Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1908-05-07

Boise, reminds the writer that
the old pioneer 4. engineers and
firemen of Glcnns Ferry remain
ing in the riverside town are few
and easily counted. I had the
pleasure Of an acquaintance with
all the old boys who pulled the
throttle and slung the scoop of
black diamonds into the firebox-
and good wholc-soulcd set they
were, brave in line of duty, genial
in social circles, friends in reed
and loyal labor's cause. They
were the men who bore the brunt
OF battle and brought the Union
Pacific system to grant the favor
able concessions the enginemen of
today eujoy.
Like the old California pioneers,
the were always on hand when
ever needed and ways showed
their hands.
They'd never finch, whate' er
the pinch,
They'd never fret or whine.
Like good old bricks they stood
the kicks,
The days of eighty nine"
They were indeed band of men
independent in everything, but
neutral in nothing.
The division headquarters were
established at Glenn's Ferry in
the later eighties when the round
house, shops, pump house and
other buildings, usual to such q
place, sprung up almost in night,
and with the advent of the division
here came these brawny champions
of labor.
Jack Wells, at the time, was
the local master mechanic but re-
signing and was succeeded by Hank
O'Leary. Hank held sway for
about d year and also held the good
will of the entire crowd. He re-
signed and left for the Black Hills,
but subsequently, returned to Poca-
tello and became a forman in the
machine shop.
Tom Plunkett then took charge
and held down the works to the
satisfaction of the high officials as
we'll as that OF the engine and
roundhouse men. He was one OF
the leading spirits in the A. r. U.
strike in 'o4 and this ended his
career on the Oregon Short Line.
Jack Wells died few years age
at Glenns Ferry, having passed the
ripe age of three score aud ten,
honored by all
Hank O'Leary to.k conspic-
Pocatello and was brought up be.
fore Judge Beatty on charge of con.
tempt of court in violating an ordei
issued by that jurist, restraining
all employees of the u. p. sytsen
form urg ing fellow workinmen tc
join in the strike. He was &C
quilted of the charge and is now il
the real estate b siness in tn,
Gate City.
Tom Plunkett went to Ana
conda, after the strike and becam,
foreman in the machine shops of thu
futile steel and iron works.
Among the pioneer ''eagle eyes
who pulled throttles over Medbur,
and Ticeska hills were Hank De
land, Charlie Atkins, Ed Purtill
Will Chrisman, John Fisher, Jo
Mitchell, Evan Williams, c. E
Hickman, Andy Johnson, Dal
Church, George Irving, Charlie
Needham, Ike Heron, John Sigler
Pat Sullivan, Alec LaRose, Ere,
Sargent Jack Voting ton and 30
and John Davidson.
OF that sturdy band of engineer
Williams, Jack Wellington and Fe
Sargent are still pulling out of tn
Ferry on passenger runs. TX
Horton left the road in go an
embarked in a general mercantil
business, which he conducted wit
decided success and afterward sol
: out to Z. Pearson. Hickman is o
the Boise branch, | believe.
] Hank Deland, Joe Mitchell, an
Purtill, Alec La Rose and Pa
Sullivan have crossed the hig
divide of the hereafter. Joe Mitch
: ell was killed in '88 on Medbur
hill, Ed Purtill was killed in
wreck at McCammon in 1902 an
Alec La Rose lost his life in
wreck near Weiser year or tw
ago. Charlie Needham was in tn
'o4 strike and went into exile
Dan Church afterward went int
2, the real estate business at Pocs
= tello and was elected to the legisls
ture from BsDnock couny in 1906
, Bob Davidson died at the railroa
hospital in Ogden in 'o5 and Johr
ny Davidson was lost on a vess,
that went down in the Pacifi
T. ocean en- route for Valparaiso.
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