The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1906-03-31

:. coIFAx GRANT PARISH. La. SATURDAY, MARCH 81 1906

about the time the train was passing
me. and so saved their lives.
There were about ak cars total
wrecks. all loaded with lumber ex-
cent ONE. an empty refrigerator.
Now. l come to clearing up the
wreck. and to where ! got my re-
ward for the service 1 had rendered
from start to finish. When the ex-
element had abated, It was twelve
O'Clock noon, the foreman had arrt-
we'd, and was put to work helping |
to clear up wreckage from the track.
I worked until midnight before l got |
a bite to eat. My feet were blistered. |
and I was worn out, but Foreman
Davis sent me to the section house |
for n box containing supper for ak
men beside myself. l carried 1t
mile on my back to my little cabin,
where / proceeded to make coffee Tor
the crew. This was midnight, ana
here got my first bite to eat since
breakfast. After eating l went back
and worked until 3 a. m.. at which
time got hurt by a pulley block OF
about 100 pounds falling ON my LETT
| foot. NV shoes were full OF mud and
water. and l had fever. SO ] rttired
| for the night - went home, washed,
hung up my clothes. went to bed and
slept until morning. went back to
work at 6 q. m. The foreman made
a kick, said he would fire every man
who had gone of to sleep that night,
but asked me to work on until noon.
and then l quit. / met him IN the
evening and he hired me back. and
went ON at night as Waterman Mt
the wreck. Next day l worked all
day ON the wreck, and got my first
nights sleep Tuesday night. Next
day l was sent out with the tie In
epector Wednesday and also work
ed with him Thursday. On Friday l
had orders to work for anextra gang
foreman. don't know his name, his
first name IL Luke.
Now, II was Thursday night that
the lumber for which l am arrested
was taken. That night l took sup
Der at the Central House In Pollock,
. and on the way home l came where
the wreck was. They had = watch
man In charge (don't know his nnme)
and he was burning the debris OF the
. broken cars. One 0f the fires was 30
. near the track 1t set the cross ties on
fire. and sent q boy for 4 bucket,
and worked for an hour throwing
water on the ties to keep them from
burning under the track rail-. After
we had the fire ON the track put out,
+ myself, Mr.. w. N. johnson and Mr.
3 shaw, all neighbour, sat down Tor
: chat. When the foreman In chargt
, of the wreck came up he called the
a watchman and me, and he gave thu
t Waterman his orders for the night
+ sho wed him what to burn and what
!, to save. He told me and the watch
D man that out Of the lumber scatteres
b about the wreck he would give us al
4 of the remnants we wanted after w
n had piled up what he, the foreman
o wanted. He told Mr.. johnson. MI
e Shaw and me, we could have the rest
He wanted it out Of the way when n
d went to load scrap iron. Next "a.
n / carried about twelve pieces oil tw'
II inch lumber away. not that l neeue'
n 1T. but thought 1t too GOOD 10 our
g. up. ] piled 1t up about five feet fror
a the right of way, did not attempt =
d use. (leface or change 1t In anyway
II Thought there would be no NOR
,e to the matter, but on the follOwin
d morning / was arrested, charge
re with stealing lumber. Later, In tn
,r day the detective told me the fumbe
h, was valued ut $40 or $12 Under tt
1t circumstances the plank must I
ne valued at 81 each Total number
e. pieces Is. No. 2, common decking
II Will close. hoping you Will nm
4 space In your good, fair and vaIuab
he paper for this and with q prayer II
III you and yours. that God may bie.
~ you and make you strong IN a q
a. lender of truth and justice. Succe'
to the Chronicle, Its editor and all
a frien,1a. ReaDectfully,
ut ED. w. HOI.NBERG