Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-28
iowa RAILROAD
VETERANS meet
1900 STAND SHOULDER TO
SHOULDER AND SING
"AMERICA."

DeS MONIES, May 2T.--F1fteen num-
dred veteran railroad men of Iowa
opera house at $3.50 o'clock last night
| and with a singing of one verse OF
America" opened the greatest mees-
\ ing of old time railroad men ever held
in the United States. The work of
months by the officers and committees
| of the Iowa Railway club had its re-
ward in those few minutes as the old
| veterans, many of them gray headed
and bowed with age, raised theif
voices into one grand chorus.
The meeting last night was touch
ing. The extreme left of the stage was
occupied by Peter A. Dey, of Iowa
City, the oldest veteran in the as
semblage, All Of the speakers pointed
! to him IN their remarks, and when he
rose to speak. upon request Of
Chairman G. w. Jones, president of
the Iowa Railway club, there was a
hush throughout the house. The full
significance of the reunion WAS
brought to the old timers, the fact
that men who years ago had gene out
in the battle of civilization, who had
| fought side by side to promote the
progress of railroads as soldiers fight
in battle of nations, had once again
been brought together from every
state in the union.
! The reunion was welcomed to the
state and to the city by Lieut.. Gov.
! Warren Garst and Mayor A. ]. Mathis.
There were many prominent railroad
officials among those who came to at
tend the reunion. President B. L.
Winchell of the Rock Island arrived
1 during the afternoon from Chicago in
his private car. F. O. Melcher Of
/ Chicago, general manager of the Rock
Island. was also here. H. S. Gable, Of
Davenport, general superintendent of
the Rock Island.
kilograms from w c. Brown, vice
president of the New York Central,
and Gov. A. B. Cummins, who could
not attend the meeting were read to
the old timers by Mr.. Jones.
4 3. L. Winchell Talks.
President B. l.. Winchell of the
Rock Island, when called upon to
speak, touched upon the railroad stu
alton relative to the rate question. He
declared that rates must be advanced
or wages of employees decreased If the
| railroads are to make money, and
urged that the employees cooperate
with the railroad owners to settle the
difficulties.
M. Davis Of the Northwestern rail-
road; w. H. Given of the Rock Island
]. Heiner, of Memphis, Tenn, w. =
Huntington of Jersey City, N. j., one
of the six charter members of the Iowa
Railway club, Councilman John Mac
Vicar, William Thomas, conductor
Of Topeka, Kan, and Ashley J. Elliott
of PEORIA III.
Peter A. Dey Speaks.
| Peter A. Dey of Iowa City, who was
one of the first construction engineers
put to work on the building of the
Il ROCK Island road, was a prominent
j figure at the south entrance of the
court house during the morning. Ono
| Of the first men spied by Mr.. Dey was
Charles House of Livingston, Mon.
construction party and the meeting
was happy one, the first for thirty
years.
Carries His Camp Stool.
Mr.. Dey has seen many winters and
| he knew that he would have many
| long talks, so he prepared himself fol
the emergency. AS he went up to Mr.
House he took from under his arm
what had seemed to be a roll of can
vass. but with lightning quick oper-
/ alton Dey had transformed it into a
camp stool. Thus he sat and recounted
old and odd experiences. He met other
old timers and each time made use Of
his folding chair. His example was
soon followed by others and in j
short time there were many on the
4 court house steps who were carrying
around folding camp chairs
Didn't you run the old 1892" asked
one old timer of another. The ono
addressed was wearing badge No
1887. No, 1897 was T. ]. Howard OF
Des Moines.
| "You're Old Charlie Allen"
II didn't run $685. but think. I know
YOU" replied Howard. You're old
Charlie Allen, of Ottumwa, aren't
your He was Charlie Allen and in a
short time both men began recalling
old days.
Things certainly go on in queel
and speedy way" said an old timer te
a number of his friends His badge
number showed him to be c. Carlson
of Sibley, Iowa. For instance, there
goes old Tom Beacam, used to know
him when he was a yard master and
now he is a division superintendent
don't suppose he would ever remember
me-"
In this way the old timers spent
yesterday in happy meetings, renew
ing old acqaintances and bringing tx
mind old occurrences. Fully foul
thousand were in the city by nightfall
They were arriving all during the day
They thronged every hotel in the city
|