The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-08-26

years, L. l. IdrlSCC, Il years, anu IL
C. Elder. AZ years.
1t took one back to the early days OF
F. Hopkinson Smith and his "Adven-
lures Of Oliver Horn" to hear the ex-
periences of Abner Engles, who earned
the sobriquet. The man who saved
Annapolis" Uncle Alb was oedeck-
ed with the jewel presented him by the
company il recognition Of his SC years
in the cab. Just as the special left
Baltimore the locomotive whistle sound
ed and the old engineer leaned out to
watch the signals. That set him in the
midst of the early days when no such
safeguards as automatic signals we're
provided for the travelling public The
engineer rules were for him t. run by
schedule and pass trans at meeting
points, allowing five minutes for a
variation in the watches.
John Ed. Spurrier enjoys the distinc-
ton Of being the Oldest railroad official
in point Of service in the couDtry. Mr..
Spurrier began his work on the BaIu-
more al Cho in 1864 when the road
was torn up by the contending armies
and when it was worth mans life to
sick mis- head out the engine cab to see
that the tracks were clear. The cid
'camelback' engines were in use when
Mr.. Spurrier became a fireman and
during the time that he dispatched
trains aid filed other official positions
IN his earlier career trainmen in freight
service had no shelter from the weather.
while passengers kept themselves warm
by means of wood and coal stoves and
read the weekly newspapers by taIIow
dips.
Identified with the stirring times
which preceded the Civil War. Patrick
Higgins, of Harpers Ferry, is one of
the most interesting railroad men in
America and he has to his credit in
the Veterans Association of the Balti-
more and Ohio s. years of service.
Patrick Higgins was an intimate
friend of John Brown. They boarded
in the same house previous to the at
tack upon the arsenal and the insur-
rectlon at Harpers Ferry. Mr.. Hig-
gins was the Waterman on the Baltl-
more and Ohio bridge over which John
Brown and his followers crossed from
the MAJ yland side on the night Of the
famous riot. In the clash that ensued
when the irsurrectionists attempted to
take possession of the bridge. Mr..
Higgins was shot by John Brown and
therefore shed the first blood in the
struggle which led directly to the Civil
War. These warm summer DAYS ind
Patrick Higgins sitting in the shade
of the mountain bluffs at Harpers
Ferry where ne entertains tourists
with his experience in the days when
all was not quiet along the Potomac
and when John Brown, prospsctor,
and abohtlonist, was melting rebellion
among the slaves.
Other "reminiscences recited Al the
Berkeley Springs reunion were of alb
sorbing interest, particularly the ex-
perience of the old fireman who was
on one OF the engines captured by the
Confederates and taken South to be
used to move troops and supplies over
other lines. The fireman of the old
engine, which the Confederates named
the Lady Davis, was relieved Of his
timepiece and currency before being
ordered to surrender his charge
The Veterans Association Of the
Baltimore and Ohio was organized
about d year ago and in its member
ship are 1900 employees who have been
in the service Of the company fer
twenty years or more.