Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-02
OLDEST ON RECORD
Rock Island Road Redeems Tick
ct Unused for a.
Years.
CONNECTED WITH IT
Original Holder Kills Himself After
Learning Fiance Had
Tilted Him.
CONNECTED WITH IT

How long is railroad ticket
good?" is a question that is often
asked.
In this day of limitations and con-
ditions and circumscriptions il isn't
good for long, as a rule, but now and
then arises an exception. The Chi
cago Tribune tells the following
story, which is interesting enough to
be good reading anywhere.
Officials of the Chicago, Rock Is
land & Pacific railroad furnished Dr.
Ralph Waldo Mills. of ST. Louis. with
transportation from Chicago to Pc
oria yesterday on n ticket issued in
1857 to i. LorenZ. 1t was an emil
grants ticket. but as it bore no limit
ing date and was transferable. Gen
eral Passenger and Ticket Agent
John Sebastian honored it, gave DR.
Mills n substitute, and he Immediately
left for his destination.
"Romance and tragedy are connect
ed with the story of the ticket, which
is the oldest ever redeemed in Amer
lea. 1t was purchased in New York
by L. LorenZ. who was one of the
large party of emigrants on their
way TO Illinois. He came from Ham
burg, Germany.
POstpones wedding.
"Lorenz was engaged to be married,
and stories of the wealth and oppor-
tunities in America induced him to
postpone his wedding day and try his
fortune in Illinois. He arrived in New
York and purchased ticket to Peoria
over the Pennsylvania and Rock Is
land railroads. When he reached
Chicago he met Charles Dunshee of
2652 Sixty-second street. While stop
ping on the South side he received
letter from Germany telling him that
the girl he had hoped to marry had
Joined her lot with that of his rival.
''Lorenz wandered about Chicago.
for three days and then disappeared.
4 thorough search was made by Mr..
Dunshee and the body of Lorenz was
discovered in the old Illinois and
Michigan canal. where he had drown
ed himself. On his person were found
$50 and the ticket redeemed yester-
day. Mr.. Dunshee sent the money
back to- Germany, but he kept the
ticket. not deeming it of value. For
40 years it lay in his desk. untouched
and unnoticed.
zone of Mr.. Dunshee's favorite
relatives was nephew, DIR. Ralph
Waldo Mills. DIR. Mills for years sent
Christmas presents to his uncle, but
this season thought he would make
n visit instead. During his sojourn
the old ticket was brought out and
Mr.. Dunshee gave it to his nephew.
Ticket is Good.
L. 70 he oft m frfaT-
office of the Rock Island in the Mar
quette building and handed the old
piece of cardboard to George f. Lee.
city passenger agent. Lee laughed
at the proposition of redeeming the
ticket, but on investigation discover
ed il was good. He never had seen
one like it. but withheld his decision
until he consulted the general pas
senger and ticket agent.
"'Mr. Sebastian was sitting here in
my office said Mr.. Lee. Here's the
Oldest ticket on record 1 said. is
it good?'
"'He looked at it. turned it over
saw the stamp mark on it, and then,
in a doubling voice. said:'
~ guess it is. Give him the trans
portation.'
- gave it to him all right, but 1
made it out for one train, on one day. |
and not transferable. 1 stamped
on it, and he will have |
time trying to get transportation on
it a. years from now. a ticket to
Peoria is scheduled at S4.25 now; it
may have been more then.
50 There will be another surprised
road when we send the ticket to the
company and ask for
our exchange money. 1t was issued
by that road and paid for and the
Pennsylvania must pay us our share.
That road has had the S4.25 for over
A wears and the accrued interest
L.. nrnnnrntc 70 nr-er- sic -