The Topeka state journal., 1897-09-09
HOMES MADE DEsoLATE
The Places and People Where the
Disaster Means WidoWhood.

Four Topeka women sit in their
homes today bereft and widowed. A
band in the hospital praying that his
life may be spared. Friends are at the
homes of the women trying vainly to
comfort them. BY this time their grief
fought against the awful truth of the
disaster. The Wives of railroad men
always fear that their husbands will
meet violent Deaths but that makes it
come.
A Journal reporter found Mrs. Nathan
Hollister at her home, 435 Chandler
street. Her body shook with sobs as
she told what she knew of her hus-
bands life. "It was at 8 o'clock yes
terday that he left home" she said.
He got up from the table and dressed
at once and went away. He had been
gloomy all day, but I supposed that
was the result of a headache from
which he had been suffering
Mr.. Hollister leaves two children be-
sides his wife, Harland Nathan, years
old, named for his father, and Leslie
Olmstead, who is but and was named
for his uncle Olmstead Hollister, who
lost his life in a railroad wreck on Oc-
tober 4, last year, near where his bro
ther died yesterday.
Nathan Hollister was 81 years old
and he has been on the railroad for al
most 20 years. Before he came to To-
peka he had charge of an engine on the
Illinois Central. Ten years ago he was
married to Miss Mamie Havens, the
daughter of a physician who lives near
Carrollton, Mo. Mr.. HolIister had in
surance in the A. o. U. w. and was a
member of lodge PA. He also had an
accident policy.
Harland, who is years old, seemed
to realize what the announcement of
the death of his father meant, and he
was incOnsolable, but the younger son,
who was his fathers pet, is too young
to know the full meaning of the dis
aSter.
Where did papa go?'' he asked last
night before he went to bed. His
in the wreckage: This morning the
little fellow toddled up to his mother
and asked: why doesn't papa come
home?" The mother, with her voice
choking and her eyes filled with tears,
told him that his father would never
come home. My boys will never go on
the railroad if can help it, said Mrs.
Hollister.
The mother of Nathan Hollister is
Frustrated over the announcement of
the death of her last son. Her younger
son died in the same manner less than
a year ago and she has never fully re-
covered from the shock. Several years
ago another son, Henry, died in the
same manner. Mrs Frank S. Thomas
is a sister of the dead man.
James Branham lived with his fam
lily at sos East Sixth avenue. He has
but one child living, Vera, a girl 8
years old. of whom he was especially
fOnQ. he was % years ola and for al
most 20 years had been a Santa Fe en-
gineer. About Is years ago he was in
jured in an accident while pulling a
special train with President Strong and
a party of Santa Fe officials. He has
never fully recovered from the acci-
dent and has taken frequent vacations.
He expected to make but few more
trips before he left for Indiana to visit
relatives. He was to leaveNon Septem-
ber II, and had already secured passes
for himself and family.
Mrs Branham is woman of slight
figure. Her grief is the kind that burns
itself out without much outward evil
dence. All night she sat up, surround
ed by friends, and just before noon to-
day they succeeded in inducing her to
take some nouriShment.
Mr.. Branham left home as happy as