Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-14

and throughout the country, he is
kS<SsSgE just plain Andy" Traynor. Since
GGsG3y 1869 he has been an active member
OF the Union Pacific working force, but with the
opening of the new year he went onto the retired
list J. G Stubs. the traffic manager, took his
place on the pension roll the day. with very
substantial retiring allowance.
Andy Trayn0r insists he has been busy dodg
ing the acquaintance of the sheriff all his life, and
does not want TO talk about himself Those who
know him best say that kind Of talk Is just bluff TO
protect him from the probe Of the interviewer,
Traynor likewise insists he is a graduate of Notre
, Dame university. .-
II was of the first graduates he said, in a
burst of confidence. My father put me there to
eearn things when wss quite young, but not Young
enough. Yes, graduated fast-through The back
door day or two after | entered. And | recall
quite vyidly that | never stopped running until
got to Chicago. When you hear about counting
ties, put in the counter class, for on that trip
the real tally clerk"
Before taking up his entry into Chicago, or de-
parture therefrom into the ranks of the struggling
mass, we Will have to 90 back bit and set down
why the youngster left Notre Dame, and how he
came to go there. Born at Rome, New York, he
grew up into a husky lad who hadn't any consum-
ing love for school. The elder Traynor had an
idea that education was TO be cultivated for its
own sake, but Andy could not be convinced So
he hiked away from home to a neighboring town
aud started in to learn to be brewer-first job
that offered. lie had no suspicion at this time
that he was born master baggageman. Nor did he
realize this important fact, either, when he quit
brewing to go to work in a blacksmith shop. This
was hardening, muscle-making exercise, and strong
arms and good grip came right handy when he
quit the smithy to drive stage. 1t will be noted
that young Traynor moving pretty fast and
the stage driving stunt just suited his bent of
mind.
AT first | had only pair of plug horses" he
said, but later on | got four-horse team and
drivers of four-hOrse stages would hardly speak to
the two-horse men. good nancy times since it
las struck me that's the way all through life, more
or less. We used to get tips of copper or two or
three coppers in those days from Travellers and
often would make copper two for post
ing letters written by people along the stage
route Postage stamps. cost three cents. and
III we were given scent piece We we're told to
keep the change. let my wages accumulate for
year almost having no particular use for money
beyond the tips that came my way"
1t was when he drew his money and went home
for visit tndt MS Ialnef DECIDED ne ought
Notre Dame and after some argument the trip
laade At that time the students used to devote
half the time to work and half to study. Whether
it was the study hours the workshop tasks that
disagreed with his notions Mr.. Traynor does not
now remember. At any rate to make sure he
would not be put back in school he left Chicago
yery quickly after arrival, fireman lake
steamer At Buffalo he paid of in Mchisan
state currency, which not popular in New York.
THAT was the day of state banks" he said. and
the old Irishman who kept the hotel where l put
IN told me the Michigan money was no good. He
went to the steamboat office with and had the
cashier give me New York shnplasters''
From Buffalo young Traynor took another boat
ia Detroit, shipping on cabin boy. From there
he went to a new railroad building from Owssso to
lansing. and it was from Michigan he enlisted for
The war. During the war, he maintains, he had
about as little trouble any man. although he ex-
perienced all the dangers and aggravations Incl
dent to a soldiers life.
in 1858 TrsynoT began #oEk for the Union Pa
cirie In the cid depot what is now the shop
grounds he wrestled baggage strenuously, and from
there went to what was known as the cattle
sheds near where the Her distiery stands Here