The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-09-22

/ soiuteiy needed
BY eleven O'Clock the tangie was
getting itself pretty well straightened
out Some Of the trains had already
been abandoned. and the others were
moving along 10 the agreed-upon des-
tfnations. Kirgan had taken hold In
the Portal City yard. and by putting
on extra crews was getting the needful
shifting and cnr sorting into shape,
and the Portal City employees. acting
/ upon their own initiative. were picket
ting the yard and company buildings 10
protect them from looters or ire-set-
ters Mr.. Van Britt's special. 20 the
wires told Us. was at Lesterburg. and
IL was likely 10 stay there; and Mr..
II was at half-past eleven that We
got the first real yelp from somebody
who was getting pinched. II came In
the shape OF wire from the Srath-
coma night operator. A party Of men
mine owners" the operator called
them-had just heard Of the impend-
ing railroad tie-up. They had been
meaning TO come IN on the regular
night train. but that had been aban-
doned. so now they were offering
all kinds OF money for special 10
bring them to Portal City. It was
represented that there were millions
at stake Couldn't we do somethingf
Mr.. Norcroes had kept Hoskins and
few Of the other local strike lead
ers where he could get hold Of them.
and he put the request up to them as
matter that was now out OF his
hands Would they allow him to run
a one-car special from the gold camp
10 Portal City after midnight II was
for them to say.
Hoskins and his accomplices went
on 10 talk II over with some Of the
other men. When the big freight con-
ductor came back he was alone and
was grinning good-naturedly.
I'VE aln't aimin' to make the com
pany lose any good money that comes
a-rolling down the hill at II, Mister
Norcross," he said "Cinch these here
Strathcona hurry boys rr all you can
get out o. them, and II you'll lend us
the loan Of the wires, we'll pass the
word to let the special come on
through"
II was sure the funniest strike
ever saw or heard Of. and guess the
boss thought so, too-with all this
good-natured bargaining back and
forth; but there was nothing more
said, and ! carried the word to Mr..
Perkins, directing him to have arrange
ments made for the running Of one
car special from strathcona for the
hurry folks.
Past that, things rocked along until
the hands Of the big standard-time
clock In the dispatcher's room pointed
to midnight. Norris. who was hold
ing down the commercial wire, came
over to the counter railing Just then
with a New York message. I saw the
boss eyes fash and the little bunchy
muscle-swellings Of anger come and
60 on the edge OF his jaw as he read
II, and then he handed II to me.
you may indorse that NO Answer
and fle II when you 60 back TO the
ONCE" he said shortly. and then he
went on talking TO Donohue. telling
him how to handle the trains which
were still out and moving to their tie
". destinations.
OF course, read the message:
knew there was nothing private about
II 30 far as was concerned. since
IT had been given me to put away In
the fles. This Is what I read:
ITO G. Norcross, c. NJ,
PORTAL City.
"Your administration has been a |
conspicuous failure from the begin
ming. Compromise with employees on |
any terms offered and prevent strike |
at all costs That done, you are here |
by directed to wire your resignation |
to take effect one week from today. |
"B Dunton. President"
II had hit rs at last: not a decent |
request. mind you. but blunt. brutal
demand. The boss was fred No |
word had come from Mr.. Chadwick. |
and there could be but one reason FOR
hfs silence In some way. perhaps |
through the late boosting Of the stock,
The New Yorkers had squeezed him
out. We were shot dead 10 the trenches
/ didn't understand how the CHIEF
could take II so quietly, unless II was
because he had been hammered so
long and so hard that nothing mat
tered any more. Anyhow. he was Just
standing there. talking soberly 10 Don
ohue, when once more the strathcona
branch sounder began to click furi-
ously. shipping out the headquarters
call.
Donohue cut In and we all heard
the Strathcons mans new bleat The
way he told II. Il seemed that one
member Of the party that had char
tered the special 10 come TO Portal
City had got left. and this man was
Row IN the Strathcona wire Office. bid
ting high FOR an engine TO chase the
rain and put him aboard
AT first the boss said "No." short
II inst Ike that adding thar II