Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-11-21
BRO " n, WIZARD
Of RAILROADS,
To |DFARMERS
Retiring Head of New York Gen.
traI Tells Forbes Plans and
Discusses Adventures.
By 3. c. FORBES.

NEW YORK, Nov Gil had a
talk last evening with the bravest
railroad man in America. who, from
farm boy and, later, section hand
and feeder Of the old wood -consunn
ing engines rose TO the presidency Of
the proud New York Central Sys-
TEN, with it's army OF 10000 EN-
ployees, who yesterday announced
his retirement at the end Of this year.
Said William c. Brown to me, after
we had INDUCED in "reminiscences Of
the exciting episodes that won for
him the enViable title, The Little
Man Unafraid:"
How do ! look forward to spend
ing the rest OF my days.
We'll, I hope to devote consider
able time to improving agriculture
and to the study particularly of
how to perfect d system of credits
whereby the American farmer will
be able to secure necessary funds
for his business at reasonably low
rates.
81 am interested also in evolving
better methods of handling farm
products from the grower to the
consumer was appointed mem
Der of Governor Dis's commission
to investigate this subject"
Mr. Brown, like James j. Hill. is
as much farmer as railroad operator.
He loves horses even more than NAL
let engines, and he contemplates
spending many hours among his pedi-
greed stock on his fine Iowa farm.
The career Of W c. Brown Illus
trstes the romance Of ralroading.
The New York American recently
took vote Of all the leading railroad
officials in the country on who were
the twelve greatest railroad men in
America. Mr.. Browns name had a
place on this honor roll That he
stands among the highest Of the high
in the railroad world was the verdict
of this best able to Judge-his com
peers.
He once said:
Let IL he understood that iu the
United States it is the working man
who, having begun at the bottom,
ends in the Important posts at the
top Of our railroads and our great
favoritism and of family has de
parted. believe that plain sticking
to 1t is good rule for every work
ing man who is earnest in his ambi-
ton. | believe too. that 70 may not
be for his best welfare for any
worker to set for himself as some
have suggested, a definite goal"
From farm overaiIs he graduated
to raIlroading on the St. Paul nearly
half a century ago. Like Andrew
Carnegie, he took to learning teleqra
ply in his spare moments, and rose
from section hand and "wooder" to
telegraph operator, to train dispatch
err and so on up the ladder.
His unlimited courage was first
noted during fierce strike Of switch.
men on the Illinois Central. The
strikers took possession of the yards
at ST. Louis and, armed with loaded
rifles, defed anyone TO touch a switch
or move car. In walked the daunt
less Brown, a David come to slay
Goliath. With apparent unconcern,
with no trace of fear, he walked past
the swltchmen's shed. which was
crowded with defiant armed men,
and, going straight to a switch, he
turned It and signaled to N engine
driver to come ahead. Not shot
was tred-the strikers were dunn
founded by the little fellows audac-
iV. And the strike was broken.
! asked Mr., Brown about an Incl
dent had heard Of during another
r'otous strike on the Burlington.
"oh, yes. remember it." he re-
piled. at was in 1888. was Gen
eral manager, and had a strike Of en-
slneers to settle. The way to do It,
OF course, was to set the example
myself, So ! got into an engine and
began to drive it. They tried to get
me out. They exploded dynamite IN.
der my engine several times. But
well, they didn't succeed in BLOWING
me out Of the engine"
The trapping of an armed band OF
tram robbers was another exploit
IN which the "unafrad" railroader
figured as the hero II is dare
devil, wild Western story, too fuII OF
incident to recount in full here
srietly, hold'up was planned when
he was vice pres ident Of the Bur
lin9ton. He was tipped off" by one
OF the robbers and made up a dummy
tram to represent the real one. What
followed has been described thus:
Ihe dummy pulled out Of the
depot promptly and as the headlight
Illuminated the thickets Of Roy's
Branch a red lantern was waved on
the track The train slowed down
and stopped, the bandits covered the
engineer and fireman with rryulvers
and Wholesalers
A.