West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-06-07
tt tt It = ii t. Il

The east and west section men could
run away from them on hand cars. II
was the yardmen who caught Il. and II
grew so bad they couldn't keep a
switchman. About 10 O'Clock ut night.
after No. % had pulled in ana they
We're distributing n train loal OF bridge
timber. swltchman's lantern would
go UP In signal. when-plsi.--a bullet
would knock Tie LAMP cicaa ont of his
hand and the nerve clean oct OF his
head. Handling light IN the Benkle-
ton yard was IKE smoking cellulold
pipe-you never could tell when II
would 20 on.
Cowboys shot away the lamps faster
than acquisitions could be drawn for
new ones. They shot the signals OF
the switches anl the lights from the
tops OF moving trains. Whenever n
brakeman showed nlcker two cow
boys stood waiting TO snuff II. II they
missed the lamp. they winged the
brakeman. II compelled Bucks after
awhile to run trains through Benkle-
ton without showing ever light. This.
though tough, could bc managed. but
to shunt fats In the yard at night with
no light or TO get switchman willing
TO play young Tell TO peg Leg Reynolds
William for any length of time was
impossible. At last Bucks on whom
the worry reflected at headquarters,
sworc he would fight them with fire,
and he sent Shockley. Callahan stin
sat Specializing on what hc would be
up against when Shockley arrived.
The Impression Buckk letter gave
him. knowing Bucks TO be frugal OF
words, was that Shockley would rise
up with cartridges I'm his ears and
bowie knives dangling from his watch
chain To live in fear OF tho cowboys
was one thing. bat 20 1--we In fear of
the cowboys on the enc hand and In
terror Of yardmaster on the other
seemed, all things considered. confus-
ing, particularly II tie new ally got TO
drinking and his fire scattered. Just
then train 80 whistled. Pat Barlie's
corner began to sputtcr it5 salute. Cal
lahan shifted around behind his bomb
proof, lii his powderhorn and. looking
down the line, wondered whether
Shockley might be on that train.
Ii was not till the next night, though,
that tall, thinnish chap. without visl-
bic reasons for alighting. got off 80 and
walked tentatively down the platform.
At the ticket office he asked for the as
sistant superintendent.
"Out there on the platform talking
to the conductor"
The thin fellow emerged and headed
for Callahan. Callahan noticed only
his light springy amble and his hatchet
face
"Mr. Callahan
"Yes."
Bucks sent me up to take the yard" "
whats your nameT
"ShOckley"
step upstairs. I'll be up In min.
ute"
Shockley walked back into the depot,
but he left the copper haired assistant
superintendent uncertain as 10 whether
il was really over. whether Shockley
had actually arrived or not. AS Cal
lahan studied the claimants inoffen-
sive appearance walking away he rath-
er thought II couldn't be over or that
Bucks was mistaken. But Bucks new
er made mistake
Next morning at the new yardmas-
ter took hold. Callahan had intimated
that the night air in the yard. 1t being
low land. was mlasmatic and that
Shockley had maybe better try for
awhile to do his switching I'm the day.
time. Just before the appointed hour
I'm the morning the assistant had look
ed out on his unluclSy yard. He thought
to himself that II that yard didn't drive
man to drink nothing ever would.
Piled shanty high with bewildering
array Of material, st was enough to
take the heart ont Of Denver switch
Ing crew.
While he stood az the window he saw
their plug switch engine that had been
kicked out OF every other yard on the
system wbeezc out Of the roundhouse,
saw the new yardmastcy nlrt his hand
at the engineer aud swing up on the
footboard. but the swjng-lt made Cal
lahan's heart warm 10 hIm. Not tho
| lubborly jump of tho hoboes that bad
worried the lifo out Of him all summer.
wen when the cattlemen didn't bother.
10 was the swing Of the snllor into the
shrouds. Of the Cossack into tie saddle,
Of the yacht into the wind 1t was like
| falling down or falling up or falling on
tile grace or a mastery Il gravitatiOn
that wes Shocklcy's swing on the
footboarl 81 tho ygrd ru2lnc M it shot
snortIng past him.
Hes nll right" mui,Orcd Callahan.
/ II was enough
a man WHO nippcl q tcrf"- IKE that
I was not Ike TO go very w.l even In
tiiat chaos Of rails and lies as.i string
/ crs and coal
Nov" continued Call9han 20 him
self timlGly hopeful. Gf tie cuss only
doesn't get 20 drinking lIc watched
tpprohensivciy Greadlug the first tima
| hc should SEQ him entering Pat Barile's
place but Shockley didn't appear 10
/ know Pat had n place The cowboys,
too watched him. waiting for his lamp
to CLEAN at Night down in the yard.
/ but their patience was strained for q
long time shockiey got al his work
/ done by daylight
/ To the surprise Of Callahan. and
There IS one good thing that tn,
/ AnaDias proceedings over the rail