The Greeley tribune., 1907-02-28
q DHEN the

YE0 VI enty-nine OF
these men walk
ed out. One fireman-just one-stayed
with the company; that was Dad Ham
ilton.
Yes" growled Dad. combating the
protests of the strikers committee, Il
know It, belong to your lodge. But
I'll tell you now-an' I've told you
afore-I aln't goin' to strike on the
company SO long as Neighbor is master
mechanic ON this division; amt a-goin'
to do it, an you might. as well quit.
If you jaw here from now till Christ
mas, 'twon't change my mind mar a
bit"
And they didn't change it. Through
the calm and through the storm, and
1t stormed hard for awhile, Dad Ham
iiton, whenever we could supply him
with an engineer, fired religiously.
No other map in the service could
have done 1t without getting killed.
man among the strikers. Moreover,
he was a giant physically and eccen-
tric enough to move along through the
heat of the crisis Indifferent to the
abuse of the other men. His gray
hairs and his tremendous physical
strength saved him from personal vio-
lence.
Our master mechanic, Neighbor.
was another big man, six feet an inch
in his stockings, and strong as draw
bar. Between Nelghbor and the old
fireman there existed some sort of
bond-a liking, an affinity. Dad Ham
ilton had fired on our division ten
years. There was no promotion for
Dad; he could never be an engineer,
though only Neighbor knew why. But
his job of firing on. the river division
was sure as long as Nelghbor signed
the payrolls at the roundhouse
Hence there was no surprise when
the superintendent offered him an en-
gine, just after the strike, that Dad
refused to take it.
I'm fireman, and Neighbor knows
1t. / amt no engineer. I'll make
steam for any man you put in the cab
with me, but l won't touch a throttle
for no man. laid 1t down, and TIL
never pinch 1t again-an' no o6ense
t you, Neighbor. neither"
Thus ended the negotiations with
Dad on that subject; threats and en-
treaties were useless Then, too, in
spite of his professed willingness to
throw coal for any man we put on his
engine, he was continually rowing
about the green runners we gave him
From the standpoint Of a railroad man
they were tough assortment; for q
fellow may be good painter, or a
handy man with Jack plane, or an
expert machinest even and yet fail.
ure as an engine runner.
After we got hold of Foley, Neighbor
put him on awhile with Dad, and the
grizzled fireman quickly declared that
Foley was the only man on the pay.
roll who knew how to move train.
The little chap proved such re.
markable find that tried hard to get
some of his eastern chums to come
out and Join him. After good Bit
Of hustling we did get half dozen
more Reading boys for our new corps
Of engine men, but the East End Of
hcials kept all but one of them on their
own divisions. That one we got be
cause nobody on the East End wanted
him.
They've crimped the whole bunch
Foley" said l, answering his inquiries
there's just one fellow reported her,
-he came in ON this morning
NeIghbor's had little talk with him
but he doesn't think much of him.
guess we're out the transportation OF
that fellow"
whats his nameT asked Foley
SIS he of the ReadingW
'Claims he Is; his name ls McNeal"-
"McNeal?" echoed Foley, surprised
"Not Georgie McNealT'
II don't know what his first name Ia
He's nothing but a boy"
Ozark complexioned fellowT'
Perhaps you'd call him that; sort o
soft spoken"
"Georgie McNeal, sures you're born
II you've got him you've got a bird
He ran opposite me between New Yorl
and Philadelphia on the limited.
want to see him right OF. II it's Geor
gle. you're all right"
Foley's talk went good way will
me any time. When l told Nelghbo
about 1t he pricked up his ears. Whil'
we were debating In rushed Fole,
with the kid, as he called him.
As luck would have 1t, Nelghbor pu
the boy on the 244 with Dad Hamil
ton, and Dad proceeded at once t.
make what Foley termed "a grea
roar"
whats the matter?" demanded
Neighbor roughly when the old fire
man complained.
"If you're goin' to pull these train
with boys, guess It's time for me {,
quit. Pm gettin' pretty old, anyhow" !"
Whats the matter" growled Neigh
bor, still surlier, knowing full well tina
If the old fellow had good reason b,
would have blurted 1t out at the start
hI~At IT.. ~.