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

taultS--raSnneSS. n llDerhlty DOruerlnS
on extravaganza and headstrong, vio-
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-
comotive was Andrew Cameron; at the
same time he was one of the hardest
to manage, because lie was young and
hesdstrong. Andy, a big, powerful fell
low, ran opposite Felix Kennedy on
the flier. The fast runs require young
men. If you VIII notice you will rarely
see an old engineer on fast passenger
run. Even young man can stand only
a few years of that kind of work. High
speed on locomotive Is Il question of
nerve and endurance-to put it bluntly,
a 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 thiuk there's going to be any.
Andy"
He laughed knowingly.
What actual grievance have the
boysY' l asked.
1.-The troubles on the East End" he
replied evasively.
rs that any reason for calling a
thousand men out on this end:"
IF one goes out, they all CO."
"Would you go out?'
would l? You bet"
"a man with a home and a wife and
a baby boy like yours ought to have
more sense"
Getting up to leave he laughed
again confidently. "rhat's all right.
Well bring you fellows to terms"
Maybe" reported as he closed the
door. But i hadn't the slightest idea
they would begin the attempt that
night. l was at home and sound
asleep when the caller tapped on my
window. threw up the sash; it
was pouring rain and dark as pocket
What is 1t, Barney? A wreck2"
l exclaimed.
Worse than that. Everythngs tied
up
What do YOU mean?"
"The engineers have struck"
'Struck? What time Is it?'
''Half past g. They went out at 8
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, e;i-
tending through seven states and ter
rltories, was absolutely paralyzed.
1t was an astounding situation, but
one that must he met II 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 Ii was Just g 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 Ii he wrote name we rarely
saw in our Office. 1t was that of the
railroad magnate we knew as 1.-The old
man." the president of the system, and
his words were few:
"MOve the trains!"
''Move the trainsw repeated the SUI
perlntendent. Yes, but trains can't
be moved by pinch bars nor by main
force"
We spent the day arguing with the
strikers They We're friendly. but firm.
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
Al 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. The
engineers end tiremen were a unit.
But the WEES sung hard all that day
and all that night. Just before mid
night Chicago wired that No. 1-our
big passenger train. the Denver hier.-
had started out Oh time. with the SUI
perlntendent of motive power as en-
gineer and wiper for fireman, The
message came from the second vice
president. He promised to deliver the
train to our division ON time the next
evening and he asked, "Can you get It
through 10 DenyerT'
We looked at each other. At last all
eyes grayltated toward NeighbOr our
master mechanic
The train dispatcher was waiting
''What shall say?" he asked.
The division chief OF the motive pow
er was a tremendously big Irishman,
with voice like a fog horn. Without
an instants hesitation the answer came
clear:
"say yesg"
Every one OF us started. II was
throwing the gage OF battle, Our word
had gone out; the division was pledged;
the fight was on
Next evening the strikers through !
some mysterious channel got word that
the fiief was expected. About o O'clock |
a crowd OF them began to gather round
the depot.
IL WAS after l o'clock when No ! !
pulled Ia, aud the foreman of the oma-
ha roundhouse swung down from the