The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-17
OLD FATHER TIME WON
0yER MEN ArTHE THROrTLE VINO
HATE MADE THE LASi Run
On the Line Under Starlight and Sun Zen
the Hour the Road Was Begun h'rhe"
the Proud Honor ofDuty Well Done

WINSTON. y. c.. Jan. 16.-special.-
familiar faces OF Jake Hicks ana
"Eurn Swan. the veteran locomotive en-
aineers. who have hauled daily the pas
senger trains for the past thirty ycarS
on the North Carolina road, between
Greensboro and Goldsboro. are no longer
seen by the citizens along the line Of
that division Of tho Southern. Both men
have rounded up their three score years.
and the laws OF nature demand. ana the
authorities that rule the Southern railway
have dccrccd thai they give place 10
Younger heads and stronger arms.
Mr. Hicks Aas been given, and is now
pulling the throttle On thc short Inc
between Winston and MocksNile' White
his friend. slr. swan, D. nuins d similar
uosition on the short division betwccn
Chapel Hill and University station.
"Iuclc Jake" as MI. hicks Us tamiliarly
called Dy railroad men, pulled the hisl
train over Cnc road between winston
ana greensboro. and there are many
citizens ia the Twin city who have pleas
ant rccouections of lie man who excited
the curiosities of "a number OF people
WHICH " ANN"ANAA" h|NNN ANA HN. f"-N 49,
rail- Dad connection with the outside
world
FELT AT HOME.
In reply 10 "a question, asking him how
he liked the change made by the South
ern. Uncle Jake" said.
'It suits me very well. I am NOW get
ting Old, ana the long runs 1 had been
making daily Tor the last thirty years
was getting TO be- TOO much for me. OF
course. / felt deep regret al giving MP
nv place. because I had been on the
line so long and felt more at home there
than anywhere else.
81 have been asked by several people
II could be contcntcd of the road.
/ have 10 desire TO ever pull another
throttle after leaving my old rum D
il / was able to live without IT, would
never mount q cab again.
WHY He LAID OFF.
He SAYS he is now siXty-four years
old. lie went to work for the North
Carolina railroad in 1851. and during
the thirty-nlne years service was only
on the road four months. and that WAS
q few years ago. when the rcgula4 ons
required that every engineer should read
train orders ana sign his name thereto.
As he could do neither. he had 10 quit
worl. and learn TO rea- and write. Up
70 that time he could only tell the de-
nomination Of "a wood check by the color
II bore.
IN an the Yeas he had hauled the pas
scngcr trains he never put a wheel on
the ground and never disobeyed a train
order. lie was taught 90 read ana write
by his good wife. and as soon as he be-
came qualified TO hll the requirements his
old run was returned 10 him. When the
Federal troops invaded the town Of Bur-
lington Mr.. Hicks was delegated TO guard
the company's valuable property at that
place. and now boasts OF holding confer
cnces with such men as General john
son. General Wade Hampton, and others
as one Of his fondest recollections.
THE VETERANS FAMILY.
Uncle Jake has three children. two
sons and one daughter. The sons. Ike
the father. are noble men. good engineers.
and hold frst-class positions. The daugh-
ter married a railroad engineer. and he.
too. has q good job. which proves that
he IS a thorough throttle puller.'
Greensboro Is the homo Of the father
and one Of the sons. but II the former
continues to run fhe Mocksville vestl-
hule. he will. doubtless, become "a citizen
OF MocksVille.
Mr.. Swan. Uncle Jako's' old partner.
is said to be a quiet. transformations. un