The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-22
in Smoke.

! IL hiss long been the opinion OF tht
! public, and especially of the employees o
I the Missouri Pacific Railway company
! that Mr.. Russell Harding is man whC
| will bear watching, so last night be wa:
waited upon By about 200 of the Missouri
Pacific boys and watched accordingly,
albeit the eyes of not a few OF the
| watchers were dim.
Mr. Harding's retirement from the
superi ntendency of the Missouri Pacific 70
take a similar position with the Great
Northern, was the occasion for universal
regret on the part of co-laborers and sub
ordinates alike. Last night suitable ex-
preston was made of the esteem in which
he is held. All the employees of the road
at that time in the city and not on
imperative duty gathered at the Twelfth
street depot at about $50 to the number
of about 800 All grades OF the service
were represented. They separated into
three divisions, each OF which drafted APP
propriate resolutions, short but TO the
point, expressive of the motives of graft
Iude and respect which actuated them.
The locomotive men framed one set of res
olutions, the station men another, while a
third set was drawn up by the bridge and
building and the Car aud road depart
ments. After choosing as their leaders \.
IL. Webb, the newly appointed acting SUI
periutendent and William Speer, q leading
passenger cond motor OF the company, the
party proceeded to the residence OF Mr..
Harding, 1881 Waco, and took possession
in such short meter that long before
the master of the mansion had recov-
cred sufficiently from his amaZement TO
realize the situation, II. l.. Gordon, who
had been previously selected as spokes-
man, had delivered an eloquent and affect
ing speech which bore witness to the pro-
found respect and esteem which the EN-
plOyes of the road entertained for their re-
firing superintendent both as Il gentleman
and an officer, ending in a neat presenta-
ton clause, accompanied with the delivery
of magnificent gold watch.
Mr.. Harding responded in voice at
times choked with emotion. thanking the
gentlemen for their beautiful gift aud for
what be priced Infinitely more, the sense
OF their confidence aud esteem. lie con-
tinued feeIingly to review the history of the
road since he had been its superintendent,
and dwelt upon the harmony in which be
had worked with those under his author
ity aud alluded to the gratifying success,
which had uniformly followed their at
tempts to reconcile any differences which
might lie between the company aud It's
employees. There ITas more than one eye
twinkled during the response which WAS
all the more affecting that lt was deliv-
cred on such short notice.
The resolutions were then brought for
ward aud read. after which Mr.. Harding
ordered in cigars and refreshments. As
the company was dispensing, farewell
handshake was taken, in which there was
a timely word for each one at parting.
About half an hour after the company
had gone, a serenading party OF
twenty-five or thirty returned and
sung several songs in excellent
style. closing with an adaptation of the
popular Goodbye Ny Lover, Good bye"
in which, while the railroad men" held
their places as in the original song, the
clover" had to vacate, while Russell" had
his innings.
The watch is beautiful gold hunting
case, plain and massive, with no design
but the engine work which cover both
sides except the space for the monogram,
Il. H, ILIeUtwined ia the center. It is
Jurgensen and bears within the case the
inscription beautifully engraved: Pre-
10 Russell Harding of the Missouri
Pacific Railway by the Employees, August
II, 1894 F"
Russell Harding commenced as rodman
when be was but Il years of age in Yer
mont. In the spring of 1850 be went TO
Texas where he had charge of construction
on the International and Great Mort bern
He almost entirely built the Trinity and
Sabine Railway az contractor, and he also
constructed branch of the Gulf, Colorado
and Santa Fe through the piheries of
Texas, a very difficult piece OF Construction,
and the East and West Texas between
Tex, and Shreveport, La. From
there he came to bis present position by
the direction of II. NJ. Hoxie, and leaves
today to take his new position with the
Great Northern.