The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1907-02-21


was plenty of jeerng 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 Andy Cameron, very cavalier, at
their head called on me.
"NIr Reed" said he officiously,
"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 1 replied, rails
quite all. suppose YOU men repre-
sent your grievance committee"
"Yes, sir"
81 happen to represent, in the sup
erintendent's absence, the manage
ment of this road. ! simply want to
say to you and to your committee
that take my orders from the presi-
dent and the general manager-not
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
were almost rs 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.
l kept tab on one OF the new en-
gineers for week. He began by
backing into diner so hard that he
smashed every dish in the car and
ended by running into siding few
days later and setting two tanks of
oil on fire, that burned up freight
depot. I figured he cost us $4,000 the
week he ran Then he went back to
selling windmills.
After this experience | was sitting
in my Office one evening, when a
youngish fellow in a slouch hat opened
the door and stuck his head in.
"What do you want?" | growled.
"Are you Mr. Reed?"
"What do you want?"
81 want to speak to Mr. Reed"
"Well, what is it?"
"Are you Mr.. Reed"
"Confound you, yes! What do you
want?"
Ne? 1 don't want ANYTHING. I'm
just asking; that's all"
His impudence staggered me so that
took my feet off the desk.
Heard you We're looking for men,"
he added.
NO" 1 snapped. ~ don't want any
men"
Wouldn't be any show to get on an
engine. would thereF'
A week earlier l should have risen
and fallen on his neck, but there had
been others.
There's SHOW to get your head
broke" suggested
L
"What do you know about running
an engineW
run one three years"
"On thrashng machine"
ION the Philadelphia and Reading"
"Who sent you in here?"
"Just dropped in."
"Sit down."
l eyed him sharply as he dropped
into a chair.
when did you quit the Philadelphia
and Readlng?"
about six months ago."
"Flred?"
"Strlke."
! began to get interested. After a
few more questions / took him into
the supcrntendent's office, but at the
door thought it well to drop 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. Seef"
Lets tackle him anyhow" replied
the fellow, eying me coolly
! introduced him TO Mr.. Lancaster
and left them together, Pretty soon
the superintendent came into my office.
"What do you make of him, ReedT
said he.
What do you make of him"
Lancaster studied minute.
Take him over to the r0undhOuse
and see what he knows"
walked over with the new find,
chatting warly. When we reached a
live engine | told him TO look it over.
He threw off his coat. picked up a
piece of waste and swung into the cab.
Run her out to the switch" said /.
stepping up myself.
He plnched the throttle, and we
steamed slowly out of the house, A
minute showed he was at home ON an
engine.
"Can you handle itT" asked as he
shut of after backing down to the
rOundhOuse.
You use soft coal" he replied, try
Ing the injector. I'm used 10 hard.
This injector is new to me. Guess
can work it. though"
"What did you say your name wasT
II didn't say"
"What is III" asked curtly.
$FOley."
''Well, Foley. II you have as much
sense as you have gall you ought to
get along. II yon act straight, you'll
never want job again as long as you
live. If you don't, you won't want to
live very long"
"Got any tObacco"