The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-12-30

In acknowledging the receipt OF lnaI peti-
ton the following letter explains Itself:
RICHMOND & DANvILLE RAILROAD Co..
OFFICE OF SECOND VICE-PREsIDENT;
Genl. S. MCGOWAN,
Hon. ]. Fuller Lyon, and others,
Abbeville, 5. Z.
GENTLEMEN:
Your petition In regard to Mr.. George w.
Syfan received and l have referred the same
10 our General Manager. Capt. w. H. Green,
who has charge OF the operating department.
of the road. l hope to see him in person soon
and will take pleasure in talking over this
with him.
am very truly yours,
A. B. ANDREWS,
End Vfce-Pres1dent.
Hearing last week that the Columbia and
GreenvilIe Railroad had notified Mr.. George
Branch, that during his sickness or inability
10 run his engine the Company would pay
him thirty dollars a month, the editor OF tne
Press and Banner called at his house one
last week In reference to the matter,
where we found him cheerful and ready to
talk of old times. He was surrounded by the
youth and beauty Of the neighborhood,
while pratling babes and innocent children
Mr.. Syfan is, perhaps, the Oldest railroad
man in the State, that Is to say, he has been
in The employ of the railroads longer than
any man of whom Mr.. Syfan has any knoWl-
edge. He has been at the railroad work Tor
more h fifty years, and is now seventy
one years OF age.
in ls4I he went into the service of the South
Carolina Railroad, and remained in its EN-.
ployment for five years, during. part OF
time-in 1S45-he was at Aiken, and
helped to run the engines and cars up the
at that place.
Great machinery, with immense cables.
were used. A double track was had, and as
one car went down another was brought up
one helping to balance the other.
Blu long ago, the bed OF the road Was
changed, and the "incline'' at Aiken Is thing
OF the past, and is now known only in history
or tradition.
When Mr.. Syfan first went on the road ten
or twelve miles an hour was considered good
speed. The passenger train from charleston,
by taking an early start, reached Columbia
on the evening Of the same day that II LETT
the City by .he Sea-.
But freight trains between these cities were
three days on the road. They stopped two
nights on the way, The freight In the cars
was protected by canvass sides and tops.
The side doors, as now used, were unknown.
The freight was taken out ut the end or the
car, which had a gate similar to the ordinary
road wagon gate OF the present day. Cars, 20
be uuloaded, had to be widely separated.
of the passenger coaches were MADE
after the fashion OF a barrel.
In speaking Of the rude machines which
only ten or twelve miles an hour when
be was q young man, as compared with the
rn mense engines Of the present day, Mr.. Sy-
fan said that he thought In the next MY
years We would see as great an improvement
in the speed of the trains as had been wit
messed in the last fifty years. He believes
that a speed Of seventy-ive miles an hour
will be attained, and with even greater safely
than the travel Of to-day. He said he did not
expect to live to see cars run by electricity,
he thought the time was coming, when
the railroad companies will use II as u mo.
tive I'VE ~
nm rnol M T,,pnor yuos President and aftpr
be retired Mr.. Gadsden came into Office as
chief officer, and finally before he quit the
road, Mr.. Como become President.
In 1851 MIR. Syfan, Mr.. Henry I. Peake, Mr..
J. Lythgoe, left the South Carolina Rail-
road to aid in the construction Of the Column
oia and Greenville Railroad, when Judge
was President. After Judge O'Neall
retired, T. c. Perrin was President for many
years
In August 1852, this country Sill filtered great
" from heavy rains, which raised the streams
higher than they have ever been known TO
be, before or since that time. AT mat time
Syian was In charge of one OF but three
on the road, and underwent a most
adventure. Below Alston his engine
was surrounded by water, and finally the
witt current undermined 1t and CARRIED away
the sand, so hat the engine disappeared be
heath the angry waters. He and his two
negro flremen, sought safety on a raft, and
after being In the water for more than a day
and night they managed TO get to the bank,
from fatigue, hunger, and anxiety they
were so much exhausted that they lay on the
wet ground besida the stream until help
come.
Superintendent William Spencer Brown,
and a son Of supervisor James MeCollum
1t was three months before the road was
opened again. During that time Mr.. ,SYian
his engine. from the water, and built
every trestle between Columbia and
Aston.
He aided In the laying of the track Of the
main line until the work was hnished to
Hodges.
vile branch road with a load Of iron, and he
hauled all the iron for the road to Abbeville,
which place the tracklayers reached July IL,
The trestles at Long Cane and other places
Ever since then and until recently Mr.. Sy-
fan has had charge OF the engine and has RIM
the trains daily between these points. He
was during that time blessed with remark
able health, and throughout all these years,
he served the Company. almost without in-
Permission. until lately when the inhrmities
Of age, together with some hurts which he
In the discharge OF his duty, have
disqualified him temporary, at least, for the
ardnous duties which are now required OF the
engineer on the Abbeville branch.
During q service of nearly forty years on
this road, he has never injured q passenger,
nor seriously damaged his rolling stock, His
care and safe running were proverbail. :,
It was beautiful tribute to his merit and
worth which the Railroad Company through
Captain Dodson, paid to him In putting him
the pay roll during his inability to run his
ngIne such recognition of fidelity should
be a stimulus TO Others to do as has done: In
order that the public may know the high es-
TEEN in which Mr.. Syfan is held by the Com
pany we asked for the letter which contained
the gratifying intelligence, and here 1t Is:
COLUMBIA, S. c.. Dec. II, 1891.
Mr.. G. w. Syfan.
DEAR SlR-I have arranged with the Cen
eral Manager 10 allow me the privilege of
ness. and l will therefore have you placed on
the pay roll for $50 per month.
While l would be glad to do more for yon,
yet the affairs OF the Company will not war
rant more at present, and / am sure that y)u
will appreciate any amount given In the
spirit which we intend as a recognition OF
your long service and faithful discharge Of
duty, ,
hope you may be restored to health and
will at an early day be sufficiently recovered
to resume our usual place on the Abbeville
branch. You will always find me willing to
do whatever lies in my power for efficient
and faithful employees of the Company.
Yours respectfully,
J.A. Dodson, Superintendent.
Mr.. Syfan feelu very proud of the pleasant
manner in which5the letter is written, and he
is grateful. 10 the Company for their liberal
ity. II any man'ever deserved such recogni-
tlon Mr.. Syfan certainly Is the man.
Mr.. Sylan lives In his own neat cottage Ill
Fort Pickens, where he has reared five sons,
each or whom have gone out In the world to
battle for themselves and whose steadily
aud u~ntiring industry are bringing
them eommendable success In the way their
father trod. They are all In Railroad work,
except one, who is a farmer, and their merit
Is such as TO be OF great comfort to their
.
but he has been q good citiZen,
whose influence has been all the time for NOR
nIity and true Christianity. For more than
thirty years he has been a consistent menu
u crlnnartar nf oil nhnrnh AnlnrnrisnG