Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-02-03
Lookey-On In Iona

LeGrand, Feb. BIN a crowded pas
senger train one day last week, several
Of us were pleased to see the brakeman
find seats for the two modest men
standing up. This brakeman actually
made great big seat hog take his feet
on the turned seat in front, remove his
grip and coat and allowed three other
men to sit down. He also took grip
Off the seat beside another man and one
more man sat down. In our minds
we promoted that brakeman to be q
general division superintendent. But
alas he only held down the John our
minds-till he got to Marshalltown, for
the way he ordered the waiting pas
sengers ito stand back till these people
get off" showed that In his mind he
owned the v. & NV. system, and
none Of US had ever heard a railroad
superintendent talk that way to the
travelling public. There's colored
gentleman brakeman on the c. r..
& P. railroad. running between Des
Moines and Davenport who also owns
that stretch of road
I'LL never tell you how it happened.
All know is the train dispatcher gave
me orders for 999, and I simply forgot
to drop the board. But when 999 went
by forty miles an hour it came to me
4 had orders for them to meet SSS at
the next station south, and 1t seemed
hours before l got the train dispatcher
and told him. And II was such a relief
when I heard him get the next station
south and stop s99. I almost tainted.
Never did such thing before; don't
know now why 1 didn't drop the board
just as sooon as 1 got the orders. I
always do that at once. Yes, IL don't
get more than thirty days I Will be
lucky"
you knew Bill Trunger. used to
run between old town and nextown.
Ever hear what he did to me once.
Well, one day after he'd unloaded his
way freight I supposed he would go
on the side track to wait for the pas
senger due to leave old at 1880 m
But he looked at his watch-so did L
saw it was 4:l5. then gave his enEin-
you can't make 1t, and he yelled back.
tell 'em I've done And they did 90.
I rushed in the depot and got oldtown.
Hold the passenger for Gods sake, was
my message. Can't was the reply
they're up the yard taking water. Run
for 1t was my answer. And he did. and
made 1t. Five minutes afterward Bill
Trunger and his trial opened the
switch. What did they do to Bill? Oh.
they canned him. 1t was his last trip
on the K. T. z. A week after he showed
me roll Of bills. over $500. he had
saved in nine month out Of his wages.
j. J. Flynn, the pleasant agent of the
Iowa Central at Belmond. has pointer
dog that saves him many steps in the
course Of the year. The travelling pub
lie will leave the door open especially
on the coolest days of the winter. One
OF these travelling men. raised in a saw
mill" walked in the day the writer was
in the depot, took seat by the stove
and left the door open. Shut the door
Jack" said Flynn. And Jack trotted
up to the door, stood up on his hind
legs and pushed to the door till the
latch caught. Then. for the benefit OF
the admiring passengers, Mr.. Flynn
sent Jack out on the platform, closed
the door and whistled for Jack. And in
less time than 1t takes to write 1t, we
heard Jacks claws scraping on the
outside. the latch flew up, the door
swinging open, and in came Jack.
There's one disadvantage to having a
dog that opens doors with his feet.
You have to get new door every
little while. Jack has scratched fur
rows on that door already a quarter
Of an inch deep. Then too. if Jack sees
a dog outside that il putting on airs
and Flynn won't open the door, Jack
just goes thru the window glass. frame
and all Glass, window frames and
doors. new ones, soon eat up station
agents wages.