The Aberdeen examiner., 1884-07-24
Driving the Golden Spike


Canton, Aberdeen & Nashville Rail-
road and the attainment of direct
communication with New Orleans, a
project that was conceived by Aber-
deenians, executed before the war to
the extent Of the building of the d.
vision between New Orleans and
Jackson-where half a million dol
lars of Aberdeen and Monroe county
money was expended-and finally
completed to this city, from Kosci-
usko, through the enterprise energy
and noble liberality of the great
Illinois Central system, on Friday
last.
AT half past three o'clock in the
afternoon a procession was formed
near Municipal Hall, in the following
order: 1st Saunders band under
leadership of Mr.. Ed Saunders; End
the Aberdeen Guards, under Capt.
f. L. Sykes; Bro, section of Artillery,
in charge of Gen. r. Davis, Chair
man of Committee on Salutes; 4th,
Howard Hook and Ladder Company,
under Foreman J J. Guth; 9TH, Steam
Fire Engine Company, Monroe No.
3, under Foreman w. J. Webb, Jr.;
9th, Engine Company Abereen No.
/, under Foreman James Baldwin
the entire Fire Brigade being under
the command of the efficient Chief
of the Fire Department, Capt. j. W.
Howard.
1t was intended that a procession
of un-uniformed citizens should fol-
low :he Fire Brigade, but the day
was so terribly hot that this portion
of the programme was omitted.
Arriving at the Depot of the new
road,we found an immense concourse
of citizens assembled, including at
least thousand ladies'. Upon the
track stood the engine Jacob Gait
man, named in honor Of our enter
prising and progressive fellow-citi-
zen, and as soon as the procession
halted the signal for the commence
ment of the exercises was given by
the firing of cannon, whistling of To-
comotives and steam fire engines,
ringing of bells, etc.
This was succeeded by music from
the band after which Mayor Love, as
Chairman of the Committe Of Ar
ragements, introduced Hon. L. K.
Houston, of our city, a Director in
the Board of the old N. O. Jackson
& Great Northern Railroad before
and after the war up to its passing
into the hands of the Illinois Central
Company; Director of the Canton,
Aberdeen & Nashville Railroad, one
of the pioneers of the Original pro-
iect and friend of the scheme who
stood at the cradle and stood by it
until its baby sinews hardened into
steel, and its mature grasp was upon
the waters of the Mississippi and
Tombigbee.
Judge Houston on behalf of our
citizens delivered an elegant and
eloquent address, rehearsing the his
tory of the project from its inception
to completion, paying glowing and
we'll deserved tributes to President
Clark, of the Central; President
Fentress, of the G. A & N; Chief
Engineer Mann; Division Engineer
DeCourcey; the officers of the M. &
o. r. r., and those OF our own peo-
pie who had been conspicuous in the
furtherance of various enterprises
with which the city and county are
now blessed. In conclusion he pre-
sented Chief Engineer Mann with a
massive gold spike-the size of an
iron one-in the name of the people
of Aberdeen.
Capt. Jno. G. Mann, responded
feelingly and fttingly to this address,
on behalf of himself and fellow Off
cers,and turning to little Miss Vida
Love, handed her the spike to be
driven in honor of the completion of
the road.
The little maiden received it be-
comingly,and with a Liliputian spike
driver that had been made for the
occasion drove it into the hole that
had been prepared for it in the hard
oak sill.
The last blow of the hammer was
the signal for the firing of cannon
and the sounding of steam whistles,
followed by sweet strains of music
from the band.
Little Miss Annie Lowe Jonas, was
then introduced by Mayor Love, who
briefly addressed the Chief Engineer,
concluding by presenting him with
an elegant red satin signal flag, upon
which in letters of gold were the
initials of the rail road.
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