Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-04
RITES Fnn NADIA
IN ELKS' ROOMS
CONTINUED from Pago oneJ


toward the north. going TO Cairo, H.,
where he found employment as a clerk
in a store. Though but Is years Of age
next year he secured a position as travel
ing salesman Tor Cairo wholesale house.
following this line OF work several
months. Il was not the kind Of work
that appealed 10 him and in 1866 he
started north. landing in Nebraska City
He secured a Job driving team but
only continued at this for few weeks.
RE heard that railroad was being built
in tho vicinity OF Omaha and here he
came. He drove team, helped the sur
veyors, and being intelligent and pos
sessed OF good judgment, fitted IN most
any place where an active man was
needed.
Graduating from grading camp, Can
ada went to Nebraska City and there
entered the employ Of Ballentine sons,
dealers in lumber. remaining few years
and securing an interest in the business,
selling out when he was elected sheriff OF
Otoe county. Though a strong democrat
and though the county was republican
| by good sized majority, Canada was re-
elected and declined the unanimous norni-
nation for a third term.
Needed n Man of Nerve.
More than thirty years ago the Union
Pacific felt tho need of a daredevil eort
OF a fellow, one with cool head, plenty
of nerve and unflinching courage TO take
/ charge of It's secret service department.
The country along the line from central
/ Nebraska west TO Ogden was infested
with numerous bands OF robbers OF every
I kind. They were made up Of the out
1 scourings and dregs of the worst Of the
cities OF Che east and OF the outlaw sec
! tons Of the south end west. Train rob-
berries were frequent and time and again
murders followed the robberies. The
officials were at their wits ends. They
had the money to equip a force OF bandit
hunters. but they we're unable to find a
man who could successfully direct the
movements OF the forces.
4 Edward Dickinson In the days when
bandits and train robbers were most
troublesome was general manager OF the
| Union Pacific. He had had scores OF ap.
pilcations for the position OF chief of the
secret service. but none OF the applicants
quite filled the bill ono day William T.
Canada. then q young man, visited the
office and rnodestiy told the general man.
ager that he believed he could outline q
plan that would make Che robhIng OF
Union Pacific trains most unpopular.
Dickinson asked for specifications and
I by Canada was informed that the only
why TO stop train robbing was TO kill thu
train robbers. The two men had a lengthy
conference and q few days later another
the result OF which was that William r
Canada was appointed chief of the secre
service department and given power tha-
was so supreme that not even the presl
dent OF the road questioned his acts.
i started Right In 20 Work.
Canada did not sit down and wait fol
something to happen. He made It hap
pen Around him he gathered a band o.
tried and trusty plainsmen, who were nc
\ customed to hardships. men who did no
know the meaning OF the word fear and
men who were dead shots with both shot
Il gun. rifle and revolver. Then he securet
the fleetest band OF horses that money
could huy The animals he stationed a
North Platte. Cheyenne and Rawiins
Stable men who. were as expert Will
guns as the man hunters were, employee,
TO care for the animals, and the under
standing was that the animals were al
: ways ready to be saddled and bridled a
moments notice
The man hunters. who were In tho EN-
1 ploy OF Canada. were stationed In squads
one squad at Omaha. one at North Platte
J one at Cheyenne and another at Rawlins
Had II been during war times. the,
would have been known as minute mon
for they were under orders 20 be read,
to start for the front at q minutes no
tice.
At his disposal Canada had train. I
consisted Of an engine. passenger ca
fitted with hunks for sleeping purposes
and then there was n car for the horses
This was arranged 70 carry eight AMI
mails. fodder and all the necessary equip
ment.
Accepted First Defl.
II was not long after the appointment
OF Canada that George Curry and hi
gang. better known as the Flat Nos
George band. held up a train and SO
cured several thousand dollars. TIL
was defy 20 Canada. who took II. an
at once started after George. The mem
, bers OF the gang separated, but befor
r Canada had done with the members. the
I were all killed or sent TO the peniten
tiary.
subsequently there was the Plum Cree
robbery In central Nebraska. The ban
dts held up an express train. rolled tn