Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-18
"I'n acorktng for you ,,oac."

able to gather over go. However,
later, when the woods camps should
break up, he would pick up more men.
SThey won't be riyermen like my
old crew. though" said Orde regret
fully to Tom North, the walking boss.
Until the logs should be we'll adrift
Ordet had resolved to boss the rear
crew himself.
The rear crew being farthest up
stream, Orde had taken the contract
to break the rollways belonging to
Carlin, which would be piled on the
bank. Thus he could get to work I'm
madiately at the breakup and with
out waiting for some one else. The
lumber in Carlin's drive would keep
the men below busy until the other
owners should also have put their
seasons cut afloat.
The ice went out early. When the
river ran clear in its lower reaches he
took his rear crew to Carlin's rollways.
This crew was forty In number, a
hard bitten, tough band Of veterans,
weather beaten, SCARED in numerous
fights or by the backwoods scourge of
smallpox. compact, muscular, fearless,
loyal, outspoken and free to criucise-
In short men to do great things under
strong leader. The breaking of the
rollways began. The logs had been
hauled to the river, where they were
banked in piles twenty and even
thirty feet In height The bed of the
stream itself was filed with them for
a mile, save in narrow channel left
down through the middle to allow for
some flow Of water; the banks were
piled with them, side on, ready to roll
down at the urging of the men.
First the entire crew by means Of its
peayies rolled the lower logs into the
current to be rapidly borne away.
Some tiers would be stuck together by
Ice and considerable prying and heav-
ing were necessary in order to crack
them apart. But forty men soon had
the river full. Orde detailed some six
OF eight to drop below in order that
the river might run clear to the next
section. where the next crew would
take up the task These men walked
to the edges Of the rollway, rolled q
log apiece into the water, stepped
aboard, leaned against their peavies
and were swept away by the swift
current. The logs on which they stood
whirled in the eddies, caromed against
other timbers, slackened speed, shot
away. Never did the riders alter their
poses of easy equilibrium.
The evening Of the second day Orde
received a visit from Jim Denning,
foreman of the next section below,
bringing with him Charlie, the cook Of
Gaiy last year drive.
This fellow drifted in tonight two
days late after q drunk, and he tells
a mighty queer story said Denning.
He says crew of sixty bad men
from the Saginaw have been sent In
by Heinzman just to fight and annoy
US
v .Well, where are they?"
"Don't know"
'Bring him over and let's hear the
story" said Orde.
TITS straight, Mr.. Orde," said the
cook. approaching. There's a big crew
brought in from the Saginaw waters to
do you up. They're supposed to be
over here to run his drive, but really
they's goin' to fight and raise h.. for
why would he want sixty men to
break out them little rollways Of his'n
up at the headwaters? He only owns
Z forty up there, and 1T amt more'n
halfscut anyway"
Isdidn't know he owned any"
Eyes, sir. He bought that little
Johnson piece last winter"
rs he breaking out his rollways be-
sowT' Orde asked Denning.
mo. Sir" struck In Charlie, The
Sin,ks