delightful cli-
mate. whose hottest sunbeams
are cooled by breezes blown
from Andean snow fields, ex-
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26
OREGON ITEMS.

Commencing on the 28th of this
month two day shoot will be held at
Elgin.
The state convention of the Oregon
Christian Endeavor society was held
In Pendleton.
Frank, the 4 year old son Of Alfred
Friedley, a farmer Of Pespain gulch,
tell from his fathers wagon and sus-
tanned badly crushed skull. a wheel
passing over his head. Chances for
recovery are slight.
Mrs. Nancy Hughey, formerly Of
Portland, died at Priest River. Idaho,
recently, or Bright's Disease Of the
kidneys. She was 76 years old. Two
daughters and brother survive her.
She was one of the pioneers CT the
Pacific coast, having come across the
plains in 1852.
Secretary HALEY Of the school board
of the Pendleton district, who is TAX
ing the census for 1904, will complete
his work by the end Of this week. He
ssys that the number of children Of
school age will be over 100.
The face value of cash debts with
out interest and the Endorsed notes AM
papers so far obtained from the finan
cial wreck left by c. B. Wade, former
cashier of Senator Ankeny's First Ma
tional bank at Pendleton, amount tt
s4O7 .4S2.62.
C. ]. Martin, county treasurer Of
Grant county, was fouid dead in hi!
Office in the county court house a
CANYON City. On the floor beside hin
lay revolver, and bullet hole in the
head furnished mute evidence of {
single handed tragedy. On his desl
Martin left note explaining the mo
tive for his rash act. According to thu
note the treasurer was unable to &C
count for a number of warrants draw
on the county treasury.
The Portland wooden mills, located
at Sellwood, suburb Of Portland
have been totally destroyed by fire
The plant was worth about 100000
and had an $4,000 stock on hand, o
which probably $4,000 was saved
The insurance is 100000. The fir
started in the rapidly revolving "miN
or" from a spark caused by the intro
auction of some foreign substance
which communicated to the highly II
eommable material with which the ma
.hire is surrounded. The mill employ
"a about $50 hands. The plant is t
be rebuilt
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26
CRU|SERCOLUMB|A |NACT|ON
IT AND TRAINING SHIP HART
FORD lombard DuRATi.
Fort Occupied by insurgents OF San
Domingo Engaged With In Two
Days Battle-victory for Yankee
Tars-Siege has Been Raised and
Insurgents Fled.
A belated dispatch from Coptain J

A belated dispatch from Coptain ]
M. Miller of the cruiser Columbia
which, with the Newark, is in San Do
mingo waters, brings official conlirma
ton of the Associated Press dispatch
regarding the bombardment Of the in
surgents by the war vessels, of po
sition near the capital city. the land
ing of marines and bluejackets to pun
ish revoluiionists and their subsequent
decentralization.
According to Captain Miller's dis
patch the affair occurred on river
about two miles from Santo Domingo
presumably at Pajario, the place men
toned in the press dispatches as the
locality of the bombardment. The in
surgents, who were stationed on the
mainland, fired on United States
merchant vessel, believed to be the
New York, which was lying In the riv
er. The shots fell SO dangerously near
the war vessels that the acts Of the
insurgents were construed by Captain
Miller as an attack on the vessels, and
a battery fire was opened on the revo
lutionists. This was followed up by
the debarkation of 400 marines and
bluejackets from the Columbia and
the Newark, who made a successful
landing ashore. They dislodged the
insurgents from their positions and
chased them into the country. After
accomplishing this the marines and
bluejackets took again to their boats
and returned to their ships.
Only One Man injured.
One man, a bugler named Painter,
was seriously wounded by the acciden-
tai explosion of his firing piece. There
were no other casualties. Close atten-
ton is being given by administration
officers to affairs in San Domingo. A
number of warships are being kept In
the waters Of that country SO that
American interests may be protected
In case Of trouble between the govern.
ment and the insurgents. Forcible in
reference in the affairs Of the country.
however, have been avoided up to this
time, SO far as news received by the
department Is concerned.
From Powell.
Minister Powell cables:
"A decisive battle has been fought
between the government forces and
the insurgents. 1t extended over two
days and resulted in 4 victory for the
government. The siege has been raised
and the insurgents are In retreat"
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26

1t is stated that hundreds of lives
have been lost by the bursting Of dam
in the Huanghoo river in China. Sew
eral villages We're destroyed.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26

The sign OF the dollar is the one
most sought by this sinful generation.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26
Gen. Miles on the War.

One of the most important elements
of war is the lines Of communication
or the avenues from the base of an
army to the army in the field. 1t Is
considered that where an army has
to leave its own country and every
tuing has to be transported by water,
especially If the distance is great, it is
placed at great disadvantage.
The problem at present in the far
east has some Of the same conditions,
yet the main features are of quite a
different character. Japan has but n
narrow body of water to cross. and ii
she were absolutely mistress of the
seas she could put 100000 men in
Korea or Manchuria under cover of
her sea guns. but that little word eff
very often comes in as quite factor
on movements of such great import
ance. The conditions are in some re-
Spects the reverse Of those prevailing
Turing the Crimean campaign. There
Russia was acting on interior lines
md her prancipal opponents had to
| move their forces for long distance
Oy sea.
Now her opponent, Japan, is acting
IN very short line or communication,
nut constantly in jeopardy so long as
he Russian navy or any part Of it re.
mains formidable.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26

1t is better 10 give evidence Of sal.
walton than to be able to understand
it,
A good deal of laziness Of mind is
called liberality Of opinion.
Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-26

The modern pharisee knows enough
to adopt the publican's prayer.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-11
MR.. cnEvEnAND's TRIBUTE.

Former President Grover Cleveland
was deeply moved when he learned of
Mr.. Whitney's death. To an Associat-
ed Press representative he said
"The news of Mr.. Whitney s death
has greatly shocked me. AS | think Of
him my mind, passing beyond recent
years, dwells upon the days of my asso-
citation with with in high official dnty,
and recalls the time when had the opl
portunity to enjoy his upreserved inti-
macy and friendly companionship. Our
relations have never changed, but the
exigencies Of life have forbidden recent
close intercourse.
"Mr. Whitney had more calm, force
full efficiency than any man ! ever knew
In work that interested him he actually
seemed TO court difficulties and to fnG
pleasure and exhilaration in overcom
ing them. His conquest over the OBJ
stacles he encountered in undertaking
to build mp our navy afforded hin
greater delight than the contemplation
Of the great results he achieved in hi
department of the government. Hi
judgment was quick, clear and aston
ishingly accurate; and, when it wa
called into action, his mental poise wa
so complete that neither passion no
irritation could lead ii astrpy.
"While remember all this with ad
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-11
Not taLuxury.


(From the Salem, Oregon, Sentinel.)
About twenty years ago persons who
were privileged TO hear Edison's Hrst
crude photograph thought II q wonder.
iul thing, but little did they dream that
these machines in improved and per-
fected form would within aiew years
beszailable to1eyery home. Then the
records were made on tin foil and it
was impossible to preserve them. Later
the recording was. done on wax and by
delicate handling the records were good
for considerable service. Today the
records are perfect, being nodded from
hard wax. With proper handling they
will last for years. The Columbia
Phonograph Co. is turning ont first.
class graphophones SO cheap that nc
family can afford to do without the
pleasure and satisfaction Of owning
one. The writer has had one in hil
family three years and looks upon it Al
o necessity rather than q luxury.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-11
r. K. B.

f. ls5. . - ~
We heard man say the other morn
ing that the abbreviation for February
Feb. -means freeze every body, and
that man looked frozen in his ulster. II
was apparent chat be needed the kind
Of warmth that stays, the warmth that
reaches from head 10 foot, all over the
body. We could have told him from
personal hnowledge that Hoods Sarsa-
parilla gives permanent warmth, it in
vigorates the blood and speeds IL along
through artery and vein, and really fits
men and women, boys and girls, to en-
JOY cold weather and resist the attacks
Of disease. II gives the right kind Of
warmth, stimulates and strengthens al
the Same time, and ell its benefits are
lasting. There raay be suggestion in
this for you.
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-11
i REMARKABLY MAN.

Senator German, who was closely as
sociated in political affairs with Mr..
Whitney, said
"The death of Mr.. VIM. @. Whitney
is great shock to me, as it would be
to the entire country. II was my good
fortune to know him well. Our acqusin-
tance began in 1888, since which time /
enjoyed as close and warm personal
friendship as is possible to exist be-
tween men.
"Mr. Whitney was a. most remarka-
BILE man-warm-hearted, generous and
with the faculty Of attaching friends to
him such as few possess. He was en-
dowed with rare ability, and in dealing
with public affairs had breadth Of Vi
sion which made him the equal Of any
of bis compeers, no matter how august.
His death is great loss to his friends,
his party and his country"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-11
HarmOn'S Position.

The following letter has been re-
ceived and will be read with great in
terest, particularly in the first congress
sional district;
"Greeneville, Tenn, Feb. 8, 1904.
"Hon. William Rule, editor, ETC.,
Journal and Tribune, Knoxville,
Tenn.
"My Dear Sir-Some time since, one
Of the representatives of your paper
requested Of me an interview, relative
to my future action, in the coming
congressional campaign in this dis
trict, but / declined to give same at
that time, for the reason l thought it
best to wait until matters cooled off
somewhat, and then say what I thought
Of the matter. / now think that that
time has arrived. In view of recent
editorial of one of the papers in the
district, and in justice to myself, /
think I should define my position.
have always been an active republican,
doing what I could for the success of
the party, never having sulked l
think have the best interests of the
party at heart, and feeling this way
about the matter and not desiring to
do anything which in any way might
widen the recent split in our ranks,
desire to state that I will not be can
didate, nor will oppose Mr.. Brown
low; but on the other hand, will sup.
port the nominee of our party, and do
what I can to further its interests, both
in the August and November election.
/ further deem it proper for me to make
this statement at this time, in order
that my friends may know my feelings
in the premises, hoping that all may
be able to get together and thus pre-
sent an undivided front to the common
Opposition in the coming elections
Hoping that this note will be taken by
ell who may chance to see it, in thu
true sense in which it is meant, ant
| that we as party will come out victo
riOus in the coming national, state ant
county elections, am respectfully,
ii "DANA HARMON"
The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-02-11
Should Resign.

The Courier-Journsl Washington
Correspondent says: The honest and
high.minded republicans in the senate
and there are q few Of them left, are
much chagrined over the indictments
against Senators Dietrich and Burton,
the Nebraska and Kansas Senators.
AS 9 leading republican said today:
sits shame, not that they were in
dicted, but that they should have their
seats. What / should have done aud
what they should have done was to re-
sign their sests, 20 home and demand
. vidication, and IL they were proven
innocent LET the governor reappoint
them or he legisla tnre re.elect them
This 10 { only honorable way out fol
an honor able man. Then the accused
woul not only clear his own skirts
but hat Of hiS party"