Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-12-04
DIVISION SIXTY SURPRISED
Gallant Engineers HOnored by Fair
Ladies'
Happy Presentation at the Hail OF the
knights OF the Throttle In Rey-
noids' Block Last Evening---A Ban
auet---The Addresses a nd Other FIX
erctses.

AuuFtSres n M other ~
ercises.
Last evening witnessed the quarter
century anniversary of the organization
of Division 60. brotherhood of Locomo-
tive Engineers of this city, and the event
was made one OF particular JOY to the
gallant knights of the throttle aud their
fair ladies and friends. The engineers
knew that their wives and daughters pro-
posed visiting them on this occasion. but
they had no realization OF the nature
OF the greeting or the extent of the
surprise. The fact that the ladies' had
Indicated their purpose to participate
in the observance of the important ami
verssry occasion. brought out large at
tendance of members of the order. every
one OF who was not out of the city BY
virtue of his duties. being present. So that
the hall was comfortably filled, not only
with the stern. weather. beaten faces of
the knights of the tbrott e, the cheering
gentle faces of their wives and older
daughters, but the brigh faces of inno-
cent. light-hesrted children. Some time
had been spent in exchange of greetings
and social intercourse, wnen Mrs. James
Mirdeld. wife of Division Master Me-
chanic Mirfield. secured order and Mrs.
James Carl. wife of Engineer Carl. on be-
half of her lady associates,
PRESENTED THE BROTHERHOOD
with beautiful altar cloth and hands
some bible mark, the LAZY speaking as
follows:
To our worthy Chief and Members of Division
81, Is. OF l. +.
1t gives US much pleasure to have the
privilege of meeting with you on this the
twenty>tifth anniversary of your Organi-
zstion. Especially do We deem il priv
ilege when it is considered that your hall
was originally determined for use only
for your meetings. and not social pur-
poses. But the ladies we're not To he put
of in that way. This reminds us of the
Jewish legend which tells US that when
the temple of Jer issle n was completed
King Solomon gave FEAST to all en-
gagged in its construction. Upon ascend
ing TO the throne it was found smith
had usurped the seat OF honor at the right
OF the kings place not yet awarded
Whereupon the people clsmored and the
guards rushed to cut i'm down, but the
king said hold. let HIN speak" and he
said, thou hast invited all craftsmen but
one. but how could this temple have been
raised but for the tools furnished
True, said Solomon. 1.-The seat is his of
right. all honor TO the iron worker
But we not being able to WELD the throt-
tie, do hold sway over the lunch basket,
and, unlike the iron worker, when the
| social was spoken of these rooms
were kindly rendered us In visiting
them, we thought them very tasty and
beautiful. but in order that we might add
some token with which to help commem-
| crate this occasion. and in behalf of the
ladies' Of this division allow me 10 present
you with this altar scarf. II is seldom
we are privileged to meet on a twenty
fifth anniversary and with such an op-
portuuity. Memory dwells on the vi
cissitudes. experience and the thoughts
turning from the cares and anXieties. re-
views with more chez rfulness the fpllci-
hiNo w Aht past 81 IhAuldA - II 2ti US
to overlook the shadows and see only the
brightness. even though it be- the silvery
edge, with such pleas ant memories. Dear
friends. may you continue through life's
journey, may your paths he Strewn with
roses Of kindness and affection, and when
your final trip is made and yOL reach
that home above NAV YOU all meet around
the great altar above not made by hands
eternal At the throne of God.
CHIEF BAKIR's REPLY.
Chief Baker, who by the way. is one
OF the veterans of tie cab in the service
of the Rock Island road, and has been
identified with the division for twenty
years, responded and after fee lingly and
in well-chosen words expressed the graft
itude of the division for the handsome
token and the very pleasant manner in
which it had been presen ted. ne pro-
ceeded to give a short sketch of this
branch of the order OF railway engineers.
| He said:
Division 50 was organized twenty-five
years ago tonight. The brotherhood of
4
ond year of existence. having been in.
stituted at Detroit in 1868 Thos. T.
Dodge. then rum ng an engine on the
old Chicago i Rock Island railroad OBJ
tanned dispsnsation from the
grand chief to open "A division
at Rock Island. the same to be chars
tered as Rock Island Division No so.
This memorable gathering took place
on Twenty third street between Third
and Fourth avenues in an unpretentious.
vacant house, and this first division hall
was conspicuous Tor its lack of furnish
ings. seats being improvised By laying
boards on spike leys and box serving
as desk. T. T. Dodge opened as chief
engineer. and in due time proceeded to
the election of officers. The original
hall was probably in use some time, as
the record notes quarter rent bill for the
extravagsnt price of "a. After time
the meetings took place in the master
mechanics Office at the Davenport shops.
Later. through the proverbial kindness of
Supt. Kimball, tie use of the presidents
room on the second floor of the DaveD-
port passenger house was allowed, and
continued to he our quarters until the
spring of 1868, when a nice hall was
| ntteo up on BRADY street. below Ihlrd
Again in a few years was the division
located in Rock Island in the Star block
on Second avenue. At last, through the
. progressive tendency of public spirited
citizen. WIS this handsome building erect.
ed and to his libsrality and good will are
we indebted for these spacious rooms
which are not second in their appoints
ments to any division rooms in the
broad west.
Division go. during its honorable exis
tence of a quarter of century, has in
stalled twelve chiefs; of these, Hobbs an
Ewing each served six years. In all this
retrospect we may recall with pride til a
our division has ever been to the fore
and the record shows that from its be-
ginning, substantial and ready aid has
been contributed in all instances of trib
ulation to the order. Let us stop ant
contrast our surroundings here tonigh