Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-07-10
CHAPTER VuI
20 Misunderstandlnn.

ne MIsunderstancin
! No attempt was made TO minimize
/ the truth that the blow 20 the division
/ was a staggering one. The loss OF
! Smoky creek bridge put almost 900
/ miles OF the mountain division out OF
! business. Perishable freight and time
/ freight were diverted TO other lines.
! Passengers were transferred. lunches
/ were served TO them In the deep val
/ ley, and they were supplied by an i'm
/ Eenuous advertising department with
! pictures Of the historic bridge as &c
| had long stood. and their addresses
! were taken with the promise OF "a pic
| ture OF the ruins The engineering de-
/ partment and the operating depart
ment united I'm tremendous effort 90
I bring about a resumption OF traffic
b Glover's men, pulled or construction
{ were sent forward iu iraiuloads. Dan
J cing's linemen strung arc LIGHTS along
the creek until The canyon twiukled
at night like a mountain village. and
men In three shifts worked elbow 20
q elbow increasingly 20 run the switch
/ backs down 20 the creek bed There.
by crlbbing across the bottom. they
got In a temporary line
McClCud spent his DAYS az the creek
and his nights at Medicine Bend with
his assistant and his chief dispatcher.
advising. counselinE studying out
trouble reports. and steadying wher-
ever he could the weakened lines OF
his operating forces lie was getting
his first taste Of the trials OF the hard
est worked and poorest paid man in
the operating department Of a railroad
the division superintendent
To these were added personal an
noyanCes. A trainload OF Duck Bar
steers. shipped by Lance Dunning
from the Crawling Stone ranch. had
been caught west OF the bridge the
very night OF the fire. They had been
loaded az Upton and shipped 20 catch
a good market and under eXtravagant
promises from the livestock agent OF a
quick run 90 Chicago. When Lance
Dunning learned that his cattle had
been caught west of the break and
would have 60 Doe uuloaded. he swore
up horse in hot haste and started for
Medicine Bend McCloud. who had
not closed his eyes for 60 hours had
just got into Medicine Bend from
Smoky Greek and was sitting at his
desk buried IN mass OF papers. but
he ordered the CattIcman admitted
He was. in fact. eacer 60 meet the
manager OF the big ranch and the
cousin OF Dicksie Lance Dunniug
stood above six feet in height and
was handsome man. in spite OF the
hard lines around his eyes. as he
walked in; but neither his manner nor
his expression was amiable
Are YOU MT McCloud? I've been
here three times this afternoon TO
see you.' said he, ignoring McClouds
answer and preferred chair. This
is your Office. isn't it?"
McCloud. a little surprised. an
swered again and civilly: 1T certain
ly is; but have been az Smoky Creek
for two or three days"
What have you done with my cat.
tle?"
The Duck Bar train was run back
TO Point of Rocks and the cattle we're
unloaded at the yard"
Lance Dunning spoke with increas-
ing harshness; By whose order was
that done? Why wasn't I notified?
Have they had feed or water?"
All the stock caught west Of the
bridge was sent back for feed and
water by my orders. II has all been
taken care OF. You should have been
notified, certainly; il Is the business
OF the stock agent TO see TO that. Let
me inquire about IL while YOU are
here, Mr.. Dunning," suggested Nc
Cloud. ringing for his clerk.
Cunning lost no time In expressing
himself. i don't want my cattle held
at Point OF Rocks," he said. angrily.
Your Point OF Rocks yards are in
fected. My cattle shouldn't have been
sent there"
"Oh, no! The old yards where they
had touch OF fever were burned OF
the face Of the earth a year ago. The
new yards are perfectly sanitary. The
loss OF the bridge has crippled us. you
know. Your cattle are being well
cared for, Mr.. Cumming. and IL YOU
doubt it you may go up and give our
men any orders you Ike In the matter
at our expense"
You're taking altogether too much
on yourself when you run my stock
over the country ia this way" ex-
claimed Cunning. refusing to be pla-
Gated. How am 1 to get to Point Of
Rocks-walk there9"
Not at all" returned McCIoud. ring
ing up his clerk and asking for a pass.
which was brought back in a moment
and handed TO Cunning. THE cattIe."I
continued McCloud. can be run down.
unloaded, and driven around the break
to-morrow-with the loss OF only two
days"
: And in the meantime I lose my
market"
IL Is too bad. certainly. but sup
pose II viii be several days before we
can get line across Smoky creek"
Why weren't the cattle sent