The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-12-25
GONE TO RAILROAD MEMS HOME
c. a. OBREE, EEBER ,. OF L ?. THR-
n TEARs. LKFT FOB CHICAGO.
Came 10 GOOdIand with Rock Island and
Worked as LoeomotiFs FiremaR On
This Division Until 1893 When
Stricken with Paralysis.

Charles a O'Brien, q locomotive FIRE
man in active duty from 1873 to 1893,
when be wss totally disabled BY stroke
Of paralysis, and for 10 years a resident
Of GOOdland, coming here with the Rock
Island road, in 1855. left Wednesday
morning fer the Railroad Mems Home, ia
Highland Park, % miles west % Chi
cago, where perhaps until the end q ms
days be viii be cared for BY that bene-
violent institution. The home Is sup
ported BY the Brotherhood Of LOcono-
tive Engineers, Brotherhood Of Locono-
tive Firemen and the Order Of Railroad
Conductors, from all over the country.
O'Bzsn is native Of New York state
and is IS years old, going into train ser
vice as fireman Oh the Hannibal and St.
Joe road in 1857, when be was q young
man o. Is years Of axe. And conss-
quently be is a sort Of storehouse Of rail
road history from that time, gathered by
dint Of service and BY long association
with railroad men.
~Chaw," as he is commonly called, il
to such an extent Of Irish decent that
the accents Of that people still Hngsr on
his lips. And It il perhaps owing 70 this
inheritance Of a sturdy constitution that
be stuck TO firing q locomotive for %
years, and can tell you Of almost myrs-
culous escapes 10 wrecks when the res-
son Of man would have declared before
hand that a nan could lot 60 through
them and live.
But he was passed by the hand Of fate,
aud was not very much the worse for
wear when in 1893 10 q drug store in
GOOdlsnd be was stricken down with
paralysis. He was not long il overcou-
ing the immediate ELECTS Of this, but
was left in a disabled condition and has
done no manual labor since. He re-
ceived the brotherhood insurance for
total disability. and with that and other
means Of gathering together a few dol
lars be managed TO keep himself and
wife until the present year.
O'Brien Joined the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Firemeu in 1873, and is the
| second Oldest member Of that lodge in
/ the United States. He vas IN the big
north Missouri railroad strike in 1873,
which involved the engineers and fire
men on that entire road. Away back IN
those times the contention was the en-
plOying by that rOsd Of "scsbs," and vig-
orously fought by union railroad men.
10 the early days Of railroading in Cali
| fornis coal was not used, and ''ChEWH
was then one Of the boys that kept the
FIRE box supplied with big sticks Of wood.
And so his life 70 railrOa6ing has cover
ed q span where achievement IN en-
gineering has not been short Of marvel
GUS
! The Rock Island built through Sber-
man county IN 1855 and O'Brien was one
Of the first iremen 70 work on this diTi-
sion. For years be has lived with his
family IN the First National bank block,
in the little unpretentious house that
has kept its moDotonOus and silent watch
upon the events OF Goodlsnd. Still there
Il stands now inhabited by Mrs O'Brisn
and her daughter, Mary. But the HOld
man" has gone, and has left 70 the pso
pie Of the town the image Of his person,
50 familiar, and his ecceltricities with
cut which the pigue Of street lie would
long since have kept up dull existencs.
Z To say that i4Chsv7 was glad 70 leSve
would not be putting Il true, and when
asked as 70 his departure BDd 70 q pos
sible return at some indefinite time. leav-
| ing the mind 20 look down upon the IN
term With all its uncertainties and re-
fectlons. he checked up with feeling and
walked speedily away before the tears
standing 10 his eyes should have nom
ent more TO overflow his face. There
are sweet and tender heart strings IL
every man. and those IN the breast Of
Charlie O'BTien are not without their
glad and melancholy notes
The Rsilrosd Mems Home has $ IL
mates, and Is maintained By benevolent
contributions from the three lodges II
is a place. where old and feeble time
servers are given home, when the vary
ing financial fortunes Of this world hsTE
left them out IN the cold And many
people here wish that Charlie O'Brier
may enjoy his new home.