Mr. Watchem, chief of the famous Watchem detective agency, was pacing
his private office. He was a heavy man with heavy features and a heavy,
dark mustache, at which he tugged vigorously as he walked. In his left
hand he carried a dozen or more sheets of closely written note paper.
Presently the door opened, and a small man, slightly stooped, entered
and removed his hat.
"Is this your report, sir?" asked the chief.
The man said it was.
"And can you substantiate these charges? Mind you, if an innocent man
suffers I shall hold you accountable, do you understand?"
"I understand, and I am willing to swear to that statement."
"Have the men been arrested?"
"They have, and are now on their way to Chicago."
"They will probably be arraigned to-morrow morning," observed the great
detective.
"See that your witnesses are on hand--you may go now."
When the small man had stolen softly out, down the stair and into the
street, the chief detective descended, entered a closed carriage and was
driven to his home.
It was now past midnight, and all over the city printers were setting up
the story of the arrest of a number of dynamiters on a Burlington train.
The wires were singing it across the country, and cables were carrying
to the ends of the earth the story of the disgrace and downfall of the
Brotherhood.
The headquarters of the strikers were crowded with a host of anxious
men, unwilling to believe that their brothers had been guilty of so
dastardly a crime.
On the following morning, when the daily press had announced the arrest
of the alleged dynamiters, the city was thrown into a fever of
excitement, and thousands who had been in sympathy with the men now
openly denounced them, and by so doing gave aid and encouragement to
the company. The most conservative papers now condemned the strikers,
while the editor of _The Chicago Times_ dipped his quill still deeper
into the gallstand.
Following close upon the heels of the arrest of these strikers came the
sensational arrest of Mr. Hogan, director general of the strike, charged
with conspiracy. The private secretaries of the strike committee turned
out to have been all along in the employ of the Watchem detective
agency, but the charges of conspiracy were never pushed. The men who
were charged with having and using dynamite, however, were less
fortunate. Two were imprisoned, one was fined, the others proved to be
detectives, and of course were released.
The effect of all this was very satisfactory to the company, and
disheartening to the men.
The daily meetings in the hall in town were less crowded, and the
speeches of the most radical and optimistic members of the fraternity
failed to create the old-time enthusiasm. The suits worn by the strikers
were becoming shiny, and the suffering in hundreds of homes was enough
to cause men to forget the commandments. The way cars and cabs of
out-going freight trains were crowded with old Burlington men starting
out to find work on other roads. They had been losing heart for some
time, and now the shame and disgrace caused by the conviction of the
dynamiters made them long to be away; to have a place in the world where
they might be allowed to win an honest living, and forget the long
struggle of which they had grown weary. Unlike the Philosopher, they
were always sure of a ride, but they found that nearly all the roads in
the country had all the men they needed to handle their trains. The very
fact that a man had once been a Burlington engineer was a sufficient
recommendation, and the fact that he had been a striker seems not to
have injured him in the estimation of railway officials generally, but
the main trouble was that there was no place for him.
While the boycott on Burlington cars had kept all roads, not operating
under a receiver, from handling Burlington business, it made it all the
easier for the company to handle the little traffic that came to them
and gave the road the appearance of running trains. All this was
discouraging to the men, and at last, having exhausted all fair means,
and some that were unfair, the strike was declared off. While the
company refused to the last to accept anything short of unconditional
surrender it is pleasing to be able to record here that the moment the
men gave in the officials did all they could, consistent with the policy
of the company and past events, to lessen the pain of defeat. The
following letter, which was sent by the president to the vice-president
and general manager, reminds us of the gentleness of Grant, in
receiving the surrender of a brave and noble general:
_Boston, Jan. 3, 1889._
_To ----, Vice-President C. B. & Q. Railroad, Chicago._
_The company will not follow up, black-list, or in any manner
attempt to proscribe those who were concerned in the strike, but on
the contrary, will cheerfully give to all who have not been guilty
of violence, or other improper conduct, letters of introduction,
showing their record in our service, and will in all proper ways
assist them in finding employment._
In making this letter known to the public the general manager said:
"It is important that no question should arise as to the good faith of
the company, and it is our desire and intention that there should be no
opportunity for such question."
He even offered to shield, as far as was consistent, those who, in the
heat of the fight, had committed unlawful acts. He was a generous
conqueror. It was humane, and manly, and noble in him to help those
unfortunate ones who were now in so much need of help, and to protect
them from the persecution of the few little-souled officials who were
loath to stop fighting. It is all the more creditable because he was not
bound to do it. He wrote: "While men who have been guilty of improper
conduct during the late strike cannot be re-employed, and while we
cannot give letters to them, no officer or employee should continue the
animosities of the conflict after it is over, or interfere to prevent
the employment of such men elsewhere."