Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-01-09
one ACCIDENT IN 50
|. YEARS AS ENGINEER
ON LWAukEE line
Remarkable Record Of Train
Running On Dakota Rail-
road System.

Aberdeen, S. D., Jan. 3.-Oscar Lado.
of Aberdeen. is the Oldest engineer on
the James River division OF the Mil
waulSee road, one OF the oldest on the
entire Milwaukee system. and is one
of the oldest railroad men, from point
Of length of service, in the United
States.
Mr.. Ladd started firing for the
Northwestern road on the Chicago
years Of age. For several years he
fired on engine No. Is, when only 13
engines were in service on the entire
Northwestern system. and these of the
wood burning type. In 1873. Mr.. Ladd
started engineering for the Milwaukee
road between Minneapolis and La
Crosse on engine No. 40. one of the very
first to use coal, and when but 40 en-
gines were in use on the Milwaukee
system, Minneapolis lnd Lacrosse di-
vision. After eight months service on
this division, Mr.. Ladd was trans
ferred to Mason City, Ia, and took
charge Of an engine working on the
kota division of the Milwaukee road
from Mason City through to Mitchell
and Chamberlain, S. d. When this line
was completed, and in 1880 was trans
ferred to the Calmar division, where
he had q run opposite I. S. MandheS-
ter, now general foreman of motive
power on the Hastings and Oak ota di-
vision.
In 1884, when the line through from
Mitchell to Aberdeen was completed
Mr.. Ladd was given that run and
brought the first train into Aberdeen
from the south, and first passenger
train run ON the Jim River division.
YnN1Y nf 70 In
the first train from Aberdeen south. In
1894, Mr.. Ladd was given the run west
from Aberdeen to Evarts, but after
Evarts was moved to Mobridge, Mr..
Ladd only ran a few months on that
line and was transferred to the Linton
line, north from Roscoe.
In the spring of 1908, Mr.. Ladd was
given the run north from Aberdeen
to Edgeley, leaving here in the morn
ing at 8: So and returning at $50 in the
evening. This run will be his as long
as he continues to handle an engine, he
being the eldest engineer on this divi-
sion. Every winter he spends two
months at Hot Springs, Ark, returning
in the spring.
During Mr.. Ladd's Sc years railroad
ing he has had but one accident that
being two miles south of Hanilla, Is
years ago, when his engine was de-
rallied In heavy snow and sleet storm
lnent, ptnning Mr.. Ladd beneath it.
He was not materially injured, how
ever, and expects to run an engine for
many years yet.
$50 BOYS AND GIRLS IN
BETTER FARMING COURSE
Aberdeen, S. D., Jan. 3.-The checks
to prize winners at the better farming
short course held last week have all
no be-, f.,<, ,cr
$345.5O. Up to yesterday, $50 boys and
girls had registered for the Boys and
Girls Better Farming club for Brown
county, and many more registra tons
are expected. The club was organized
during the short course. The boys of
the club promise to grow one acre of
corn from seed supplied by the South
Dakota Better Farming association, of
Aberdeen, and the girls to grow one
fortieth of an acre of toma toes. Sim
liar clubs have been formed in the
counties Of Corson, Walworth, Clark,
Sully Roberts, Sphinx. Moody, Lyman,
Dawson, Perkins, Howard, Ziebacn.
Hughes, Fall River, Hanson, McCook,
Pennington, Meade. Brule, Harding,
Hyde and Madison. Superintendent
Patterson, of the association, is now at
Britton, conducting better farming
short course.
Andrew Bal&ogg. of Bath, 12-year-
old boy. son of George Balwogg, of that
place, won the silver cup offered by a
Mitchell seed company for the best
corn. The cup will be retained per-
manently by the boy who succeeds in
Winning it three years in succession.
BADLY BURNED in
GASOLINE EXPLOSION
Stickney. s. D.. Jan. s.-Peter Bohr
living near this place, attempted to
start gasoline engine with the use OF
gasoline torch. The oil and grease
caught fire and the flames could not
be extinguished. Mr.. Bohr stood by
the machine until the gas tank explod-
ed, throwing the burning fluid over his
clothes. In moment he was a mass