The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-07
FROM MINER To
RAILROAD CHIEF
Fred Underwood Began Business
Life as Driver of An
Ore Cart.
FIDDLED FOR COMPANIONS
Admirer of His Music Got Him Job
As Freight Handler and Now He
Is President OF Big
Rail Line, but Still
Unpretentious.
BY OSBORN MARSHALL.

Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.D
Some forty-five years ago a young
boy, fresh Of face and bright of eye,
applied for work at the copper mines
situated at Fort Howard, on Green bay
Wisconsin.
Ever had a Job before?" demanded
the mine foreman as he scrutinized the
boys face.
NO." admitted the boy frankly. 81
have never worked for wages any
where before. l have just come from
school at Wayland academy"
"schoolboys aren't fit to work in
Mines said the foreman bluntly.
why don't your folks support you
and give you a chance to stay at
school and amount to something some
time? This is no place for a green
horn, anyway
well, you see," the boy explained,
my father can't afford to keep me in
school any longer. He is minister
in the country near Milwaukee. His
salary isn't much, and it isn't always
paid at that. There are good many
of US children, and so thought I'd 60
to work guess I am not so green as
I look" The boy stretched out his
muscular young arms to show how
much work they were capable Of do.
ing. II know a lot about work, even
II l have been to school l can saw
wood and drive a nail. My grandfather
taught me that"
"You do look pretty husky" agreed
the foreman, and then he looked over
the list Of vacancies in the mind. did
you say, boy, that you can drive a
horse?" he asked.
what / said was that could drive
a nail" admitted the boy. He hest.
tated a moment before giving the an.
swer that might cost him the chance
Of employment. "WelI, I honestly
haven't had much experience at driv-
ing horses, but I don't mind trying.
You see, we never could afford to keep
horses at home. Will you give me q
try at 1T"
Promoted BY Runaway.
The foreman consented and the next
day Fred Underwood-for that was
the young fellows name-arrived
early at the entrance Of the mine and,
after the proper credentials had been
presented, he was assigned his cart
and horse and told the simple duties
of a mine cart driver.
Fred took his seat on the cart with
citation and confidence.
Anyone could drive a horse like
that" he thought as he looked at the
mute companion Of his toll. Don't
believe that cannon ball could start
him running"
Il was easy enough, the work, and
aside from the dirt and the CRIME, il
was not unpleasant. Then, some time
exactly what hour it was-an inspira
ton came to the horse-an intuitive
knowledge that the man at the end o.
the reins was greenhorn; that he
didn't really know anything about 6
horse and therefore had no right to BIZ
driving one. The horse accordingly
pricked up his ears and-with a speed
that belied his worn appearance
Endashed away, with poor Fred Under
5ood helplessly Juggling at the reins.
When Fred gathered himself to
1gether after the runaway and went te
the foreman to report the mishap he
was convinced that his services would
no longer be needed at the mine.
An unexpected greeting was in store
for him.
"You had bad luck with that horse,
said the foreman, "but don't give W
yet There is room for a gang fore
man in the mine. Can you boss a gant
Of miners better than you bossed tina
horse?"
Fred went to work at his second jol
with enthusiasm He used to worl
hard all day and at night at the chea
boarding house he would get out hi
fiddle, which he had learned to pla
in his fathers home near Milwaukee
and he would play for his companion
till they forgot their troubles and tn
dirt and the CRIME and the toll of tn
mines.
What His Fiddle Did For Him.
Among Fred's hest friends In tn
mine was man who carried the mai
from the railroad to the mines. Thi
man, older than himself by man,
years, was one of the most eager ad
mirers of the newcomers simple, me
lodious playing, and so a stron
friendship had grown up betwee,
them.
One day when he was at the raj
road station getting the mail bags tn
freight master offered him positio,
as freight handler. He was eager t
accept the position, for it carried wit
1t the munificent wage of dollar
day, BIT when it came to the real il
sue the mail carrier had to admit tina
his sole knowledge of the art of wri
ing was limited to the shaping of tn
letters of his own name
bGt / know L man that will sui
you, said the mail carrier to tn