Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1905-01-13
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erations TO another stream 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
woodsinen. Except on pinch he
would employ no others.
Il don't care If get in only 1000
feet this winter. and il boy does
that" he answered Shearer's expOstu-
latiols. "it's got to be 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 ut "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 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-
ton 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
out John Railway and induced him to
accept the commission.
you can do it, John" said he, ''and
know it. l want you to try, and If you
don't make her go 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 &C.
complished 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
longing reminiscent glimmer in the
corners of their eyes as they recall its
glories and the men who worked in 1t.
To have put in a 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 as 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 Tborpes employ.
So Shearer was foreman of picked
crew Probably no finer body of men
was ever gathered at one camp. Some
of them had the reputation of being
the hardest citizens in three states;
others were mild as turtledoves. They
were all pioneers. They had the indie
pendence. the unabashed eye, the in
subordination even. of the man who
has drawn his intellectual and moral
nourishment at the breast of wild
nature. They were afraid of nothing
alive. From no one, were he chOre boy
or president. would they take single
word. with the exception always of
Tim Shearcr and Thorpe.
And they were loyal. 1t was a point
of honor with them to stay until the
last dog was hung" He who deserted
in the hour of need was not only rem
egade but fool, for he thus earned n
magnificent licking if ever he ran up
against member of the Fighting
Forty" A band of soldiers were they.
ready to attempt anything their COM
mander ordered. and. it must be con-
fessed. they were also somewhat on
the order of band of pirates. Mar.
quette thought so each spring after the
drive, when. hat tilted. they surged.
swearing and shouting. down to Den
ny Hogans saloon. Denny had to buy
new fixtures when they went away,
but II was worth il.
Proud, II was no name for It, Boast!
The fame of Camp One spread abroad
over the land. Some people thought
Camp One must be sort of bellhole
of roaring. fighting devils. Others
sighed and made rapid calculations OF
the number of logs they could put in
If only they could get hold Of help like
that.
Thorpe himself Of course. made his
headquarters at Camp One. During
the five years he had never crossed the
strait OF Mackinaw. The rupture with
his sister had made repugnant TO him
all the southern country. All winter
long he was more than busy at his log
giug Summers he spent at the mill.
Occasionally he visited Marquette, but
always on business.
He was happy because he was too
busy to be anything else. The insist
ent need of success which he had Gre