Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-08
HARRY HARRISON GAINED.
Made the Recipient Of Handsome
Gift.
Completely surprised by Apprecia-
tive Friends---some Well Deserved
Compliments.

Harry Harrison. psymsster in the office
of the Coal Valley Mining Co., was the
subject OF complimentary greeting and
presentation on the part OF his friends
last evening as well as OF genuine sur,
prise. At $3.50 o'clock fifteen OF Mr..
Harrison's most intimate acquaintances
assembled at the Rock Island house, and
under the peaceful surveillance Of Magis-
trste II. G. Wivill and Agent G. II. Bash
forth. OF the United States F xpress cons
pany. drove out to Mr.. Har ison's home
at the head OF Seventeenth street and
quietly took possession. TIE Intrusion
was so gentle and so well planned. how
ever, that no resistance whatever was
shown and Miss Mamie Harrison and her
friend. Miss Msdge Aster, received the
guests, having had an init nation that
something was TO happen. and made
them perfectly at home. Harry" how
ever, the callers discovered, had gone
down town and there WAS only TO wait
his return, and as some time elapsed be-
fore he did. the thought was expressed
that perhaps they were going to be
the ones who were to bs surprised
after all. What if Harry should hap.
pen to go to theatre and not return
until later Mrs. Harrison had been adj
vised OF the intended compl ment to her
husband, but she had not breathed a
word of it TO him, though she and her
daughter had quietly made preparations
to contribute to the pleasure OF the &C.
casien, as was shown.
Suspense was finally relieved by the
sound Of footsteps outside. and Harry
A more surprised man would
be difficult 10 conceive. Before he could
realize whether he was in his own home
or in someone else's. he was taken pos
session of, and Maj. ]. II. Boards
ley, as master of ceremonies, in~
troduced City Attorney Joseph L. Haas,
who advanced and in words that were
well selected presented to NJ. Harrison
an elegant black ebony gold mounted
cane, which Mr.. Haas stated represented
the best thing in liie-gold and ebony
purity and strength. He trusted that
the rest of his life the re-
cipient would carry it as an evidence of
support in declining years. bu. as an ever
NJ o. % 81.
ship.
Magistrate III. c. Wivill was then in
as the chief speaker. and he
spoke with much feeling. as follows:
/ am proud to be here toni ght. am
proud, gentlemen. 10 stand before my re-
'pected friend. Harry Harrison. / am
proud TO congratulate him on the com
pletion of such handsome al comfort
able q residence. He has selected one of |
he most beautiful building sites in the |
county OF Rock Island. over ooking MS /
I does a large portion of the CITY of Rock |
Island. the great and beautiful Missis> |
'ippi river. the orthwestern portion of |
he city OF Davenport, in the state of |
Iowa. / say gentlemen, no more beau. |
iful spot could be found to erect a
iwelling upon than this; could he have |
purchased the great and famous watch |
over, where the old Indian Sac warrior |
ay in wait watching for the troups sent |
against him by General Reynolds, il |
would not be more beautiful than this. |
There Is no man within the scope of nv /
AGO uaintances that ! esteem So highly as
do Harry Harrison. be having been born |
n the city of Dublin in that dear old /
Ireland. that has been the birth |
place OF some OF our greatest statesmen, |
'ome of our most eminent thsologians.
he was born, gentlemen, as the two |
hands Of the great old clock pointed to
ward the sky. and as d matter of fact | |
believe he never knew for Ger .siuty Just |
when he was born. whether IL the last |
OF the 3ist day Of December, |
1882. or the first moments of January. |
LIST, 1888. He was. however q New |
Years gift, of which his parents were
Justly proud. Could it be ans wonder. |
gentlemen. that in the birth o. so lovely |
4 son that the time should be forgotten7 |
After the death of his dear old parents,
whose ashes repose in lreand'3 soil, and
whose souls | trust are enjoying the hsp>
plness OF q well spent life, he left his ma
tive home and the next we know of him
He lands in the city of New York. He
there soon finds employment NJ q clerk in
a drug store. Some years later he takes
up his abode in the great and glorious
state of Illinois For he last twenty
years he has held various places of trust
Years ago he was general manager OF q
large dry goods store at Coal Valley. was
also at the same time railroad agent and
express agent. He is today. and has
been for years. the pay as.e Of the
great Cable Coal company. and perhaps
handles one hundred thousand dollRra q
month, and no man was ever held in
greater esteem by his employers than is
Harry Harrison. Go, if you please. to
Coal Valley. and ask the De ople there
what they think Of Harry Harrison; go
TO the town Of Gable and lower yourself
to the bottom of the great coal mines.
sound your trumpet and bring to the sur
face the coal blackened miners, ask them
what they think of Harry Harrison Ask,
IL you please, Mr.. s. B. Stcddard, the
worthy and accomplished sgep. Of the c..
r & p. railroad. and see What he will
say Of him; ask II you please. he gentle
manly anu kluu Objects Ol llt H., i. *
P. road and hear their answer cable, If
you please, to Ben 7. Gable, who has
been for some time in Europe gen.
tlemen, were il possible to communicate
with those beyond the grave. what think
you Hon. p. l.. Cable would ssyG One
and all would say Harry Harrison is an
honorable and upright gentleman. In
conclusion let me say that trust his life
may be spared for many years and at the
hour of his death may he be prepared TO
enjoy the blessings OF q well-soeut life.
Msj. J. NJ. Besrdsley followed with
appropriate remarks. after which Mr..
Harrison. who had stood up TO this mo-
ment in utter bewilderment. attempted q
response. He expressed the complete
ness of the surprise, his gratitude for the
token and showed that the occasion had
touched q tender spot. He was greatly
affected by the maGnifcence Of tie GIFT
M uali ne the many kind words sloken