The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-21

an 1nStanfa hesitation the answer came
clear:
''Say 'yesp"
Every one of us started. It was
throwing the gage of battle. Our word
had gone out; the division was pledged:
the fight was on.
Next evening the strikers through
some mysterious channel got word that
the fier was expected. About 8 o'clock
a crowd of them began to gather round
the depot.
It was after 1 o'clock when No. /
pulled In, and the foreman of the Oma-
ha roundhouse swung down from the
locomotive cab. The strikers clustered
around the engine like swarm of an
CRY bees, but that night, though there
as plenty of Jeering, there was no
actual violence. When they saw
Neighbor climb into the cab to take
the run west there was a sullen ST.
lence.
Next day a committee of strikers.
with Al " Cameron, very cavalier, at
their head, called on me.
Mr. Reed" said he od1ciously.
we've come to notify you not to run
any more trains through here till this
strikes settled. The boys won't stand
1t. That's all" With that he turned on
his heel to leave with his following.
"Hold on, Cameron" replied, rails
ing my hand as 1 spoke: that's not
quite all. | suppose you men repre-
sent your grievance committeeY
Eyes, sir''
81 happen to represent, in the sup
erintendents absence. the manage
ment of this road 1 simply want to
say to you and to your committee
that l take my orders from the presi-
dent and the general management
from you nor anybody you represent.
That's all"
Every hour the bitterness increased.
We got a few trains through, but we
were terribly crippled AS for freight,
we made no pretense of moving it.
Train loads Of fruit and meat rotted
In the yards. The strikers grew more
turbulent daily They beat our new
men and crippled our locomotives.
Then our troubles with the new men
We're almost as bad They burned out
our crown sheets; they got mixed
UP on orders all the time They ran
into open switches and into each other
continually and had us very nearly
crazy.
| kept tab on one of the new en-
gineers for week. He began by
hQnlyincr int
smashed every dish in the car and
ended by running into a siding a few
days later and setting two tanks of
oil on fire. that burned up a freight
depot | figured he cost us $4,000 the
week he ran. Then he went back to
selling windmills
After this experience was sitting
III my Office one evening, when a
youngish fellow in a SLOUGH hat opened
the door and stuck his head in.
What do you want?" / growled.
"Are you Mr.. Reed?"
What do you want?"
Il want to speak to Mr.. Reed"
"Wel, what is it,"
"Are you Mr.. ReedP'
"Confound you, yes! What do you
want?"
Me? / don't want anything. I'm
just asking; that's ALL"
His impudence staggered me so that
l took my feet off the desk.
Heard you were looking for men,"
he added
NO" snapped. 81 don't want any
men"
Wouldn't be any show to get on an
engine, would theref'
A week earlier 1 should have risen
and fallen on his neck, but there had
been others.
There's a show to get your head
broke" suggested.
Il don't mind that if I get my time"
What do you know about running
an engineer"
Run one three years."
ION thrashing machine?"
ION the Philadelphia and Reading"
'Who sent you in here?"
"Just dropped in.''
'Sit down."
eyed MN sharply as he dropped
into a chair.
When did you quit the Philadelphia
and Readinga'
About six months ago."
"FiredT
Strike"
I began to get interested. After
few more questions l took him into
the superintendent's Office but at the
door 1 thought it well TO drop a hint.
Look here, my friend, if you're a
spy you'd better keep out of this. This
man would wiring your neck as quick
as he'd suck an orange Seer
Lets tackle him anyhow" replied
the fellow, eying me eoolly.