Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-01-05

Newton Center, at the home of his son,
arrived in Westerly Tuesday afternoon
and was taken to Christ Episcopal
church, where the funeral service was
held There was a large number OF
friends present. mostly Westerly peo-
pie, and there were many beautiful
floral tributes. The service was con-
Quoted by Rev. William r. Williams,
pastor of the church, assisted by Rev.
]. Hardin George. Jr., of Danielson.
The body was borne by four colored
men and the honorary bearers were
Judge John Pryor and Floyd Cranska
of Moosup and Edward M. Dodge, Will
liam Segar, Eugene B. Pendleton and
Charles Segar. Burial was in the fam
lily plot at River Bend.
Judge Edward M. Burke held a reg
uiar session of the Westerly probate
court Tuesday afternoon. Horace e.
Burdick presented his first and final
account as administrator with the will
annexed of the estate of Heloise Cenas-
The account was accepted and ap-
proved for record.
]. Morton Hiscox, as administrator
Of the estate of Catherine H Randall,
fled his first and final account, which
was accepted, approved and ordered
recorded. The releases of Celia Hiscox
to the administrator and of Mr.. Hiscox
personally to himself as administrator
were received and ordered recorded
under the estate of Catherine H. Ran
dali.
Attorney Clarence E. Roche admin
istrator of the estate of Joseph Giorno
petitioned for an allowance of $25 a
month for the support of the widow,
which was granted for period of six
months, during the settlement Of the
estate.
The privileges Of. the gymnasium in
be- Mz ,fol LII
have been granted the pupils of the
Westerly High school, free of charge,
at regular specified times during the
winter session. The girls will have
two periods Of two hours each, begin
ming at 2,15 and Alb on Tuesdays and
like periods on Thursdays. The gym
nasium classes will be In charge of
competent instructors and the exercises
were commenced on Tuesday after
noon.
At the semi annual meeting of Loyal
Pride of New England, independent
Order Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity,
these officers were installed by Deputy
John Sinister of Providence: Peter ].
Conf, grand master; James D. Burnie,
noble grand; Ernest Sharp, vice grand;
William G. Spargo, permanent secre-
tary; Nathan Percy, treasurer; John
McShane. elective secretary; Charles
Bridgeman. warder; Edgar Matthews,
conductor; George Thomas, inside
Thomas Plat, left supporter to noble
grand; Robert Hutchins. right sup
porter to noble grand; Alexander
Young, right supporter to vice grand:
Charles Tetlow. left supporter to vice
grand; Irving Cog, first scene sup
porter; William Craig, second scene
supporter.
On sunny slope, near the western
boundary of the North burial ground,
Providence, there stands a somewhat
unusual monument erected several
years ago for the dual purpose of per-
petuating the memory of the old Prov
tdence and New London locomotive
Westerly, and to mark the final resting
place OF its old driver, John N. Shay,
whose affection for the old hay burn
er" is considerably stronger than that
Possessed by the average human being
Tor inanimate things. Well up on the
marble shaft Is an illustration of the
old locomotive cut in bas-relief, and
just beneath is a brief epitaph of the
was known as one of the most daring
and most careful engine drivers in this
section OF the country.
The old Westerly, whose fame has
been commemorated in this unusual
manner, has long since been reduced to
JA3h1 WV A. O4t0 lS " JuIiS0 ny dp-
pearances it will be many a day be-
fore the final words are added to the
incomplete epitaph of the old engineer
who. hale and hearty at four score and
two years, is spending the twilight of
his life in his little home in Auburn
On stormy night in April, 1873,
John N. Shay, or Shea as he then
spelled his name. was prominent en-
eineer on the Providence and Stoning-
ton railroad.
AS engine driver of the fast mail
train he left Providence about mid
night, ran as far as the ferry at the
Thames river and returned to Provi-
dence.
John Shay followed the usual routine
Carefully compared his watch with the
clock in the old Stenington railroad
depot and then disappeared into the
darkness to inspect the engine West
erly in accordance with firmly fixed
habits. If the mail train was late in
pulling away from Providence, as was
sometimes the case, the incident has
been forgotten, but the old engineer
has distinct recollection that the old
Westerly seldom responded to the
throttle better than she did that night
on the western-bound trip.
After arriving at Groton, the engine
WAS turned around and the eastbound
train was made up. All told, there
were ITO passengers on board, includ-
ing an opera troupe en- route OF Bos-
ton, The mail train was an institution
Of the old Stonington road of which
Its management was particularly
proud. 1t was expected to be on time.
John Shay when he looked at his
watch in Groton noted that he got the
signal to go ahead from Conductor
Thomas Sprague promptly on time. AS
the locomotive got under way he no.
ticed that she was not responding to
the steam as promptly as she should
and usually did. There seemed to be
an extra drag upon the train.
He whistled for released brakes. The
load still seemed to drag. The finger
Of the steam gauge pointing to the
usual number Of pounds OF pressure
cleared his fireman of any lingering
suspicion In the mind of the perp1exed
engineer.
The throttle was pulled out to the
Eve inch notch. The old Westerly had
always been able to do It's work upon
that supply OF steam, but steadfastly
continued to play the drone. Calling
to his fireman to keep the steam up,
Engineer Shay gingerly advanced the
throttle. It passed the six inch notch,
craw1ed toward the seven and event.
ually the lever clicked into the ratchet
holding the throttle on the eight inch
notch,
The mail train finished the first lap
Of its journey at Stonington several
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