The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-18
DANCE OF THE TRACKMEN.
Big Ball Given by the Brotherhood
Last Night.
TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE CANE

From LeAvenWOrth. ST. Joseph, EN-
pOria, Argentine and Other Points
General Railroad News.
Last night the dance 10 all its may
forms and graceful curves was tripped
by gay couples at Hamilton hall The
event was the fourth annual ball of the
International Brotherhood of Railway
Track Foremen of America, the most
successful ball yet arranged by the order.
At nine o'clock Steinberg's orchestra
opened the ball with a popular march
tune. and in the grand march fully 200
couples participated R J. Parker, for
merly general roadmaster of the eastern
division of the Santa Fe, but now road
master from Kansas City to Usage City,
in company with Mrs. Parker led the
march. Following the grand march, a
quadrille was called for the Brotherhood
of Railway Trackmen, and the apprecia-
ton of the pleasant event due to the eff
forts of the brotherhood was attested by
almost the entire company participating
in the quadrille. Twenty we'll arranged
dances followed the qnadrille, ten of
which were dedicated to railroad officials
and railroad orders
The first waltz was in honor of "Our
General Roadmaster," Mr.. Parker, and
was the only dance in which that gentle
man took part. Following this was
schottische for the Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers, Newport for the
Switchmen's Union of North America,
thereby returning the favor rendered
the trackmen by the swltchmen at their
dance last December; a two-step for the
Order of Railway Conductors, an ex-
tremely appropriate dance for that or
der; quadrille for the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemep, waltz, Oxford,
for the Order of Railway Teleg-
the Of
conforming as near as possible
with the click of the keys, the royal
lanciers for the Brotherhood of Railway
Trainmen. an Oxford minuet for Division
superintendent c. T. Mcclellan, quad
rifle for the Topeka division 81 of the
brotherhood, and polka for the differ
ent division roadmasters.
Transportation was provided for visit
ing members of the order, and about one
hundred couples from ST. Joe, Leaveu-
worth, Kansas City, Argentine and EN-
poria were present. John r. Ice,
grand secretary and treasurer of
the Brotherhood, with headq uarters in
ST. Louis, came to Topeka for the special
purpose of AttendinE the ball. Mr. Ice
is an old resident of this city, having
held the position of foreman of the Mis-
souri, Pacific yards at this point for sew
eral years. Mr.. Ice left Topeka two
years ago to take up tho work of the
brotherhood of Railway Trackmen, and
since that time has BEEN travelling over
the western states organizing and in
structing lodges. In addition to the Of
fee of grand secretary and treasurer, Nj
Ice holds the position of editor of the
"Foreman's Advance Advocate" the off,
cial organ of the order.
Division 81 of the Brotherhood of
Railway Trackmen is five and one half
years old. having been organized in
October, 1891. It has now a membe
ship of twenty-seven. J. B. Smith is
division chief foreman, and Thomas Foy
division secretary and treasurer. The
brotherhood as an order is the outcome
of an amalgamatiSn of the Brotherhood
of Section Foremen of North America
and the Order of Railway Trackmen, the
former having been organized in 1886
and the latter in 1887. The order is bene-
ficiary as we'll as fraternal, an insurance
policy of 81, 1000 forming one of its main
features.
The pronounced success of the ball is
largely due to the efforts of the various
committees These committees were
composed as follows: Arrangements
D. Hodgson, S. Casey, L. Swanson.
Reception-J. r. Ice, E. A. Brewer. T.
Stewart, T. Mooney. FIeor-L Ham
mond, I. Foy, ]. Degenhart, J. B. Smith.
In every way the Railway Trackmen
may we'll be proud of their fourth annual
ball. 1t was ore of the largest as well
as one of the most successful railroad
balls so far attempted in Topeka.
Those who participated in last nights
ball will treasure pleasant remsm
brance of the occasion, aud look forward
to the fifth annual ball of the order.