Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-03-19


Train loads Of fruit and meat rottet
in the yards. The strikers grew more
turbulent daily. They beat our new
men and crippled our locomotives
Then our troubles with the new mer
were almost as bad. They burned out
our crown sheets; they got mixed
up on orders all the time. They rar
into open switches and into each Othel
continually and had us very nearly
crazy.
kept tab on one Of the new en-
gineers for a week. He began by
backing into a diner so hard that he
smashed every dish in the car and
ended by running into a siding few
days later and setting two tanks Of
oil ON fire. that burned up freight
depot. I figured lie cost us $4,000 the
week he ran. Then he went back tt
selling windmllls.
After this experience I was sitting
in my Office one evening, when
youngish fellow in slouch hat opened
the door and stuck his head In.
"What do you want?" l growled.
"Are you Mr.. Reed?"
"What do you want?"
II want to speak to Mr.. Reed"
"Well. what Is lt?'
"Are you Mr.. Reed"
"Confound you. yes! What do yot
want?"
"Me? don't want anything. I'm
just asking: that's all"
His impudence staggered me SO tina
I took my feet of the desk.
Heard you were looking for men.
he added.
NO" ! snapped. II don't want any
men"
wouldn't be any show to get on al
engine, would there?"
A week earlier I should have riser
and fallen OH his neck. but there hat
been others.
There's show to get your heat
broke" suggested.
II don't mind that II l 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 him sharply as he dropped
into chair.
when did you quit the Philadelphia
and Reading?'
about six months ago."
"Fired?"
Strike"
began to get interested. After ,
few more questions l took him int
the superintendent's Office. but at tn,
door / thought 1t well to drop hint.
"Look here. my friend, II you're I
spy you'd better keep out Of this. Thl
man would wiring your neck as quicl
as he'd suck an orange. See?"
Lets tackle Lim anyhow" replied
the fellow, eying me coolly.
introduced him TO Mr.. Lancaste
aud left them together. Pretty sool
the superintendent came into my Office
"What do you make Of him. Reed?
said he.
"What do you make Of him"
Toncacfor rfudtod n minnie
take him over to the roundhous
and see what he knows"
walked over with the new find
chatting warily. When we reached
live engine I told him to look 1t over
He threw of his coat. picked up
piece of waste and swung into the cab
"Run her out to the switch" said
stepping up myself.
He pinched the throttle. and W
steamed slowly out Of the house. 4
minute showed he was at home on al
| engine.
"Can you handle itT" l asked rs b
shut Off after backing down to tn
roundhouse.
"You use soft COAL" he replied. try
ing the injector. "I'm used to hard
This injector Is new to me. Guess
can work 1t. though"
"what did you say your name wasf
II didn't say"
"What is it?" I asked curtly.
"Foley."
"WelI, Foley, II you have as muc
sense rs you have gall you ought t
get along. II you act straight, YOU
never want a Job again ~ long as yo
live. II you don't, you won't want t
live very long,"
"Got any tObaccoT
"Here. Baxter" said !, turning to tn
roundhouse foreman. "this Is Foley
Give him a chew. and mark him up I
20 out Oh Il tonight. II lie monkey
with anything around the house. Kl
him"
Baxter looked at Foley. and Fole
looked at Baxter. and. Baxter not &c
ting the tobacco out quick enough. Ft
lev reminded him lie was waiting.
We didn't pretend to run freight'
but I concluded to try the fellow o
one feeling sure that II he was crooi
ed he would ditch It and skip.
So Foley ran long string OF emptle
and a car or two Of rotten orange
down to Harvard Junction that nigh
with one Of the dispatchers for pil9
Under my orders they had Il trai
made up at the Junction for him
bring back-to McCloud. They ha
picked up all the strays In the yards
including half dozen cars or mea
that the local board Of health ha
condemned after 1t had laid out In tn
sun for two weeks and a chr OF butte
we had been shifting around ever sine
the beginning of the strike.
When the strikers saw the stun con
lnR In next morning behind Foley the
concluded had gone crazy.
awhat do you think Of the tract
Eoley?' said l.
"Fair." he replied. sitting down o
my desk. "Sti6 hill down there b
GAINESVILLE"