The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-04
CANE PRESENTATION.
Uncle Richard Griffith Remembered
By His Friends.

For 2S years and over Uncle Richard
Griffith has been in the employ of the
! old Utah Central, Union Pacific and
Oregon Short Line, at the shops. Rain
( or shine, snow or cold, he has always
! been on time, and his CHEEKY old e2ce
has brought sunshine in the shops on
many cloudy day.
He ran the stationary engine there
and was ever a devoted man. He has
seen men come and go and come and
go, but he remained always. He began
working when Bishop Davis was mas
ter mechanic, and worked continuously
ever since until few days ago, when,
to the great regret of all who knew
him, he resigned and from this time
On will endeavor to rest from the laborS
of the more than a quarter of CEN
tury which he has been actively en-
gagged.
OF all the men who have worked with
him during that entire time but a very
few remain. Face after face has dis
appeared from the circle, some going
to seek their fortunes elsewhere, while
others rest beneath the sod in the eter-
nal sleep. But there are plenty left
of those who have labored with Uncle
I>2ichard for many years, and last night
they called on him at his CHEEKY little
home at ga West Second North, to
give him a surprise.
There were about 20 in all, and they
succeeded in getting into the Darlor
ere the old man was aware of what
was going on. To say that he was
surprised when he came in ito see a
man who had called was quitting it
mild. but he soon recovered, and was
telling the old-time stories of the early
days in the shops, when the boys stole
his bag of shavings and substituted
something else, not good for kindling;
when he had a friend down the well'
knocking on the trap door to come out
when Bishop Davis was present look
ing for a man who had been bringing
in contraband goods, and the like.
One of his best anecdotes was inter-
rupted by the arrival of a quartette of
singers, who halted outside and sang
Il Stood On the Bridge at Midnight"
The cid man saw this was a feature
and stopped, but continued afterwards
until he had completed his tale.
Then Engineer Gilbert Mclean arose
and said he was delegated to announce
that Joseph c. Sharp would say a few
words. Mr.. Sharp produced a hand
some gold-headed cane, and in a neat
and fitting address rendered it to the
old man rs q token of the esteem in
which he was held by the employees of
the company and the shopmen.
For a few minutes Uncle Richard had
a hard time concealing the emotions
which overDowered him, and he found
it difficult to say what he wanted. But
finally he made response which show
ed how thoroughly he appreciated the
gift and the regard with which it was
rendered. 1t was a beautiful tribute.
The engraving on the head is:
January, 1879. October, 1898. Rich
ard Griffith. From Friends of the
Old Utah Central Railroad"
The balance of the evening was spent
in pleasant conversation, and refresh
ments were served. Really il was one
of the events which come into lives of
men, and all who participated were the
better for its happening. Uncle Rich
ard has pleasant face and a CHEEKY
smile, and is a man with deep feelings
for his fellowmen. The gift was worthy
of the donors and of the recipient, and
When they left tf-"e was not one who
did not wish the old man would live
to be a centenarian ere he laid aside
the stick to enter the land of shadows
where old age is not an infrmity, and
where all the waters come from the
fountain OF perpetual youth.