Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-11-24
OTTUMWA HAS
UNIQUE RELIC
RAILROAD PASS ISSUED OVER
THE OLD 3. G. M. r. DEcEM-
Der 6, 1869.
GIVEN AT FAIRFIELD
B. r. Prather For Saving Property
From Burning is Rewarded
-Made Prisoner Garry
Water in Hat.

little slip OF paper yelloWed with
age and in appearance resembling an
ordinary receipt, is valued as a relic,
and is in the possession Of Mrs.
Hettie A. Carlos, wife of Michael
Carlos, sos Ellis avenue The paper
would be worthless but for the purpose
for which il was issued and the time
II was made out, II is a life time
passage over the Burlington and Mis-.
souri, River railroad from Fairfield TO
Alton the latter point being the
western terminal of the road at the
time the pass was issued.
Perkins Countersigns.
One of the historic values of the
transportation lies in the style OF it's
makeup as compared with railroad
passes issued today. Those OF the
present time are as we'll guarded in
their manufacture with regard to
counterfeiting as is Uncle Sans cur
rency. The old pass in the possession
of Mrs. Carlos, however, is but slip
of ordinary white paper, trihe small
ler than the ordinary post card. 1t
bears the date of issuance as Deem
Der 6, 1869 and is coutersigned by
the latc G. E. Perkin. then general
superintendent and later made pres
ident of the road; which position he
held through most of the development
of the line from the B. e.. NJ. r. to the
c. B. & c., and afterwards until his
death several months ago.
Form Fire Brigade
This old paper has a unique his
tory. having been issued as a recon-
pense to the late B. R. Prather, faith
er of Mrs. Carlos. for saving a water
tank and restle from burning at
Fairfield on the line of the old Burling-
ton and Missouri railroad The pass
is inscribed with a short history of
the cause OF its issuance. Mr.. Prath-
er at the time of the fire was deputy
sheriff of Jefferson county and was
bringing a prisoner from the country
outside of Fairfield, to the Jail when
he discovered the fire. He Immediate
ly made himself chief of an improvised
! fire brigade and with the prisoner as
mis- company they began fight upon
the flames which were then spread.
ing to the trestle and the track gen
orally.
Flags the Train.
Using their hats for buckets, officer
and prisoner FASTENED to the creek
spanned by the burning bridge, and
throwing the water upon the flames
worked like trojans 10 stem the force
of the fire. They realized the futility
of their efforts if help did not soon az
rive and their hopes for aid We're not
in vain. Soon the toot of an engine
whistle was heard in the distance,
and running a few hundred yards
toward the coming train. Prather with
his prisoner close TO him tagged the
train and brought it to a stop.
Put Out the Fire.
On the train there happened TO be .
number of the officials of the road
who demanded the reason for stop,
ping the train and were told by
Prather of the fire, You cannot cross
the trestle as it is on fire" said he.
the water tank is badly burned al
ready and immediate help will have
to be given if you save either | am
the deputy sheriff and have prisoner
with me that | was taking TO the jail
at Fairfield when | discovered the
fire" Needless to say nothing furth
er in explanation was necessary. The
engine was run along side the burn
ing structures and quantities of water
We're pun I'd into the flames by the
locomotive saving the water tank
and bridge both from destruction.
! Not forgetful OF the services of Mr..
Prather. he and his prisoner were
taken aboard the train and carried to
Fairfield Shortly afterward the pass
in the possession of Mrs. Carlos was
issued to her father
Passes Down to Daughter
AT the death of Mr.. Prather few
years later at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Carlos who at that time lived
at Fairfield. the transportation passed
| into the hands Of Mrs. Carlos. Some
months ago @. F. Stewart, supern-
tendent of the Burlington division for
the Burlington railroad, secured the
pass from Mr. Carlos to show to
some of the officials of the
road who were associated with the
line in the old days. The value of
the relic of thirty-nine years ago.
| came pretty nearly losing the pass
for Mr.. Carlos and eight months
elapsed before 1t was returned TO him.
The son Of the late c. E. Perkins
valued the relic so highly that he
wanted to obtain it If possible as a
curiosity and MIR. Carlos was offered
by the officials of the Burlington. an
annual pass if he would surrender the
old transportation. Its over the
fence with them" said the genial
Mike as he folded the relic into his
pocketbook and winked slyly. Il like
curiosities myself"