Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-10-08
WILL BE CARRIEDGRATIS
Santa Fe Employees at Topeka to be Given
a Free Ride to Canton, Ohio.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT: =

Free Ride to Canton, Ohio.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
The Santa Ee railway company will
give ali its employees at Topeka. han
sas, who may desire to go to Canton, O.
to hear Major Mckinley talk on sound
money leave of absence and free trans
portation to Chicago and return. From
Chicago to Canton and return it is un-
derstood that the eastern lines will be
equally generous. General Manager
J. j. Frey, of the Santa Fe, said at
Topeka last night in reference to the
matter:
''She Santa Fe has not had the mat
ter under consideration. as no request
has been brought before it. If employ
es express wish to go TO Canton, the
road will give leave OF absence and free
transportation and return to as many
OF them as can be spared and will see
that suitable accommodations are pro-
vided in the way of special cars or a
special train, as may pe necessary. p
Kansas City Star, Sept 22nd.
WALKED TO THE REUNION.
AN OLD SOLDIER FOOTED IT 100 MILES
TO BE HERE.
In tent in the west portion of Camp
Miles near the Taylor street gate can
be found All old soldier in the neighbor-
hood of so years of age who walked to
Topeka to attend the reunion from
Clay Center, q distance of over 100
miles. His name is j. A. Hunkenb berry,
and he was a soldier in the 10th corps,
Thirty-third Illinois infantry
Away last spring when the Topeka
reunion was first decided upon, Hunk
enberry made up his mind to attend
and commenced to save what little he
could from his pension money to pay
the fare of himself and wife from Clay
Center to Topeka. His pension is
small, however, and last week when he
came to count up his store after months
of saving he found that the amount
would barely purchase ticket for his
wife. There was therefore no other
way left for him to do but walk to
Topeka.
This he decided to do, and in COM
pany with small colored boy he start
ed for Topeka ten DAYS ago, and ar
rived here yesterday morning. The
two tramped during the greater portion
of the day and at night stopped at
farm houses. They were generally as
signed quarters in the hay loft Tope-
ka Daily journal, Sept. 2Sth.
Now, compare closely the above arti
cles and see where the railroad compa'
nies stand this year in political matters
Tho co1d;arO, onrno1 roupiopc oro fo
the men who carried the guns during
the dark days of the rebellion what a
gathering at the home circle is to the
lone wanderer from a foreign land
and they look forward to the time
when they can again assemble around
the campfire and recount the hardships
endured that the country might live
with longing that brings joy to theil
very hearts.
The account given above of the ole
veteran who has been saving every
penny possible that he might agair
meet his old comrades in arms, only tC
find at the last moment that his saw
ings were not sufficient to purchase {
ticket, is pathetic in the extreme
Owing to his age this may be the last
reunion he will ever attend on earth
and to think that this man, who went
forth in his prime to battle for his
country, was compelled to endure the
physical discomfort of walking 10(
miles to be with those who braved the
dangers of death with him, is an out
rage in country that compels him tt
do such a thing.
But the old hero was undaunted, an(
by suffering the pangs of poverty ht
was able, at great Inconvenience. t.
mingle his voice again with those tha