The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-04
DEATH OF ~oLD TIMER
Oldest Rock Island Fireman HasBeen
Given His Time.

The Horton Commercial tells of the
death of "Old Timer the oldest Rock
Island fireman, as follows:
"Old Timer" the oldest Rock Island
fireman, has made his final trip. At
last he has been called on the carpet
by the Great Master Mechanic and
knew ''OId Timer" and every old time
railroad man from one end of the Rock
Island system to the other knew him.
He was indeed an eccentric character.
and his special niche in the world will
never be filled. A telegram was re-
ceived in Horton yesterday that he was
killed in the railroad yards at Fort
Worth and asking if he had relatives.
That was all it said. but it was
enough.
Few people who had been acquainted
with "Old Timer ever knew his real
name, which was Patrick Barney. All
that is known of his history is that
when the Rock Island first existed, 50
years ago. "Old Timer then a young
man, was found firing an engine Where
he came from but few know. The first
time the writer of this article remem-
bers of seeing him was in 1877, twenty
years ago. He was then firing the old
Centennial silver engine" that pulled
the pay car through Iowa, and John
Hill, the veteran retired engineer, who
now lies almost at deaths door in this
city was pulling the throttle. We used
to stand barefooted and with enviouS
admiration watch "Old Timer" polish
that took the prize at the Centennial
exposition Many people will remem-
Der when the car of dynamite explod-
ed in Council Bluffs. 'Old Timer
was wiping the silver engine near by
and thought it was an earthquake ex-
plosion The old silver engine has been
rebuilt in the Horton shops and no one
would recognize it today.
When the Rock Island was extended
west of the Missouri river, "O1d Timer
drifted out here, as on account of long
service he had pretty much his own
way. For three or four years he fired
a passenger out of Horton, but was
finally discharged. His last service
was on the Kansas City run over the
Union Pacific, but the trains made such
quick time around the curves that the
engineer was afraid the old man would
fall off, and complained OF him. he
was also becoming Grabbed ana sassy
to his superiors. No one disputed his
boast that he knew more about run
ming a locomotive than most Of the young
engineers but he was never promoted
to the degree of engineer on account OF
his inability to read or write Since his
discharge about six years ago, he has
enioyed untold liberties riding from one
end of the system to the other He never
had any money, but he always stopped
in a town where there was division
HEADQUARTERS. When he was hungry
he went to a lunch counter or restau-
rant frequented by railroaders and
seated himself by one of them, who
never refused to pay for his meal
When he wanted a drink he asked a
railroad man for 10 cents, or pushed up
to the bar when he saw one treating,
and was seldom refused When his
lothes got shabby the boys took up
collection and got new ones for him;
when he wanted a shave he accOmpa-
MED a railroad man to a barber shop
and took his turn In fact, "Old
Timer has led a free and easy life for
the past six years, thoroughly enjoyed
himself and never wanted for anything.
He always happened around Horton
lust before election, as he said, ito vote
the Dimochratic ticket so Mack can
kane the piShtaffice''