Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-07-22
Tho Wreckjno Boss,

reached Medicine Pend from Point OF
Rocks at five O'Clock. Sinclair, In per
son, was overseeing the making mp OF
his wreck!ng train and 'hc yard. usu-
ally quiet at that hour Of the morning,
was alive with the hurry of men and
engines. In the trainmaster's room Of
the wea:her-bca,en headquarters build
ing nicknamed by railroad men The
Wickiup," early comcrs-slcepy-faced
keen-eycd trainmen-lounged on tho
tables and in chairs discussing the re-
ports from Point of Rocks. and among
thcm crew-callars and messengers
moved IN and out Two minutes after
they had their orders and were pulling
out Of the uppcr yard, with right OF
way over everything to Point Of
Rocks.
The wrccl, had occurred Just west
II the crock A fast cast-bound freight
train, doublc-headcd. had left the
track on III" long curve around tho
hill, and whom the wrccling train
backed through Ten Shed cut the sun
s.reamed over the Hca3. Of damned
md twisted cars strung all tho way
from the point &C the curve to the foot
Vt Smoky hill. The crew Of the train
Mat lay in the ditch walked slowly
ap TIC trace 10 where tho wrct kcrs
had pulled UP. AID the freight ccnduc-
tor asked for Sinclair. Men rigging
the derrick pointed to the hind car.
The conductor. swinging IN the ca
boose steps. made his way inside
among the men that were passing ont
tools Tho air within was blush
thick with tobacco smoke. but
through the haze the freightman saw
facing him, in the far corner of the
den-like interior. a man seated behind
an old dining-car table, finishing his
breakfast; one glimpse was enough to
IDENTIFY the dark beard of Sinclair,
brennan Of the bridges and boss of the
vrecking gang
Beside him stood steaming coffee
Rnk. and in his right hand he held an
enormous tin cup that he was about to
raise to his mouth when he saw the
height conductor With laugh. Sin
lair threw up his left hand and beck
med him over. Then he shook his
,air just little, tossed back his head,
pened an unusual mouth, drained the
up at gulp, and cursing the freight.
nan fraternally. exclaimed: How
many cars have you ditched this
lme?'
The trainman, a soberfaced fellow,
answered. dryly: "All had"
Running too fast, eh?" glared Sin
Nair.
With the box cars piled 40 feet high
m the track, the conductor was too
I'D hand to begin controversy.
Our times fast" was all he said.
Sinclair rose and exclaimed Come
IN" And the two, leaving the car,
started up the track. The wrecking
boss paid no attention to his COM
panion as they forged ahead but
where the train had hit the curve he
scanned the track rs he would blue
print. They'll have your scalp for
his" he declared. abruptly.
y reckon they will"
Whats your manor"
Stevens"
Looks like ali day for you, doesn't
II? n" matter; guess can help you
sut"
Where the merchandise cars lay,
Yellow the switch, the train crew knew
hat tramp had been caught. At
intervals they heard groa?s under the
Wreckage. which was piled high there
binclair stopped at the derrick. and
the freight conductor went on to
where his brakc,lan had enlisted two
OF Stncla!r's giants 70 help get out the
tramp. brake beam had crushed the
mans legs, and the pallor of his face
bhowed that he was hurt internally,
but he was conscious and moaned soft
ly. The men had started 10 carry him
TO the way car when Sinclair came
up. asked what they were doing. and
ordered them back to the wreck. They
hastily laid the tramp down. But he
wants water" protested brakeman
who was walking behind carrying his
arm in sling.
Water" bawled Sinclair. Have
my men got nothing to do but carry
\ tramp TO water? Get ahead there
and help unload those rcerigerators.
He'll find water fast enough. Let the
Tanned hobo crawl down to the creek
lftor It,"
The tramp was too far gone for re-
yentment; he had tainted when they
laid him down. and his halfglazed
Eyes. staring at the sky, gave no evi-
dence that he heard anything
The sun rose hot. for In the Red
1esert sky there Is rarely cloud.
Einclair took the little hill nearest
tho switch to below his orders from,
running down among the men when
ever necessary to help carry them out.
Within 30 minutes, though apparently
no impression had been made on the
great heaps OF wrenched and spln-
lercd equipment, Sinclair had tho job
In hand.
The freight conductor, Stevens,
afraid Of no man. had come up to
speak to Sinclair. and Sinclair, with
smile. laid u cordial hand on his
yhoulders. stevens. It's all right. III
get you out of this. Como here" He
led the conductor down the track
where they had walked IN the morn
Ing. Flo pointed to AanGo.marks on
tho ties. See there-therc's where
tho first wheels left tho track. and
they left on the inside Of the curve;
! thin fiangs under the FIRST rcfrigera-
Tor broke. I've got the wheel itself
back there for evidence. They can't
talk fast running against that Damn