Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-30
AIMING TRAINMEN.
me Railroads Adopting Radical
Measures as to Bandits.
WARM RECEPTION ARRANGED FOR.

terest.
Armed men will accompany prac-
ucally every train hauling express or
mail cars from Chicago to any point
east, west or south in the near flu
ture. Two roads have already deter
mined to arm their men. and in n few
days orders will be issued by other
roads running into Chicago to supply
Nlnchesters % all trainmen CON
nected with rains hauling express
cars. This has been found n neces-
sary provision. owing to the repeated
robberies and attacks on trains sup
posed to be carrying a large amount
OF money. Orders have been issued
by the president of the Michigan Cen
tral railroad that every trainman
should be supplied with a couple of
revolvers and a Winchester repeating
rifle. This only refers to those who
travel with the trains hauling Amer
lean express or mail cars. 1t is not
the intention If the Michigan Central
officials to Kill robbers at sight. The
revolvers are only to be used in cases
OF emergency, and these cases are
considered tC be so rare that the
trainmen have been warned not to
draw them until the last moment.
The Winchesters are to be used at
any and all times when n train is
held up by bandits, and more mer-
ciful dose will be fired at the robbers
than the latter have used recently on
defenSeless trainmen. The Michigan
Central will not supply any shell
cartridges to its employees, The Win
cheSters are to be loaded with buck
shot, and when robbers appear with
rifles or revolvers they will be treat
ed to n shower of shot which will not
necessarily Kill. 1t is understood
that the Rock Island, the Wabash.
the Illinois Central and other roads
will take the same precautions imme-
diately. The Rock Island. it is
stated. will arm the engineers. fire
men. conductors and brakemcn OF all
trains having express cars. The weap-
onS will he two revolvers and VIM
chester shot gun loaded with buck
shot. tor each man.
The slough Bridge.
Among the improvements being
made along tie Rock Island road the
most important i the widening of
the slough bridge, so that two tracks
may tie laid instead of one. \ few
wears AGO 4 double track was laid on
the island between the two Rock Isl
and bridges for the purpose of eXpe-
diting railroad traffic. but with the
advance OF time the road grows
larger and necessarily Improvements
must be made on n larger scale.
The work of widening the piers on
the slough bridge is one which not
only costs great deal of money, but
is work which requires no little
amount of labor. 1t is hoped by the
railroad company to finish the work
this winter. but it is doubtful ii it
can be done. When finished it will
not only he al advantage 20 the COM
pany as to facilitating traffic, but
will also be les dangerous than here
tofore for railroad men. The
dump" as the slough bridge is
commonly cal ed. is one of the mean
est places on the road, especially
when business is rushing. and the
dou ble-track bridge is necessity,
the want of which has long been
needed Predictions are that in a
few years we will have a double-track
bridge clear across the Mississippi ut
Rock Island.
Links and Pins.
VIII Street mas returned from the
fair.
Russell Hampton has taken a posi-
ton as car sealer for the c., X. |. " 7.
Dan Sullivan has returned from the
fair. and is n fat rs ever, so they
say.
Edmund Roach has been working
for the last few days for the Rock
Island, as clerk.
John Gaffev. with the Rock Island
in Moline, left last evening for few
| days at the far.
David Hitler. caller, and Il. c.
Reeves. sealer for the c.. K. |. II P,
have resigned their positions.
George Porter, the popular fire
man of the c.. r. l. & F., has been
promoted. and is now running an en-
CINE in Peoria.
b. b. Raw. for some time past
night yardma ster of the Rock Island;
has charge now of the day yard, and
Patrick Curtin, the day yardmaster.
has charge of the night yards.
Preparations are being made by the
Rock island for Chicago day at the
fair today. All the agents along the
line have received notice that on the
9TH and Sth tickets will be sold to Chi
cago and return for one fare good
for return until the 10Th inclusive
While some of the officials of the