The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-04-26

Y
enough. Yet in
the railroad life there is always fric-
ton in some quarter. The railroad
man sleeps like the soldier, with an
ear alert, but just the same he sleeps,
for with waking comes duty.
Our engineI, were good fellows. If
they had faults they were American
fauIts-rashness, a liberality bordering
On extravaganza and headstrong, VIC
lent way of reaching conclusions
traits born of ability and self conf
dence and developed by prosperity.
One Of the best men we had on To-
connective was Andrew Cameron; at the
same time he was one Of the hardest
to manage, because he was young and
headstrong. Andy, a big, powerful fell
low, ran opposite Felix Kennedy on
the fier The fast runs require young
men. If you will notice, you will rarely
see an old engineer on a fast passenger
run. Even 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.. Reed? said Andy to me
one night.
Don't think there's going to be any,
Andy"
He laughed knowingly.
what actual grievance have the
boys?' I asked.
1.-THE troubles on the East End" he
replied evasively.
us that any reason for calling a
thousand men out on this end2'
''If one goes out, they all go.''
"Would you go out?'
"Would I? You bet"
"a man with home and wife and
a baby boy like yours ought to have
more sense"
Getting up to leave, he laughed
again confidently. That's all right.
Well bring you fellows to terms"
MAYBE" I reported as he closed the
door. But hadn't the slightest idea
they would begin the attempt that
night was at home and sound
asleep when the caller tapped on my
window. I threw up the sash; it
was pouring rain and dark as pocket.
"What is it, Barney2 A wreck?'
I exclaimed.
"Worse than that. Everything's tied
up"
what do you mean?"
'"rhe engineers have struck"
"Struck? What time is it?'
"Half past 8. They went out at 3
o'clock" Throwing on my clothes,
foundered behind Barney's lantern to
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
ritories, was absolutely paralyzed.
1t was an astounding situation, but
one that must be met. It meant either
an ignominious surrender to the en-
gineers or a fight to the death. For
! our part, we had only to wait for
orders. 1t was just 6 o'clock when
the chief train dispatcher, who was
tapping at key, said:
"Here's something from headquar-
ters."
We crowded close around him. His
pen flew across the clip; the message
was addressed to all division super
intendents. 1t was short, but at the
end of it he wrote a name we rarely
saw in our Office. It was that Of the
railroad magnate we knew as "the old
man." the president Of the system, and
his words were few:
| "Move the trains"
| "Move the trains!' repeated the su.
| perintendent Eyes, but trains can't
] be moved by pinch bars nor by main
4 force"
i We spent the day arguing with the
l strikers. They were friendly, but firm
l Persuasion, entreaties, threats. we ex
hausted and ended just where we be
gan, except that we had lost our tenn
pers. The sun set without the turn Of
wheel. The victory Of the first day
/ was certainly with the strikers.
Next day 1t looked pretty blue arounC
the depot. Not car was moved. TIL,
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 fier-
had started out on time, with the su
perintendent Of motive power as en-
| gineer and wiper for fireman. Tn
message came from the second vic
president. He promised to deliver tn
train to our division en- time the mex
evening. and he asked, "Can you get
through to DenverT
We looked at each other. At last a.
eyes gravitated toward Neighbor, on
master mechanic.
| The train dispatcher was waiting
| "What shall l say?" he asked.
III ~ Al