Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad post-strike report

The C, B & Q Master Mechanic for West Burlington, Iowa, reports on the work history of several firemen and hostlers who were re-applying for work in the wake of the 1888 strike. Master Mechanic West indicated employees with hash tags (#) who should never be rehired.

West Burlington February 11th, 1889

G.W. Rhodes, Esq.,

Sup't M.P., Aurora, Ills.,

Dear sir;---- The following is a list of Firemen and Hostlers who have made out applications on regular blank form 1608 giving their records from the time they entered the service of the C.B. & Q.R.R., date they made their application; also their record since the strike took place, as near as possible.

C.E. Dougherty, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced November 1882, as Fireman.
March 1886, quit to go farming.
September 1886, returned as Fireman.
Quit February 28th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 11th, 1889.
Record during strike. Run an Engine from Keokuk to Burlington on train 72 Feby. 27th, '88 after the strikers had quit and then left. Was quiet during Strike.

# Geo. J. Heider, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced January 1885, as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888 account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 11th, 1889.
Record during strike. Insulted Conductors wives because their husbands run engines, and was very abusive to Conductors and their wives. Slugged Frank Gallagher, one of our new fireman & got whipped before he got through.

L.W. Giles, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced February 1882, as Wiper.
April 1882, quit.
July 1885, returned as Clinker.
February 1886, Laid off, no work.
March 1886, returned as Wiper.
January 1887, to Boiler washer helper.
August 1887, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1889, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 12th, 1889.
Record during strike. Very quiet during strike.

M.N. McLane, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced February 1883, as Fireman.
Quit February 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 12th, 1889.
Record during strike. Very quiet. Went to work for Express Co.,

# James H. Dixon, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced January 1st, 1888 as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888 acount of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 12th, 1889.
Record during strike. Was bad all through the Strike, and saucy in office since strike was settled.

G.R. Harmer, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced October 1887, as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 14th, 1889. Record during strike. Quiet during strike. Went to work at Carpenter trade.

John Hackmann, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced December 1886, as Engine cleaner.
March 1887, to Fireman.
Quit February 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 14th, 1889.
Record during strike. Quiet during strike.

L.C. Brown, Hostler.
Commenced Sept. 1879, as Fireman.
September 1884, to Hostler.
Suspended 7 days for letting feed pipes on Engine 134 freeze up January 6th, 1887.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 14th, 1889.
Record during strike. Quiet during strike.

C.W. Bunting, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced April 1884, as Wiper.
July 1884, to Sand Dryer.
November 1884, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in a written application for re-instatement Aug. 1st, 1888, also on form 1608, January 14th, 1889.
Record during strike. A noisy striker, calling Train and Enginemen "Scabs" Got to drinkig heavy.

J. Wiedemier, Hostler.
Commenced December 1880, as Laborer.
June 1881, Construction Wiper.
November 1888, to Fireman.
January 1888, to Hostler.
February 27th, 1888, quit account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 14th, 1889.
Record during strike. Quiet during strike.

J.J. Rupp, Hostler.
Commenced November 1880, as Fireman.
November 1884, to Hostler.
December 1884, suspended 30 days for backing Engine 61 into engine 303, Burlington yard.
Quit February 27th, 1888 account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 14th, 1889. Record during strike. Quiet, but has a striker for a wife. She called our new men "Scabs" when passing her house.

Wm. O'Leary Loco. Fireman.
Commenced December 1882, as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888 account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 15th, 1889.
Record during strike. Was very quiet. wanted to go to work, but strikers scared him out.

# J.A. Parmeter, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced September 1878, as Machst. Apprentist.
January 1879, quit.
June 1881, returned as Wiper.
July 1881, Stack Inspector.
May 1882, to Firing up.
September 1884, to Fireman.
Suspended 5 days for letting feed pipes on Eng. 66 freeze up while firing Eng. 66, train 2nd, 19, Jany. 6th, 1887.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 16th, 1889.
Record during Strike. A noisy Striker, Abused new men and train men.

C.R. Dickson, Loco. Fireman
Commenced March 1883 as Wiper.
February 1884 to Stack Inspector.
March 1885, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Record during Strike. Quiet during strike.

T.F. Dailey, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced March 1883, as Fire Box Inspector.
September 1883, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 17th, 1889.
Record during strike. Went to stone cutting, but was a slugger before he got work.

# Wm. Weik, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced January 1883, as Sand Dryer.
November 1884, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 17th, 1889.
Record during strike. A slugger. Was arrsted for slugging Engineer John Coolbaugh, but Judge let him go without fine. Drank heavy during strike.

# W.F. Hunger, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced July 1878, as Laborer.
January 1879 to Blacksmith helper.
March 1880, quit.
November 1881, returned as Fireman.
January 1884, suspended 10 days account getting engine off track in Burlington yard.
January 1885, promoted to Engineer.
February 1885, Discharged account of collision with rear end of passenger train No. 3 at Roseville Station of St. Louis Division, while on Engine 122, Ex. south, February 23rd, 1885. Engine 122 was coupled on to Engine 86, Engr. Hawkins, Hunger did not use proper judgement in reducing speed of Engine approaching station and did not use proper means to stop when seeing No. 3.
December 1886, re-instated as Fireman by request of J.D. Besler.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 17th, 1889.
Record during strike. A slugger. Was arrested for slugging Engineer John Coolbaugh, but Judge let him go without fine.

# John F. Deitz. Loco. Fireman.
Commenced September 1883 as Caller.
May 1885, suspended 10 days for not attending to his duty
April 1886, suspended 15 days for neglect of duty.
July 1887, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in a written application for re-instatement Aug. 1st, 1888, also one on form 1608, January 17th, 1889.
Record during strike. A slugger. Was arrested for sluggin Engineer John Coolbaugh, but Judge let him go without fine.

# N. Dickson, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced February 1883, as Wiper.
March 1883, to Stack Inspector.
July 1883, to Caller.
November 1883, to Wiper.
February 1884, suspended 10 days, disobedience and absence from duty.
December 1884, to Firing up.
June 1886, to Wiper.
September 1886, to Firing up
December 1887, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 18th, 1889.
Record during strike. A noisy bad striker. Would not give up keys to cupboard, and saucy to Mr. Collins.

# H. Flaar, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced September 1883, as Wiper.
June 1886, to Engine Cleaner.
July 1886, to Extra Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608, January 22nd, 1889.
Record during strike. One of the worst Strikers, noisy and mean in every way possible.

# E.C. French, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced January 16th, 1888, as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 23rd, 1889.
Record during strike. A slugger, and it is thought he was the man that slugged Engineer M.G. Long.

# James Kain. Loco. Fireman.
Commenced February 1883, as Wiper.
March 1883, to Stack Inspector.
February 1884, to Machinist helper.
August 1877, to Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 31st, 1889.
Record during strike. A slugger, got to drinking and set on by other men and was bad.

# P. Peterson, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced October 1884, as Wiper.
October 1885, to Fireman.
March 1886, to Pit Cleaner.
July 6th, 1886, to Fireman.
Suspended 10 days July 12th, 1887, for laying out trains and not obeying orders in going on Ex. July 12th, to Ft. Madison.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 31st, 1889.
Record during strike. Was at McCook, Neb., called Master Mechanic R.B. Archibald a "cab" and was one of a mob, pummeling new men.

# S.W. Bowser, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced February 1883, as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888 account of Strike.
Put in application on form 1608 January 31st, 1889.
Record during strike. Was a bad noisy striker.

J.R. Burger, Loco. Fireman.
Commenced November 1884, as Fireman.
Quit February 27th, 1888, account of Strike.
Put in a written application for re-instatement on June 1st, 1888.
Record during strike. Quiet during strike.

The following Firemen which were on the East Iowa Division previous to February 27th, 1888, have not put in any written application for re-instatement, and opposite their names you will find where I understand they are at the present time.

W. Ambrose, dont know.	A.E. Hathaway, don't know	# R. Collins, don't know
Areh McCormick do	T.F. Bonfield, do	# P. Marsell, do
O.J. Tennant, do	# S.J. Eccles, do	W.R. Strain do
# S.A. Eads, do	N. Betson, do	P.J. Kain, do
G.F. Moris, do	John A. Karns, do	E.J. Kelley do
E. Heisey, do	T.F. Humphrey, do
M.J. Qualey, died	H. Bokenkamp do

Yours truly.
J. A. West