Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-28
THESE MEN WERE HEROES.
Public Recognition of Faithful
Work and Stern Sacrifice.

hallruau men on the delaware DIVISION
Who Fought the Battle with the Great
Storm--A Deserved Tribute to Their
Heroisin and Devotion to Duty.
Editor Gazette aud Journal: Being daily
reader of your valuable paper, which gave
Il full and good description relative TO the
recent blizzard, and particularly with refer
cnce to the snow-bound trains on the Della
ware division, | feel that while being non
partisan in my views, but close observer
and one that has travelled considerably on
that line for the past 70 years, and know
ing full well the capacity and respoDsi-
bility that each and all trainmen have to
assume in each of the different stations
upon the train, that | would be negligent
in my duty to my many friends upon that
road If did not refer to all employees con-
nected in any form with that trying ordeal
] would say that every man on duty on
those weather beaten trains made won.
derful sacrifice, and in some instances
risked the loss Of limb and probably life in
trying to raise the blockade and promote
the company's interest.
Was it their duty say yes. No class of
employees in the world receive better treat
ment, more remuneration Tor their services
and have more Courtesies extended them
from the management than is given to
employees on the Delaware railroad, and
in times of such disaster to the company IL
is the united duty and right of every man
TO put his shoulder to the wheel and help
push the barrier away. And am proud to
say that the boys who man the trains on
the Delaware division were not found
wanting in any sacrifice that should be
made.
But as compliments arc being showered
Oh some, | would suggest that they be
made universal and include all those that
displayed the true grit and nerve IN the
hour of need So far have seen in none
of our daily papers any class of men re-
ceiving any special credit except the CON
ductors and their crews and OF some OF
them who are most deserving | want to
make special mention. Tom Hawkins, the
well-known and iovial conductor, who
never was derelict i'll duty, was still the
usual cool railroad man, aud no train en-
dured more hardship than his. The at
tention he gave the passengers under his
care needs no eulogy-it has spoken for it.
self. Nor was he lOath to assist his weary
and worn enginelnen during their severe
trials and hardshlps, working with them
around their engines and train until IL was
almost beyond endurance. His ever faith
| full baggageinaster. IlOl Miillin. and
| Brakeman Fred Ross deserve all the praise
that has ever been rendered them. After
| being completely snow.bound and help
less, they resolved together to face that
fearful storm and walk one mile and a
half to the nearest telegraph station aud
| ask for assistance. In doing this they
were exposed to the danger of walking
across the bridge over the Delaware &
Chesapeake Canal, while the wind was
i sweeping over that structure with great
velocity. But they accomplished their
undertaking and returned to their train
making distance Of three miles travelled
| in the deep snow and cold blast of that
cruel storm, In addition tn that painful
/ journey they never ceased to care for the
| comfort and pleasure of the storm-bound
| passengers, That mission being filled you
would often find Fred Ross up on the
engines, shoveling snow into the tanks to
help the engnemen keep their machines
alive.
And Ian owens, conductor of train No.
| 40, who was snow-bound below Woodside,
endured much exposure aud suffering
and never ceased his anxious labors day or
| night until he had worked his way through
all difficulties.
Last, but not least, the true and tender
hearted Billy Johnson, who knew his
brother employees were in trouble and
suffering, could not idly stay By his warm
freside, but nobly volunteered with the
ready assistance OF all other train men
who were III Wilmington at that time to
rush to their rescue Ills was heard and
applauded. A tram and engines were pro-
vided and they started ON their good mis-
sion, doing very effective service in open
ing the road and relieving their fellow
men. Such conduct should go on record.
In conclusion ] want to speak a word of
praise for the noble fellows that manned
the locomotives, and with the exception
OF few stuck nobly to their posts. They
are deserving OF as much praise as any
that have been mentioned through the
press. They fought desperately to force a
tunnel through those lofty mountains of
snow and deliver their cargo Of human
freight TO tneir respective destinations.
But they were repulsed on every side and
when finally every hope OF success had
fled and they were completely SNOW bound,
their attention was then directed to pre-.
serving their engines and keeping them
alive, which Oh train No. 81 added greatly
TO the comfort OF the beated passengers,
as steam heat was used Oh that train. Tc
permit locomotive to freeze and die in
such weather means neglect on the part Of
the engineman, and often is accom- PANIED
with disastrous and expensive results tC
the company.
Among the engineers that were engaged
in the battle for life and who are worthy
of just consideration are Billy Randolph
and Billy Morgan, who bu.tled with THE
storm with train No. 81, and landed il lat,
but safely inWilmlngton;Jim Hanson, witt
tldlH .'usiOt NlO never lClt MS post ana KEEP
! his engine in good condition; on train No
: 0i, that was fast at Glnn's, Engineers ,IohI
O'Nelll and George Clavey were never ceas
J ing in their efforts to keep their engines il
2 good shape, aud played their parts we'll; oil
train NO.S5, at Nit, Pleasant, were Engineer
! Barney Ryan, Tom Weather5y, Geerg,
5 Allen and Jim uakes, who did all tina
9 could be done under similar circumstances
And the liremen who displayed the tru
r ! crit Nnrp lIpDrBp I'haf, harI Md
Grant Carter, George Wyman, Howar,
Heed, Elmer Collins, John Lucas 10
Barley, George Spieglehalter, Robert Pin
pin aud William Reader.
Engineer benjamin Conner and Fireman
) Michael Griffith, while endeavoring L
4 open the road from Wyoming to Dover
encountered such enormous drifts tina
; engine No. 50 left the rail, completely dis
! mantling itself. BY u miraculous escap
conner saved his life bur was terribl
scalded Poor Griffith, not so fortunate
l was pinned to the boiler, receiving the he
steam from the same, which nearly cooke
. him alive.
They were tenderly removed to Wyon
a ing. where everything was done to roliev
their intense agony. That poor fireman
whose life was fast ebbiug away, had HON
and friends anxious to receive him. lilo,
he would loved to have shared those fe,
remaining moments with that dear oil
mother. But no, ne who had nobly sacr
feed his life while in discharge oil duty
y was destined to die among strangers an
4 alone, except his companion, Enginee
e Conner, who was with him to the enc
5 His resignation To death, his Calm and we
e spoken words of advice TO his engineer
d will always ind resting place in Be
, Conner memory, and they should in tb
heart of every good railroad man Wa
: that a sacrifice? say it was noble, an
5 should be recorded, as some others hay
Y been who never felt the pangs OF mUrtl
|, anguish.
} The men who guide our trains surces,