Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-05-18

vi cD' fhie was TSd5OndDiy Tree IrOI
superfiuous mules.
Barker kept them hard at 1t unit
midnight Saturday, and with the frs
hour Of Sunday came the blessed Ger
tainty that the Champlin Mills orde
could start on time.
That morning on every hand waite
was running, snow disappearing; tn,
ground was an ooze Little Feather
chatter had swelled to a faint roar.
Through the afternoon the shipper.
pulled and tugged; the string OF cars
was loaded at last, and the machinery
or the first lot had been settled for Its
/ eastward ride. Twilight came and a
warm drizzle Of rain set in
Toward eight O'Clock. Casey and bis
fireman pulled out slowly. and long
sigh OF relief rose. The days work was
done; the men began to scatter.
Then, abruptly. there came from the
west dull booming, a heavy subdued
noise. as of muffled thunder.
Barker hurried into the works and
through to the opposite side. He
opened window and thrust his head
out into the rain, seeking to penetrate
the darkness toward the brook; he
could see nothing; but very distinctly,
very Enthusiastically, through the gloom
came to his ears the gathering, clam
oring roar OF record breaking fresh
etl
Would 1t get to the tracks? Barker
bit his lips. Pshawl 1t couldn't! He
understood little Of railroading, and
1t did seem risky. having the rails so
near the brook; and they had squeezed
every penny that went into the road.
But the engineers must have known
their business; the tracks were safe
enough.
Ald then came his answer, emphatic |
and final. Out In the yards, rising
family above the voice of Little Feath-
er. startled shouts were audible, the
heavy putting of locomotive, a thud,
scream OF escaping steam. Casey
left by one door, his fireman by the
other Another roar, as water found
he fire-box, great crashing splash
hen silence. The rails had spread, and
he road was efrectually out of COM
mission now.
Engineers came at dawn. The driz-
lie OF the night had settled to steady,
oaking downpour when their buck
'oard drew up beside the Greer-M Merrill
works.
They went with Barker and looked
'ver the disaster. A quarter-mile or
more had Little Feather taken to the
racks; it whirled along cheerily, the
rons boot-deep below the surface.
hey prodded at the submerged rails
nd smiled dryly.
The private spur was wreck!
Could they repair it Immediately? In
week, perhaps, or a month.
The proposition was absolutely, ut
erly unfeasible; the fact that Greer
terrills shipments positively must go
ut aid not alter that a particle. The
cry best one could hope for was some
pot down the line, where a temporary
latform could be knocked together
nd cars run In from Broadbury to
Ike aboard the Champlin Mills ma
ninery.
They found that spot five miles be- !
w the works, and Barker, with
gh, half relief, half anger, accepted 9
lie situation. 1t meant at least a ,
iy's delay, for he would have to drag =
1t the discarded trucks and beg, buy, 3
PROV or steal mules to haul them
hich meant more expense. r
Naturally. he came face to face with
q mule problem. Barker sent for half 9.
dozen of his minor executives and
structed them to sally forth and
ther such mules and work horses
re things in that locality-as might
obtained, on any terms. u
One of the six was Abner Green, and n
they filed out Barker detained him. e
" Er-Green. The superintendent h
apped his fingers impatiently. 'See So
re. somebody OF other said that r.
i've got two or three mules" OF
Few" o'
'Ali right. We want to hire 'em. al
wv many are there?" L
ADner braced himself
'Sixty-cne, sir" CT
Hey? How many. Green?" Bar W
RS chair whirled about SC
'Sixty-one" -
'Slxty-one mules?" III
Yes. sir"
Six Barker stopped and shrugged
shoulders. We'll, it's rather ~
ppy chance. Green. although l didn't ~ ~
DIV you hal gone in for mule -
lching. How much do you want to Vi
e them out by the day."
IL amt anxious to hire 'em, Mr..
rker They're for sale" n,
For sale. Ell? Well-how much for Of
lot. them" %,
II rec Thousand dollars y