The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-26


ports best citizens. At the time referred
TO be was travelling for Iiveright, whose
wholesale liquor house was in the store
now occupied by Kerker Brcs. grocery.
He was IN Iowa City on one of his trips,
and wished to reach Davenport on that
night. He had some customers he desired
10 see on the road between lows City and
Oxford. some twenty miles distant. 1t
was in the afternoon, and no trains were
| to pass on which he could ride, and cover
the intervening small villages and make
his way ok To Iowa City and take the
regular express fer Davenport that night,
He was resolved to do it. though, and car
ried out rather hazardous experiment.
I construction train waslat the depot in
Iowa City, and securing the services of a
confederate to the scheme, he led the con-
ductor and tlaia hands to believe he was
Mr. lei. #. Royce, the assistant superinten-
dent Of the read, and he desired to make
a trit, of inspection over the road between
Iowa City and Oxford and back, TO look
into defects IN the road bed that had
been complained Of .Ea - aaa5a
I The unsuspectiag train hands had never
seen Mr. Royce to their knowledge, and
were easy victims. Steam was gotten up
in asfwinklfng, everything about the train
was put in ship shape, and a seat was ar
ranged for Mr. Royce so, that he could
conveniently view the road as they passed
over it, At each town ia which he de
sired to transact any business he ordered
the train to stop and wait for his return.
Oxford was reached. and the return trip
made, Mr. Royce with note book in hand
all the while, telling the conductor he
would Immediately see that this or that
defect or bad place on the line of road
would be Immediately remedied, the train
men all the time paying such strict atten-
ton to his wants and comforts as to make
him laugh outright at them. .ss..s .szsg
Iowa City was reached, and Mr.. Royce
left for his hotel in time for supper. and
took the express for Davenport, his home.
OF course, the deception .practiced on the
train men leaked out; for on the day mem
toned, Mr.. Royce was twoEhundred miles
away from Iowa City When the en-
ployes discovered how they had carried a
man not connected with the road in any
capacity and run trains at his bidding, and
without official orders, they were in fear
and dread of losing their places, And
along the road the deception was success.
full on the station agents and citizens.
many of whom had seen Mr. Royce quite
often, and had had dealings with him.
The joke was thoroughly. appreciated
by the officials of the road, as no damage
or loss was sustained. The gentleman
who personated Mr.. Royce WAS thrown in
company with General Manager Kimball
shortly after the occurrence. and he was
greeted with Good evening. Mr.. Royce
how is your end of the road getting onap
And he loves tc tell the story Of his sue
cessfu1 exploit now, does the assumed Mr..
Royce. - - 9foA
" That kind Of practical aci joke !. would not
succeed with the Rock Island now. Toe
many trains pass over,its line. both ways
now to permit Of a construction trains
moving without positive telegraphic sorti
ders-or in fact. any train, no matter of
what kind. Things were different then in
the Hawkeye State. Town and villages
which are now thriving cities, were just
springlng into existence, and the pillow and
pIawman could not be seen every few. acres
you would pass. -1