Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-11-23

divided the force into three shifts and
kept the work going night and day
without cessation. For time the
rapid progress made gave Duncan con-
fdence In his ultimate success. In
that confidence Temple shared, but
with reservation
ppm afraid we're in for a freshet,"
he said. 1.-The rivers are all rising,
and the rain Is almost continuous now.
All this region except hill here and
there lies lower than the flood levels
of the Ohio river on one side and the
Mississippi on the other. If the rise
continues we shall have both rivers on
us within few days"
'Is there any way in which to meet
that difiicultyY asked Duncan anx-
iously.
"Yes, possibly" Temple responded
slowly and hesitatingly. 1--WE might
build crib across the space still to be
filed in and make 1t serve the purpose
OF cofferdam in some degree. By
doing that we can keep the work going
even If the overflow from the rivers
comes upon us. But the building OF
the crib will take time, and we've no
time to waste. you know"
Yes, know that. Still, II 1t be-
comes necessary we must build it. I'll
tell you this evening what Is to be
| DONE"
For convenience and quickness OF
communication Duncan had strung
| telegraph wire from tree to tree
through the woods to the point where
the work was in progress. He instant
ly telegraphcd Hallam. saying:
Find out and telegraph food prospect.
How long before the rise in rivers will
drown us out here? Everything depends
on early and accurate information as to
that.
The answer came back within half
an hour. Hallam telegraphed:
Have already made Geographic inquiries
at all points on all the rivers. Reports
very dscouraging. Probability is you'll
be flooded within three days. I'll be with
you tomorrow.
The space to be cribbed, SO that the
work of filling might go on in spite Of
floods, was comparatively small, but
the task of cribbing it, even in the rud-
est fashion, occupied nearly the whole
working force during three precious
DAYS and nights Worse still. In order
to hurry 1t Temple made the mistake
of working the men overtime. AS an
inducement Hallam promised to In
crease the double wage per hour,
which the men were already receiving,
| to triple wages on condition that they
should work in two instead Of three
shifts. AS the work was exhausting In
its nature and must be done under
deluge of bone chilling rain. this over
tasking of the men quickly showed IT.
self in their loss of energy and cour-
age. Some of them threw up the en-
ployment and made their way home
ward. All Of them were suffering and
discouraged. But at the end of the
three days the rude crib was so far
finished that even should the floods
come 1t would still be possible to con-
tinue the work Of filling in by running
the dirt cars to the slowly advancing
end of the temporary track and drop
ping their contents into the crib.
Thus the work went slowly on. The
men daily showed more and more the
effects Of their overwork, for each was
working for twelve hours OF each
twenty-four now. They grew sullen
and moody of mind and slow OF move
ment and of response. Every day
few more Of them gave up the task,
and Duncan began seriously to fear
that a wholesale quitting would occur
in spite of the enormous wages he was
paying.
With his soldier experience he knew
the symptoms Of Generalization from
overstrain, and he began now to recog-
nize them in the conduct and c0unte-
nances Of the men. His soldier life
had taught him also how large part
feeding plays in such case as this.
He therefore minutely inspected the
out of door mess kitchen and found 1t
in charge of careless and incompetent
negro women who knew neither how to
cook nor how to make food attractive
in appearance.
1.-THE men eat a good DEAL" he said
to Temple, "but they are not properly
nourished. l must remedy that. We
simply must win this struggle, Dick,
and we've only six days more. II we
can keep the men at work for six days
and nights more We'll either finish or
finally fail"
It was Duncan's habit every even
ing to call up Barbara's house on the
telegraph and hold little conversation
with her over the wire. She. was thus
kept minutely informed Of how mat
tiers were going with him, and she was
we'll nigh sleepless with anxiety lest
he fail in this browning undertaking.
Turning away from Temple, he went
to the telegraph instrument, opened
the circuit and called Barbara. He ex-
planned his new difficulty to her and
the vital Importance of providing bet
ter cooked and more abundant food.
The men have been living on mess pork
and "salt horse for weeks, and both the
meat and half baked dough served to
them for bread are enough to break the
spirit even of veteran soldiers. Now
want your help In earnest. II we can
keep the men at work for six days more.
we shall have chance at least OF sue
cess. If we can't, failure is inevitable.
want YOU to buy lot of the best fresh
provisions you can get In Cairo and seno
them here early tomorrow morning In
charge of somebody who knows how to
hustle Send one of my bank clerks II
you can't do better. Send some molasses'
too-in kegs. not barrels; barrels take TOO
long to handle. Send eggs, butter, rice
macaroni, onions, turnips, cheese and'
above all, some really good coffee.
Then, IL possible, I want you to SEND