The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-04-19


SHSI& ,enty-nine of
these men walk
ed out. One ireman-just one-stayed
with the company; that was Dad Ham
ilton.
"Yes,'' growled Dad. combating the
protests of the strikers committee, 81
know it. I belong to your lodge. But
I'll tell you noW-an' I've told you
afore-I amt 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
it stormed hard for awhile. Dad Ham
ilton, whenever we could supply him
with an engineer, fired religiously.
No other man in the service could
have done it without getting killed,
but Dad was old enough to father any
man among the strikers. Moreover,
he was a giant physically and eccen-
trio 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 Neighbor and the old
fireman there existed some sort of
honda liking, an affinity. Dad Ham
ilton had fred 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 Neighbor signed
the payrolls at the roundhouse
Hence there was no surprise when
the superintendent offered him an en-
CINE, Just after the strike, that Dad
refused to take it.
"1'm fireman, and Neighbor knows
1t. I amt no engineer. I'll make
steam for any man you put In the cab
with me, but won't touch throttle
for no man. laid 1t down, and TIL
never pinch 1t again-an' no offense
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 railroad man
they were tough assortment; for
fellow may be a good painter, or
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 q 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 a dozen
more Reading boys for our new corps
Of engine men, but the East End Of
flcials 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 I, answering his inquiries.
there's just one fellow reported here
he came In on this morning.
Neighbours had a little talk with him,
but he doesn't think much of him.
guess we're out the transportation on
that fellow" s
whats his name?" asked Foley.
SIS he off the Reading?"
"Claims he is; his name is McNeaf'-
tMcNeal?" echoed Foley. surprised.
"Not George McNealT"
II don't know what his first name u.s.
He's nothing but boy"
Ozark complexioned fellowf'
perhaps you'd call him that; sort OF
soft spoken
"Georgie McNeal, sure's you're born
II you've got him you've got bird
He ran opposite me between New Yorl
and Philadelphia on the limited.
want to see him right off. If it's Geor
gle, you're all right" ,. .
Foley's talk went good way witt
me any time. When I told Neighbol
about 1t he pricked up his ears. While
we were debating in rushed Foley
with the kid, as he called him.
AS luck would have 1t, Neighbor 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 t
quit. I'm gettin' pretty old, anyhow
whats the matter?" growled Neigh
Dor, still surlier, knowing full well tina
If the old fellow had good reason b
would have blurted 1t out at the start