The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-05
AGED ENGINEER GONE
Capt, Jacob Hicks Buried in
Greensboro Sunday.
A Remarkable Character. He Learned to Read
and Write at The Age Of SIS. Oldest
Engingeer Living Except One.
Especial to News and observer.)


Greensboro, N. c., Aug. 4.-The funeral
of the late Capt. Jacob Hicks was held
from West Market N. F.. church yester-
day afternoon, services being conducted
by Revs. Turrentine and Crawford. An
immense number of people were present
TO pay their last respects to the memory
of the aged engineer and excellent citi-
zen. Bereaved relatives were present
from Goldsboro, Chapel Hill, Raleigh,
Wilmington and other points, the de-
ceased having a large connection, direct
and collateral.
Captain Hicks was remarkable char
acter. full of vim, determination and
strong impulses. Illustrations of this are
two incidents within the past ten years.
He was getting old, and whether the rail
road authorities thought he should be,
retired to some other place than en-
gineer / know not, but Captain Hicks
knew he was able to continue his runs
and determined TO stick to his post. About
seven years ago, the order was issued
that all engineers who could not read and
write should be discharged from the post.
This f1oored him. He was then 65 years
old Shutting himself up in his room in
Greensboro deeply mortified and feeling
disgraced, he refused every offer of other
good paying positions in the service. He
kept his counsel and one morning he
came down town and invited crowd of
chosen friends to go down to the depot
next day and see him ''pull the throttle
again on &C." Sure enough when the time
arrived there sat the old grizzled veteran
of an hundred wrecks or mishaps. at his
rost. looking as proud as Lucifer, with
his engineers tags on.
Investigation showed that this old man
had in three months time qualified HIM
self to resume his position by earning
to read and write. the railway company
giving him his old place upon his making
application in his own handwriting and
showing by actual test that he could read
train orders distinctly. He was fond of
books after this, and among his most
sacred earthly possessions was the copy
of an old blue back Webter's spelling
book. which he had used to learn, his
a, h, cs and to read and write.
year or two after this. when Super
intendent OBrien took charge, he had the
usual shaking up orders issued Among
them was one taking Captain Hicks, on
account of age. from the main line and
Winston and Greensboro. Captain Hicks
was always proud of having made the
first run ever made over this line, years
ago, but he did not want to make his
last run on it. He refused to be side
tracked declared by all that was good
and holy that he would run a main line
engine or nothing, and he persisted. until
the officials, when his last day for main
line service had arrived. countermanded
the order and he lived to make his last
run on his cherished main line. He al
ways said he was prouder of this, than
even of learning to read and write
1t was said when he died that he was
the oldest engineer living, but it is
learned that Captain Cam. Whitherspoon,
who runs the vestibule between Charlotte
and Washington, can show that he had
been running for four years when Captain
Hicks began service.
All in all he was a splendid old gen
tleman, and let us hope that having just
rounded his last most dangerous curve,
he is speeding with throttle wide open
On clear track and even grade to a
record breaking arrival at the grand CEN
trail station of eternal and well earned
rest, peace and joy, which has been pre-
rared for those who do their duty in this
life in the fear of God with justice TO
their fellow man.
The residence of Mr.. j. n. Boone was
broken into by thieves Saturday night and
several articles of table ware are miss
ing.
DIR. j. G. Broadnax came very near be-
ing fatally hurt by the street cars Sat-
urday night. He was driving down Sum-
NIT avenue partly on the car track and
was run into by car. His buggy was
wrecked and himself considerably bruised
and shaken up Fortunately he sustained
no serious injuries. 1t is said that the
car had a trailer on without lights and
the conductor did not see the obstruction,
nor did DR.. Broadnax see or hear the
car.
Rev. Dr. Scroggs. returned this morn
ing from attendance on the District oCn-
ference at Randleman The other Green's
boro delegates came back Saturday and
last night.
Mr.. NJ. w. Thompson manager of the
Greensboro Coal and Ice Company, was
yesterday elected superintendent of the
Sunday School of the First Baptist
church, in place of Mr.. ]. T. Bass, re-
Gently removed to Wilmington. Mr.. r.
W. Haywood, editor of the Telegram,
was elected secretary.