The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-27
SrreHBoauoop NEWS


rHE PRESENTATION TO JOHN THOMAS, RiTIRIsg
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE c. a r. RAILROAD.
During the past eighteen years Mr.. John
Thomas has been Superintendent OF the ., 4
L. railroad. And under his able management
tho road ranks to-day second to none in chi.
cheney, perfect discipline aud harmony In all
its workings. II Is seldom that oil the eic-
ments OF character that enter into his compo-
sitlon are possessed by any one man. Kind
and gentle IN the enforcement Of strict dis
cipline, never acting from any personal mo
tive but always actuated by high sense OF
honor and right, with fidelity to the COM
pany and justice, tempered with consistent
mercy, to the employe, He has been loved,
respected aud obeyed by those under his
authority. On January he rendered his res
ignatiOn TO accept u position us Superintend-
ent Of the Chicago Division Of the Baltimore
a Ohio railroad, and as a token Of the esteem
and love they bore him the employees on
last Friday might presented him with solid
silver set and u handsome gold watch and
chain.
The presentation was made in the large
hall at Welsville. The hall was densely
packed with the cite OF the city and railroad
employees. Special trains were run from
Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Bellaire, to take
employees TO Wellsville At o o'clock the
last train arrived. Mr. White, US Chairman
OF the Committee, stated the object Of the
meeting, and introduced Mr.. n. H. Chapman,
Master Machnist OF the g. & r. Railroad, but
who has also resigned his position, to accept
u similar situation with the u. Il o. Com
pany. Mr.. Chapman said: "The strong
love and high esteem felt on the part Of the
employees OF the g. & I. prompted them In
presenting TO Mr.. Thomas, as slight token
OF their appreciation OF his uniform kind.
ness and manly courtesy towards them In
the past years OF their association, n substnn-
tlal present, that In future years might as.
sist In holding them in his memory. He had
served eighteen years with them, the half
OF an average lifetime, and all these years
OF service had been characterized by uni
form Kindness TO all, with an eye single to
! the Interests OF the company"
Mr. Chapman then presented Mr.. Thomas
with magnificent ten set, numbering ten
pieces, and a handsome gold watch and
chain, appropriately inscribed, and closed by
wishing him the success in the future which
his worth deserved.
Mr. Thomas then stepped forward and said,
being invited 10 be present on this occa.
sion, 1t was with knowledge at later hour
that q token OF some kind was to be pre-.
sented to him, but that the beau.
ty and costincss were surprise.
Picking up the massive watch and chain he
| dwelt eloquently aud emblematicaIiy on
their beauty and design. illustrating In the
chain the links OF affections ties, that bind
IN strength and beauty old friendships, tried
and true. "As sit in quiet meditation or
am jostled in the busy whirl OF ife's stern
| realities, aud look into the face OF this beau
tiiul watch, my mind will carry me back to
| nt m luNFu adj T.. .
ihe past will present themselves from out the
Chamber of my memory and stand in the
living present. And the delicate hand on
the dial plate OF this beautiful token of YOUR
remembrance OF me, hope may number as
pleasant hours in my future relations as my
past have been with You. And when this
handsome tea set graces my table, will see
in II that which my guests cannot. shall
enjoy memory's hidden treasures that others
suing around the same board will little
dream Of"
Mr.. Thomas then took n retrospective view
OF his eighteen years OF hard, active service,
Eighteen years ago" he said, ~ arrived in
Wellsville, and stepped from one Of the little
Old green passenger coaches that were then in
use, upon the narrow station platform, not
the broad ample one you now see. 1t was n
bitter cold day, and Notwithstanding every
thing within and without my mind were not
exactly calculated 70 make the surroundings
pleasant, rather liked the old town, and
this feeling has strengthened ms The years
have come aud gone. From Welsville
went to Cleveland and met Mr.. Devreaust,
with whom ! went to work, aud since that
time have labored as faithfully as | know
how to promote the interest of employees and
employer, and ~ stand here tonight. men
and boys Of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh rail.
road, can look you square in the face and
say that in all my intercourse with you |
nave earnestly and constantly aimed 10 deal
with you in an upright, Just and conscien.
tious manner, and il / have erred. it has been
an error OF the head and not OF the heart.
We have sometimes had it hard and rough.
and stern sense OF duty has in some cases
compelled action on my part in the
| interest Of the company that may
have seemed n little hard, but do not think
That any one after mature consideration
could say but that acted from what con-
sldered pure motives; and now the time has
come when think 1t my duty to myself to
sever my connections with you and enter
another field OF service, yet cannot or will
not say farewell. | feel that the friend
Snips formed IN the years gone by cannot he
broken, aud II would be an unpleasant
Some OF us, however, may not, as the dread
messenger is constantly lowering in black
winged flight and darts upon its prey when
least expected. We know not what day
may bring forth. And often, instead Of
seeking the warm grasp OF friendship on
meeting u friend, we find death enthroued.
Many of our old companions and associates
| have gone over the silent and mystic river.
So 1t behOoves us all not only TO do our duty
here in our everyday worldly affairs, but so
live that when our summons comes we ap-
proach our graves soothed and sustained by
an unialtering Christian trust"
DR.. J. NJ. Todd being present was called on
and responded in his happiest mood. The
Doctor said that he could not imagine why
he was called on for speech, and II he had
doubte'barrefcd shotgun loaded up to the
muzzle, andcould for moment Danish his
christian virtues and the SixthCommandment
aud find the mar who had shin called he
would give the surgeons OF the company
job before morning for this outrage on his
feelings However he pitched in, and in
very eloquent manner ulogized Mr.. Thomas.
Ills language was splendid, and he was fire.
quenty applauded.
The Doctor said, that as surgeon for the
company, he had had frequent intercourse
with Mr. Thomas, and that invariably he
sMr, Thamasl had done all liz his. power to
alleviate the suffering and want OF the un.
fortunate; and the Doctor attributed Mr..
Thomas success to this fact that he [Mr,
Ihomasl had always endorsed whatever he
Todd had done; and after the laugh had
subsidized, that this was intended to provoke,
the Doctor added that this proved Mr.. Thomas
to be n smart man, The Doctor closed by
saying that our loss in the resignation was
coHsoled by the fact that his mantle fell on
one who is so fully capable and in every way
so well qualified 10 wear it as his successor,
Mr.. P. Bruner.
BELLAIRE
Vacant lots on Noble street, below Indian
run, are now worth $1,000.
Frank Smith is talked Of for Democratic
candidate for Township Treasurer.
Lew Over was out Of doors Saturday for the
nHsN ttf,an to- I..,. .s.l... ~.