Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-15

Joe Ellis, Old Time Augusta Engineer.
Mr.. Ellis is a brother of the late John
| Ellis, who was master mechanic in the
| railroad shops when they were located
at Augusta and went with them to
| Waterville when they were removed to
| that place.
When a boy John Ellis passed good
| deal of time around the railroad shop.
| One day, as the story is told, young
| John went to the boss and asked for a
| job. He wanted to learn to fire on an
| engine. He was put to work at odd
| job. He wanted to learn to fire on an
| 10 days the boss told him to build a
| fire under No. 9, the Gardiner" The
| boss instructed him to take some oily
waste and place it in the fire box, put
III some fine wood and then light
| another piece of waste, throw it in and
the job was completed. But instead
John thought he could do it better by
| crawling into the fire box, 50 in he
went and if the men had not heard
! the boy ycll for help John Ellis would
never have been master mechanic OF
the Maine Central Railroad shops.
Several days ago an old chum of Mr..
Ellis received the following letter from
| him:
"Westgate Cal, Aug. %, 1909
Dear old friend Bill: | read my
weekly Kenaebec journal today and in
| it | saw your picture at the old stand
ut the Rines hill crossing. | did not
| know as you Was in the land of the
| living. I am still living and healthy
| and happy, with til" exception OF q
! crippled ankle that | had broken at the
| time of the San Francisco earthquake
| April 20, 1906 | can get around very
Well now. | have got quite Il number
of state of Maine neighbors. Among
them are Frank Small and his son
| Fred, formerly Of the Maine Central.
They are both running on the South
ern Pacific and are we'll and happy
and have got good homes. They Wau-
ted me to tell you that they remem-
bered the times you spoke of; and do
you remember that | was running The
| old Brunswick when she lost her stock,
and Charles Small Was firing for me?
| Talk about your dirty mcn-WaSnt we
| dirty when we 2rrived in Brunswick.
| I'VE live at Wcstgate at the beach.
We car see the ocean plain from our
| doors and can take q bath in the
breakers at most any day in the year.
| still we all long to get back to old
| Maine. and if We are spared until next
spring you will sec us all back then.
| | take the weekly kennebec Journal,
| it comes to SaWtclle but I am
| going to- have it changed to West
gate. | will send my picture TAX
en- on the. beach near my home. l am
IA miles from Los Angeles city 1t
| cost Il cents to get there, two bits for
| the round trip. Writ" me Bill and if
there are any more of the old boys let
us know and we will write, ard if
| there is any of my Old Augusta
friends whom you know tcll them l
| would like to hear from them. / was
glad to see yCu are still alive and Well.
and with my best respects, I remain,
| Very respectfully.
JOE ELLIS"
"Direct J. II. Ellis. Westgata,
Los Angeles county, CAL
Box Il.
There are quite q few people in Au-
gusta who will be glad to know that
| Mr. Ellis is enjoying life in Golden
Gate. He used to he employed in va
ricus capacities in this city ana if, as
he says, the coming spring will find
him back in Maine, the extended hand
of greeting will he the loyal express
| sion of faithful friends.