St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-15
DEATH OF II. G, ATKINS.

assistant General Superintendent Chicago,
NiI,catl;ee ee st. Paul Railroad.
From the Milwaukee Sentinel of Monday the
following narrative is reproduced of the life
work of II. G. Atkins, who died at Lacrosse
Sunday morning.
Shortly after 10 o'clock Sunday, April 10, a
special train heavily draped in mourning, de-
parted from that city for Milwaukee, bearing
the remains, the family of the deceased, a
number of friends, Drs. Marks and Brown,
and several officials of the Milwaukee 81 st.
Paul railway, among the latter being General
Superintendent Clark, General Master Ne
chanic Lowry, Assistant General Superinten-
dent DIN, and Superintendent Collins A
brief stop was made at Portage, to allow the
old friends of Mr.. Atkins an opportunity of
taking last look at his face. There was
large gathering of railway employees at
union depot, awaiting the arrival of
the train, expecting that the remains would
be received there; but, upon entering the
city, the special train was stopped at the foot
of Fifteenth street, from which point the
body was taken directly to Mr.. Atkins late
residence, accompanied by the relatives,
friends and officials. A half hour later,
Superintendent and Mrs. DIN were con-
HOW HE WAS STRICKEN DOWN.
Mr.. Atkins was alone on the street at the
time he was stricken with paralysis, at La
Crosse. 1t seems that after the first touch of
the stroke he walked several PAGES and
caught hold of a telegraph pole, sliding to the
ground and slightly scratching his face as he
fell. Persons near at hand, to whom he was
a stranger, at first supposed that he was in
toXicated, but upon going to his assistance
discovered their mistake. He was at that
time able to speak, and made known
to them that he did not know what was the
matter. He was taken to house near at
hand, and soon afterward Superintendent
Collins came to his assistance. Mr. Atkins
soon became unconscious, and so remained,
except for Il few moments atirregular Intervals
He seemed to recognize members of his family,
for short time, soon after their arrival at
his bedside, but for several hours before his
death he apparently realized nothing that was
going on about him. This fact was the oc-
casion of poignant grief to his family, and
particularly so to his youngest son, who
could not be made to fully understand the
case, and sobbed as if his little heart seemed
about to break, because his "papa would not
awaken and speak' to him. Mr. Atkins APP
peared to suffer but very little during the
critical and closing hours of his life.
THE NEWS AT THE RAILWAY OFFICES.
The feeling of deep sorrow, whichis man
Tested by every official and employe of the
Milwaukee IL st. Paul railway, in conse-
quence of the sudden taking away of Mr..
Atkins, extends throughout the entire rail-
way fraternity of this section, where he has
been so favorably known for over quarter
century. But few officials retain the
universal respect of their subordinates and
employees with whom they have dealings as
has Mr. Atkins, and his standing with the
Milwaukee & st. Paul company and its Off
Gals of higher rank is attested by his long
term of service and the fact that they had re-
peatediy refused to part with his services
when he had been offered desirable positions
with other companies.
1t was well expressed by prominent rail
way official yesterday, who said: Club At
kins was man who, in the railway line,w was
equal to any emergency. When the COM
pany's good demanded any move, there was
no such thing as it can't be done with him;
he never failed to accomplish what he I'M
dertook; it was often the wonder of every
body how it was done; nobody could tell;
but it was done, and that was enough. / |
have often wondered at the mans marvel
GUS endurance. When there has been i'm