St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-24
sWITCHMEN AT PLAY.
The Mutual Aid Association En-
joys q Fine Day at Bald Eagle.

The Mutual Aid Association En-
joys Fine Day at Bald Eagle.
The third annual picnic Of the st.
Paul Switchmen's Mutual AID asSOcia-
ton was held at Bald Eagle lake yester-
day. The society is an organization for
the purpose of mutually aiding those
hard working employees in the different
railway yards of the city, not only by
expanding aid in time of sickness or ac-
cidents, which are very liable to occur,
but to also aid each other in securing
better wages and shorter hours. Few
people not acquainted with the work OF
switchmen realize the responsibility
of the position they occupy. They are
obliged to be on duty III all kinds OF
whether, no matter how cold or
stormy. In yard like those of st. Paul,
where there are so many trains and
tracks. misunderstanding OF a signal
or order. and the consequent misplacing
of switch, may send hundreds OF peO-
pie to their death or cause thousands OF
dollars worth of damage. Continuous
hard work of this kind calls. for recrea-
ton. and SO the society has for the past
three years held these picnics for mu-
tual intercourse. Yesterday was the
day chosen, and a more pleasant day
could not have been selected. The
st. p. L. ID. road furnished the assOcia-
ton with two engines and baggage
car, while the Northern Pacific fur
nished eight cars, the st. p. M. & NJ.
one, the Wisconsin Central two, the c.,
M. & st. P. two, and the Omaha
three, all which left the Union depot at
about $3.50 in the morning filed, with
about 1000 persons in all. st. p. u ID.
Engine No. Al, with Nick DinOn as en-
gineer, and K. ellis. fireman, had been
decorated for the occasion. and the COM
mittee who had the work in charge dld
their duty in fine style. Upon each side
of the tender were the letters rs. NJ. A..
A." made from roses and evergreens,
while upon the headlight was coup
ing-pin running through a car-link,
also made of roses. The engine was
completely covered with red, white
and blue bunting, and presented fine
sight. j. W. Morrison. of the Manitoba;
ton & Northern; L. l.. Ryan, of the
Northern Pacific; E. Mcclure, of the
Northern Pacific, and James Forester,
of the Chicago, Burlington Il Northern,
did the decorating. st. Paul s. Duluth
Engine No. 81, Nick Caslon engineer
and Frank O'Donnell fireman, was also
attached to the train. Conductor George
Richardson, of the st. Paul Il Duluth.
had charge of the train. The excur-
sionists arrived at Bald Eagle about
1880, and at once proceeded to enjoy
themselves in divers ways. Most of the
families brought their baskets and en-
joyed regular picnic dinner. Various
amusements, including dancing to Sci
bert's orchestra, boating, ball
playing, etc.. were the order
Of the day. The officers of
the association are: Master.
John w. Young, of the Omaha yards;
vice master, w. W. Smith, of the North
ern Pacific; recording secretary, James
Forester. of the Chicago, Burlington 4
Northern; financial secretary. j. w.
Morrison, of the Manitoba; treasurer,
/ George McCann, of the Omaha. Each
railroad furnished all the cars it could
spare, and the st. Paul & Duluth fur
nished the engines and train men. all
being donated to the association. The
proceeds of the occasion will go into the
relief fund of the association. The
crowd was orderly and nothing occurred
to mar the pleasure of the day.