The Anaconda Standard

All day the call boy is kept at home tab on the railway.

Missoula, Dec. 27.—Rumors of promotion were rampant last week. That concerning Superintendent Ramsey's promotion to the position of assistant general superintendent is one which has circulated at periods for some time past, both here and in Tacoma. While it has not been confirmed, the general belief is that there is some fire where there is so much smoke. Superintendent Dorsey of the Coeur d'Alene branch, who has been promoted to the superintendency of the Yellowstone division. Chief Dispatcher Boyd succeeds him at Wallace, Idaho, and Dispatcher James Burke becomes chief dispatcher. Those are three as deserved promotions as ever were made.

Conductor W. E. Preston left Monday night for Seattle to appear as a witness in a railroad lawsuit.

Conductor Cleary will not take his vacation at present, as he had expected to do. He had secured a leave of absence for himself and passes for himself and wife on Monday, and was going to the coast most immediately, when a telegram came from St. Paul announcing that Mrs. Cleary's mother was seriously ill. She left for St. Paul at once and Mr. Cleary gave up his trip to the coast.

Some of the railroad men have many friends. Some of these friends are so familiar that they always take a cigar if they get a chance. Dipping cigars in tobacco pepper sauce will not work with these men unless the dipping amounts to immersion. Conductor Ed. Winston, down east of Helena, fixed up an excellent cigar and let an engineer friend of his take it. When lighted a little Fourth of July celebration occurred. It was not an ordinary loaded cigar, but contained rockets, Roman candles, etc., so numerous that the engineer did not enjoy it.

Tom Kirkpatrick, an extra passenger conductor between Arlee and Hope, was in the city on Wednesday. He is an old-time railroad man and ran into Missoula eight years ago.

On Thursday afternoon some evil disposed person in the dispatcher's office concocted a scheme for some fun at Jim Burke's expense. A bunch of firecrackers was quietly fastened under his chair and ignited. It is needless to say that Jim moved. He went down to the freight office and did the same thing with Bud Hoblitzell and Bud moved. Then Bud rang up central and exploded a firecracker near the phone and the operator at central moved. At any rate Bud heard the phone drop and heard a yell.

Engineer J. Baillie has gone to London, Ontario, on a two months' visit.

Conductor John Paul and wife have gone to Bloomington, Ill., where Mr. Paul's father is seriously ill.

James F. Corbett, of the dispatcher's office, the most truthful man on the Rocky Mountain division, went to Iron Ridge tunnel yesterday. After he came back from his first trip there he reported that he had killed 13 deer and wounded 27 with a .22 calibre rifle. Corbett differs from George Washington only in that he cannot tell a lie that anybody will believe.

Last Sunday afternoon Helena division No. 243, O. R. C., which recently removed from Helena to Missoula, held an election of officers. In the evening the new officers were installed. They are as follows: Chief Conductor, C. H. Connor; assistant C. C., George Reimers; senior conductor, George Cunningham; junior conductor, J. H. Siris; inside sentinel, W. E. Preston; outside sentinel, D. W. Grinnell; secretary and treasurer, M. B. Miles; grievance committee, C. E. Snedaker, chairman, J. Dondel, A. Holbert.

A man is not always safe in believing that because he has a slight acquaintance with some branch of knowledge, others are totally ignorant of it. The other night a man went into the dispatcher's office. Among those who were there was Thompson, one of the call boys, the one who drags his foot when he walks, because he is too lazy to pick them up. He commenced to tick off on one of the telegraph keys his poor opinion of the visitor. When he had finished the man turned to him and thanked him for the compliment. Thompson stock dropped to 2 cents a share with no bidders.

Conductor Sawhill and Express Messenger Knutz did a rushing business in Christmas trees early in the week.

THE CALL BOY.

SEEN BY FRITZ,

And Told By the Same Observing Individual.

Special to the Standard.

Missoula, Dec. 27.—Murray Miles went to Anaconda to spend Christmas. In his absence Marsh Hartman handled the bills.

Tony Collins, the popular conductor, is spending a few days in Helena. Some of the boys think it is becoming serious in that direction.

Jim Burke will soon abandon the pompadour. About the 1st of the month his duties will become so arduous that the familiar word 'Jim' will be annulled and 'Mr.' made his title.

N. Y. Central Munger has taken a few days' leave of absence to visit friends in the East.

McDonald and Jimmie Ramsey ate a late possum dinner at the Model Christmas. A bowl of punch was indulged in, to McDonald's apparent delight.

All the trainmen were in Missoula Christmas, as Mr. Ramsey kindly held trains until night.

Nixon is running a train on the Snake route.

Conductor Jerry Sires has a growler, but he never rushes it.

Bill Dyson, conductor between Missoula and Elliston, has two of the best brakemen on the Rocky Mountain division. Anytime that Bill has any work to do he, not forgetting his younger days in the St. Louis yard, will always be found doing the coupling himself.

Andy Hogan, conductor on the east end, spent his Christmas in Missoula.

Sam Dawson is now running a train on Missoula mountain.

Laughing Jack Ward had to go out a little too early Christmas. Jack is a popular con.

Billy Dick signs the orders on Missoula mountain.

George Cunningham is running a passenger between Missoula and Helena. Cunny is a jolly fellow and as popular as an English lord at an American watering place.

Pat Sommers had to come in dead head last week, taken with the grippe at Elliston.

George Fellows is biding his time for a trial with three conductors before standing an examination. George thinks when a man runs a train on the Southern Pacific he ought to be qualified for a train on the Rocky Mountain division.

FRITZ.