Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-06
TALK OF THE TRACK,
Milwaukee Depot in Collision
With Train Of Freight
Cars.
OLD BUILDING BADLY SHAKEN UP,
Oldest Engineer in the Employ of the Bur-
linston Killed in an Accident Conductor
Donahue Goes Away In Search of Health

ways. 4f
THE collision of Rock Island train
of freight cars with the east end of
the milwaukee depot had he effect
OF almost wipiDg from its location that
anfiquated and weather-beaten struc-
ture which adorns Twentieth street.
The building received kink of half
moon shape. 1t shivered and shook
like ship on restless sea, the
clerks fleeing to the outside to wit
ness what they supposed to he the
fall OF the 'Wauke depot. She with
stood the blow CALAMITY for one of her
years, although it staggered her, and
there she stands yet and will continue
to stand until the officers of the road
condescend to give us something bet
ter.
A west end brakeman tells story
of two switchmen who had fallen
victims of the merit mark system
while working in this city. One went
to Denver, and under an assumed
name secured position. He was
made foreman of a switch crew. No.
took trip through the west in
search OF employment. He stopped
at Denver, having heard of a chance to
catch on there. He, too. gave a ficti-
tious name. Report to Anderson, -
said the ysrdmaster directing the new
employe to his associates hesdquar
ters. 1t was night. He stepped to
the entrance of the switch shantv and
inquired if Anderson was in. A voice
answered: Here you are" and the
foreman walked toward the newcomer.
The men recognized one another at IA
glance. keep num-" said the fore
man. were both working the same
game.
An Artificial Limb.
Charles Page the switchman who had
foot taken off in an accident while
switching for the Burlington a few
months ago, is going about now with
an artificial member. which he ham
dies well for one unaccustomed to it.
He will soon return to the employ of
the company, but in a different ca
pacity.
Engineer Zeb Sammis. who was
killed in a wreck at Quincy last Sum
day is said to have been in the en-
plov of the c., b. Il q. as an engineer
longer than any other man on the
road. He was on the road when it
was known as the Northern Cross.
and it is said to be the first man who
pulled a train from Quincy to Gales
burg when it WAS first finished. For
40 years he had piloted engines over
that road on various divisions. and
was known from one end to the other.
Conductor Thomas D. Donahue. of
the Rock Island. is taking an indef-
mite lay off for the purpose of recu-
Peration, having of late suffered con-
siderably from rheumatism. He and
Mrs. Donahue went to Chicago and
from there he intended taking a trip
to Mt. Clemens. Mich.
}. r. Covington is acting paymaster
for the Rock Island during the alb
sence of W. &. Purdy, who with his
wife is now travelling the wilds of
golden Alaska. being interested in
transportation company which is ply
ing in the waters of that part of the
country. Steve Hoover and Carl
Woods, ex-Rock Island employees, de-
parted for the klondike several weeks
ago, but how they are faring by this
time is unknown to their railroad
friends, as they have heard nothing
from them.