The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-18

superintendent happened to be with
us when the news came.
you can't handle it, boys" said he
nervously. What you'd better do is
to turn it over to the Columbian Pa
cifc."
Our contracting freight agent on the
coast at that time was fellow so err
ratio that he was nicknamed Crazy
horse. Right in the midst of the strike
CraZyhorse wired that he had secured
a big silk shipment for New York. We
were para1yzed.
We had no engineers, no firemen and
no motive power to speak of. The
strikers were pounding our men,
wrecking our trains and giving US the
worst Of it generally-that is, when
we couldn't give 1t to them. Why the
fellow displayed bis activity at that
particular juncture still remains
mystery Perhaps he had a grudge
against the road. If so, he took an
artful revenge. Everybody on the sys-
tenn with ordinary railroad sense knew
that our struggle was to keep clear of
freight business until we got rid of
ishable was especially unwelcome.
But the stuff was locked and loaded
and consigned in our care before we
knew 1t. After that a refusal to carry
it would be like hosting the white
flag, and that is something which
never yet flew on the West End
Turn 1t over to the Columbian"
%ha rro1a.aI 1,1f
the general superintendent was not
looked up to on our division. He
hadn't enough sand. Our head was a
fighter, and he gave tone to every man
under him.
NO." he Numbered, bringing down
his fist mot in a thousand yearsl
Well move it ourselves. Wire Mont
gomery, the general manager, that we
will take care of it. And wire him to
fire Crazyhorse-and to do it right off,"
And before the silk was turned over
to us Crazyhorse was looking for an
| other job. 1t is the only case on rec
ord where a freight hustler was dis
charged for getting business
There were twelve car loads. 1t
was insured for $4,000 car. You can
figure how far the title is wrong, but
you can never estimate the worry that
stuff gave us. 1t looked as big as
S12,000,000 worth. In fact, one scrub
car tink, with the glory Of the West
End at heart, had a fight over the
amount with a skeptical hostler. He
maintained that the actual money
value was a hundred and twenty mil
lions, but / gave you the figures just
as they went over the wire, and they
are right.
| What bothered us most was that the
strikers had the tip almost as soon as
we had it. Having friends on every
road in the country. they knew as
much about our business as we
ourselves. The minute it was an
nounced that we should move the silk
they were after us. It was defiance,
last one If we could move freight
for we were already moving passen-
gers after a fashion-the strike might
be we'll accounted beaten.
Stewart, the leader of the local con-
tingent, together with his followers,
| got dICor me at once.
you don't show much sense, Reed, :"
said he. You fellows here are break
ing your necks to get things moving,
and when this strikes over If our boys
ask for your discharge they'll get 1t.
This road can't run without our engi-
neers. We're going to beat you. If
you dare try to move this stuff we'll
have your scalp when it's over. You'll
never get your silk to GAINESVILLE, I'll
promise you that And If you ditch II
and make a million dollar loss, you'll
get let out anyway, my buck"
I'm here TO obey orders, Stewart, y
retorted. What was the use of morei
1 felt uncomfortable, but we had de
termined to move the silk. There was
nothing more TO be said.
When went over to the roundhouse
and told Neighbor the decision he said
never a word, but he looked a great
deal. Neighbor's task was to supply
the motive power. All that we had
uncrippled, was in the passenger serv
ice. because passengers must be NOV
ed-must be taken care Of first Of all
/ In order 10 VIII SLElhC you muSl
have public opinion on your side.
Nevertheless, Neighbor," said L
after we had talked awhile, I'VE mus
move the silk also"
Neighbor studied, then he roared a.
his foreman.
"Send Bartholomew Mullen here
He spoke with a decision that made me
think the business was done. l haC
never happened. it Is true, to hear Of
Bartholomew Mullen in the depart
ment of motive power. but the i'm
preston the name gave me was of
monstrous fellow. big as Neighbor o.
old man Sankey or Dad Hamilton.
"Pn put Bartholomew ahead Of IT.
muttered Neighbor tightly. A boz
walked into the Office.
'Mr Garten said you wanted to SCI
~ cir said ha adTraSSfnr Tho mos