Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-08
WHO RODE FIRST
TRAIN INTO CITY?
Statement OF F. A. WHITNEY
HAS CAUSED RURLINGTON-
IANs TO SEEK RECOGNITION
DATE IS QUESTIONED
]. c Stephens Declares That There
Was no Sign Of Railroad In Of
tumWa at The Time
Stated.

When the stationary engineers con-
vention was held in Ottumwa re-
Gently F. A. Whitney, delegate from
Des Moines, declared that he rode the
first train, or the first engine into OF
tumwa, and that his father was the
engineer. The story that resulted
seems to have caused considerable &C.
tivity among the older residents Of
Burlington. Mr., Whitney's word is not
questioned as to his being on the train,
but his declaration that he was on the
first has aroused a sense Of recogni-
ton in the hearts of several Burling-
tonians who are now proclaiming that
they too were on. that famous train
which brought several car loads OF
jolly people to this city to the great
jubilee. One man challenges the time
of the trip as given out by Mr.. Whit
ney, declaring that he was through
Ottumwa at that time, but saw no sign
Of railroad. The Burlington Hawk,
eye has the following statements of
two Of the older residents regarding
the trip:
ri have read different articles in the
Hawk-eye concerning the first B. &
M. train into Ottumwa, and find that
your correspondents are at sea. will
give you few facts in regard to this
matter, as far as my memory serves
me- In April, 1857, happened to visit
Burlington as travelling salesman for
Cincinnati manufacturing concern.
stopping at the old Barrett house,
which at that time had acquired a
reputation under the management of
Colonel Deming. The hotel was full of
guests, so it was hardly possible for
me to secure sample room. Upon
inquiring for the occasion of the big
crowd, l learned that the Burlington
and Missouri Railroad would be
opened the next day to Mt. Pleasant.
Burlington made quite good impress
sion on me, and SO, after time, con-
cluded to locate here, which did in
October, 1857. In the summer of 1858,
I think, on the Fourth Of July the B.
& M. sent out the first train to Fair
field. On September 1, 1859, the road
was completed to Ottumwa, where
they arranged great jubilee for the
opening music, barbecue,
etc. At that time we had a very good
German glee club of "a members here
the Maennerchor-of which was a
member. Supt. and Chief Engineer
Join In the opening excursion to OF
tumwa, and his invitation was ac-
cepted. I shall always remember that
trip on account of the following Incl
dent. The excursion train consisted
principally Of fiat cars, with few pas.
senger coaches When we left Burling-
ton early in the morning, it was quite
warm, with the prospect Of having a
- <1Ayx ~ nj - Vfal.
er's habit, whenever I intended to
stay q day or SO longer, carried light
overcoat. When I entered our special
coach "a fiat carr my comrades poked
q lot of fun at me for carrying an
overcoat. We arrived safely In Of
tumwa, and the visitors, of whom
there were many hundreds were well
coined and treated royalty by the in
habitants. They had great barbecue
in the woods, but at that time, not far
from the depot where all the visitors
could eat and drink to their hearts
content. Toward evening, the weather
changed, grew cold and colder, and by
the time we left Ottumwa 1t was
freezing. The few passenger coaches
in the train were filed up with women,
and the men had to get along the best
way they could, on the fiat cars.
That was a cold ride-we had half
inch Of ice next morning. On our spe- |
cial car my friends were shaking and
shivering with the cold, keeping as
close together as possible, in order to
keep as comfortable as possible. And
he who might have poked fun at the
others and who might have said, HE
laughs best who laughs last" was the
man with the oyercoat. "-Respectfu
Chris Mathes.
Mr.. Stephens Remembers.
An old citizen, whose memory goes