Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-06
CHANGE IS
PERMANENT.
Milwaukee Train Dispatchers
From Ottumwa to Be
Kept at Marion.
w. E. LOOMS ILL AT HOME

I'SHSS' NTioiuS Wiio nIoe dC luit1s
cy, lI.-A Phenomenal Incident
Wabash Erecting Water Tank
Firemen's Convention at Des Moines.
w. b. Loomis, one of the train dis
patchers on the Milwaukee recently
removed from this city to Marion, is
off duty for few days on account Of
illness, and is spending the time at
his home in this city. Mr.. Loomis
says that nearly every man in the dis
patcher's department is i'll Or more
or less under the weather Some have
been having the toothache while 9TH
ers, tho not dangerously ill, are not
able to work.
Mr.. Loomis said it is generally con-
| ceded among railroad men that the
transfer of the dispatchers from this,
| city to Marion is permanent change.
all reports to the contrary notwitll-
standing. At least that is the impress
sion that has got out among the en-
ployes on the Kansas City division.
There is a vast amount of business
on the Milwaukee at present, and the
shortage in the force of dispatchers
is being felt very keenly.
Engineer ArncId's Wild Ride.
| One OF the strangest cases on rec.
ord in railroad history is reported to,
have happened Tuesday night at
Quincy, when a Burlington engineer,
while asleep ran an engine over two
long bridges and six miles on
stretch of track without causing any
trouble. The engineer. Arnold by
name, entered the roundhouse and
4 ran out his engine, the 653, ready to
take No. 55 from Quincy to the west,
leaving Quincy at 1920 this morning.
AS he ran up the track at slow rate
of speed the fireman dropped down
from the engine and ran over to the
waterpipe to fill his jug. Then the
engineer went to sleep.
Slowly the machine proceeded ON
it's way out over the bay bridge, then
out over the long bridge across tho
Mississippi river and fortunately tho
draws were all closed When the
Missouri side was reached the engine
driver was wrapped more closely than
ever in the arms of Morpheus. Still
IN to tho waet tho elowly,,,o1,;ner 49,,
chine made it's way until it reached
the little station at Moody, when the
engineer suddenly awakened and
found himself a half dozen miles
from Quincy, standing on lone track
with only the stars for signal lights.
The deviation from the established
run caused considerable trouble. As
soon as the bridge men saw the en-.
gine moving out they wired ahead,
and all the blocks were put on, there
by causing a safe journey for the
stray one. The Forepaugh-Sells
Brothers circus trains were held,
however, for some length of time,
} waiting for the lone engine to get to
the end of it's journey. 1t is remark
able that the trip was made without
accident
Erecting Water Tank.
The Wabash railroad company is
erecting water tank on the South
Side nearby their newly erected
roundhouse. Yesterday they mad a
force of 100 men rushing the I'M
proyement to completion. The Off.
cials do not divulge their plans as to
what they intend doing in South OF
tumwa, but it is thought that they
will move the depot from it's present
l site on Weller street to a point near
the Dain plant.
Firemen's Convention.
The Brotherhood of Locomotive
Firemen will meet in convention at
Des Mones Monday, September 10.
Some of the local members have not
received the official program from
the committee. Many will not be
able to attend thruout the conven-
ton, but it will be obliged to arrange
to go while off duty. There will I'M
. doubtedly be a rousing time as q
splendid program has been prepared
in which the ladies societies will as
sist and all kinds Of excursions, ETC.,
, planned for the entertainment of the
visitors. The festivities will continue
until September 20, giving everybody
chance to be in attendance for part
of the program at least.