The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-07-30
HENRY CHAMBERLAIN.

A very large number of people who
in the last generation and more have
been passengers on the trains of the
old Vermont Central, or the later
named Central Vermont Railway, will
breathe regretful sigh at the tidings
of the death of Henry Chamberlain,
the veteran conductor. Some will as
sociate with their earliest acquaint-
ance with travel on the Central
smooth faced, gentlemanly official who
politely took their tickets, and if they
CHANGED to ask for information got it
with clearness and an urbanity of
speech and manner that betokened the
gentle minded man the conductor ever
was, to all passengers, without dis
tinction of class or station. If there
was an elderly woman, laden with
bundles, or young mother with
children, when the train was APP
preaching their destination this con-
ductor would appear and with po-
lite "Shall assist you, pick up the
packages or the baby and see that the
passenger and luggage or children
were safely landed. So Conductor
Chamberlain came to be widely and
pleasantly known, and as he made his
way along among the passengers here
hearty hand-shake betokened the pres
ence of some old traveller who we'll re-
membered the good official and was
glad to greet him.
Mr.. Chamberlain was born in Bar
nard, February 8, 1880 and the old
farm which had been his early home
was also his refuge in vacation times
| and in the evil days when his strength
| began to fail and enforced rest was
necessary. He began his life on the
railway as driver of dump cart at
Bethel when the Central was building
| through this part of Vermont. He be-
gan at the bottommost round of the
| ladder. AS freight and passenger
rakeman, as baggage master, he made
his way to the conductorship which
he held for some fifty years.
About twenty years ago he was
taken suddenly i'll at White River
junction and for many days was un-
| conscious. His friends expected his
death at that time certainly they
expected never to hear his warning
"all aboard" again, and see him sig.
nal the man in the cab to get under
way. He recovered, marvel to al
who knew the circumstances, and for
years after was in active service. In
such consideration was he held by the
| railway management, that in late
years he was allowed to choose the
times when he would 90 on duty an6
was given the easy runs. The White
Mountain train had been customarily
run by him. When Conductor Sweeney
was disabled and had died, on Satur-
day last Mr. Chamberlain took his ole
train. People who met him in Mont
pelier on Saturday remarked that he
appeared quite like his former self
He was taken severely ill on Sunday
evening, grew worse during the night
and breathed his last at half past nine
this morning. Uric acid poison is
said to be the immediate cause OF
! death.
Mrs. Chamberlain died number OF
years ago, preceded by a son and fol-
lowed recently by married daughter.
These inroads on his family circle
quite broke his spirits. He spoke al.
ways of these losses with great emo.
tion. A daughter survives.
The death of few railway men, in
the rank and file of the service, could
produce so deep an impression. So fai
as known, he was the last of the old
guard of men who came down to the
| present times from the antique days OF
the original Vermont Central.