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

traits born Of ability and self conf
dence and developed by prosperity.
One Of the best men we had on 10
comotive was Andrew Cameron; at the
same time he was one Of the hardest
to manage. because he was young and
headstrong. Andy. big, powerful fel
low. ran opposite Felix Kennedy or
the fiier. The fast runs require young
men. II yoa will notice, you will rarely
see an old engineer OIL fast passenger
run. Even u young man can stand only
few years of that kind Of work. High
speed ON a locomotive Is question OF
nerve and endurance-to put 1t bluntly
question OF flesh and blood.
"You don't think much Of this strike
do you, Mr.. Ileed:" said Andy to me
one n.ght.
"Dou't think there's going to be any
Andy"
He laughed knowingly.
What actual grievance have the
boys!" l asked.
"The troubles Oh the East End" he
replied evasivc!y.
lis that any reason for calling 9
thousand men out on this end?
If one goes out. t..ey all Co."
Would you go out:'
Would I: You bet!"
"A man with home and wife and
u baby boy like yours ought to have
more sense"
Getting up to leave. he laughed
again confidently. THAT'S oil right
Well bring you fellows to terms"
Maybe" l reported as lie closed the
door. But hadn't the slightest idea
they would Iegin the attempt that
night. was ut home and sound
asleep when the caller tapped on my
window. threw up the sash: II
WIS pouring rain and dar!; as II pocket
What Is It. Barneyf A wreck?
] exclaimed.
Worse than that. Everything's tied
up"
What do you mean"
1.-The engineers have struck"
Struck! What time Is it?"
Half past 3. They went out ut 8
O'clock" Throwing OH my eiathes.
Goundered behind Barney's lantern IA
the depot. The superintendent was
already in his office talking to the
master mechanic.
Bulletins came in every few minutes
from various points announcing trains
tied up. Before long We began TO hear
from the East End. Chicago reported
all engineers out; Omaha wired nO
trains moving. When the sun rose
that morning our entire system. ex.
tending through seven states and ter
rltories. was absolutely paralyzed.
1t was an astounding situation. BIZ;
one that must be met 1t meant either
an ignominlous surrender to the en-
gineers or a fight to the death. Fol
our part. We had only to wait fol
orders. 1t was just 6 o'clock when
the chief train dispatcher. who was
tapping ut key. said:
Here's something from headquar
ters."
We crowded close around him. His
pen few across the clip: tie message
was addressed to all division super
intendents. 1t was short. but at the
end of II he wrote name we rarely
saw in our office. 1t was that Of the
railroad maguate we knew rs 1.-The old
man." the president Of the system. and
his words were few:
"Aiove the trains!"
"Move the tralnsw repeated the su
perintendent. "Yes. but trains CAM
be moved by pinch bars nor by mair
force"
We spent the day arguing with th'
strikers. They were friendly. but firm
Persuasion. entreaties, threats, we ex
hausted and ended just where we be
gun. except that we had lost our tenn
pers. The sun set without the turn Of
u wheel. The victory Of the first day
was certainly with the strikers.
Next day 1t looked pretty blue around
the depot. Not car was moved. Th'
engineers and firemen were a unit
But the wires sung hard all that da,
and all that night. Just before mid
night Chicago wired that No. lou
big passenger train. the Denver aier-
had started out on time. with the su
perintendent of motive power as en-
glneer and a wiper for fireman. Th'
message came from the second vic'
president. He promised to deliver th'
train to our division on time the mex
evening. and he asked. "Can you get ]
through to Denver?"
We looked ut each other. At last al
eyes gravitated toward Neighbor. on
master mechanic.
The train dispatcher was waiting
"What shall I say?" he asked.
The division chief Of the motive pow
er was Il tremendously big Irishman
with a voice like fog horn. Withou
IN instant hesitation the answer cam
cleur:
"Say .yesr"
Every one Of US started. It wa
throwing the gage of battle. Our wor'
had gone out; the division was pledged
the fight was on.
Next evening the strikers throug
some mysterious channel got word tina
the fiier was expected. About 8 o'cloc
crowd Of them began to gather roun
the depot.
It was after o'clock when No.
pulled In, and the foreman Of the Oms
ha roundhouse swung down from th
locomotive cab. The strikers clustere
around the engine like a swarm Of an
cry bees. but that night. though ther
was plenty Of jeering, there was n
actual violence. When they say
| Nelgllbor climb into the cab to tax
the run west there was sullen d
lence.
Next day a committee Of striker
with Andy Cameron. very cavalier. q
their head. called on me.
"aIr. Reed" said he officiously
] "ws've come to notify you not to ru