The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1918-10-02

the frontier. Harry Pat Doherty,
with whom the writer switched cars
for fun on the North Western while
we were skipping" from college was
also a frontier man in the DakOtas and
Minnesota and Montana. Jack Nc
Laughlin, Jack O'Neil, Jack Hagerty,
Billy Hagerty, Jack Gallagher, Char
lie Kruger, Andrew McCabe, Joe
McCabe, Jack Kennedy, one-time ia
nous clog dancer in Watertown, ira
veled the frontier in the sos following
the railroad game.
About forty years ago, more or less,
when the trains on the railroads were
twenty cars, a west bound freight
broke in two in Goodnow's cut, at the
Concord avenue crossing. The front
end came tearing down toward the
depot. There were no air brakes in
those days. A passenger train was
leaving the Junction eastbound. Billy
Hill, now passenger conductor on
the road, but then cub brakeman,
saw the danger AS the hind end pass
ed the platform he swung onto the
side steps of car, smashing off one
of his boot soles in the attempt and
broke down the cars to avoid col
lision. We heard at the the time he
was given a months pay for his valOr
Old Gerred, as he was known, forty
years ago or more piloted the way
freight for many years. 1t was said Of
him that he wore out more shoe leath-
er than any man on the La Crosse
division, as every time he passed
through Watertown he had his shoes
| forgotten.
o. c. Forkenbridge, who conducts
| the yellow cars through this big town,
got his early training of how to con-
duct business in the Seventh ward.
After he showed them all in the brick
yard how to travel, he went on trav-
ell for himself and he is still travelling.
He can pilot a train all right, but
knows little about sidewalks, lawn
cutting or haymaking. He and Buff
meier tried to get a corner on dogs
but failed and they are still at work
on the Milwaukee. "Forky," however
can tell of the days when tho old wood
burners used to stop at a farmers
crossing to take on gas. If the pile
wasn't big enough the fireman had to
cross lots to Farmer Perkins place
and get an armful of wood to take the
train to Redwood. He is one of the
few of forty years ago, more or less,
who is left.
Among the early day tailors in Wa
tertown was Martin H. Curley, long
years ago gone to his reward. He
could fit anyone and was a we'll
dressed man himself A little ''noggin"
now and then, as Jim McHugh, an
cary day printer would say, was his
worst fault. Stove pipe hat, dressed
in the fashion OF the day, and polite
ness personified was a characteristic.
Michael O'Reilly, whose emporium
was at the corner OF West Main and
Washington streets, was an early day
tailor, and made money. His shop was
small but convenient. He was follow
ed by Luke HanlOn. Who remembers
him? He dealt in eggs, butter, small
groceries and the like. It was the
mecca for the boys who wanted navy
plug, at that time the only brand
They would 20 into Rock river below
the dam to follow up Ned Burke, the
great man with the spear, and Ted
Ford, and sell fish from house to
house. Suckers and red horse, with
an occasional bass, was their stock in
trade. After receiving their commits
sion Luke Hanlon was the man to see
| GOosie GAMER and Mike Sullivan, with
occasionally pete or Tom Bergin or
the writer would make the purchases
for the bunch. Luke HanlOn was q
great lover of cats, but his customers
in the grocery line were not. Luke
would stroke one Of the cats with one
hand while telling of the good quail
ity of the butter in rolls and picking
! hair here and there from the yellow
mounds. Butter in those days was not
put up like it is today 1t was displayed
in the window and brought from IL to
Is cents pound. Hanlon was one Of
the old type, of an Irish grocer. He
displayed all his goods in the window
and waited for trade. He has gone to
his reward many moons ago.
! While we are on the tobacco SUBJ
ject the store conducted by the late
Matt Smith may be mentioned When
the other dealer didn't have tobacco
to suit them the boys used to patron
ize Mr.. Smith. He had a general store
and little grog bar in the rear He
was a pioneer in the business, sold
farm groceries, boots and shoes and
the like. It is told of Jim Hackett, an
early day stone cutter who at one
time was associated in business with
his, brother, Pat Hackett, in West
Main street, that he purchased a pair
OF boots from Mr.. Smith. He failed to
pay for them and Mr. Smith sent an
attorney after the claim. The outcome
| was that the matter was settled as
Hackett proved that the boots were
both rights" and he couldn't wear
them. They were returned Someone
else got the .''lefts.'"
Probably some of the older ones
will remember Dwight Nute's saw
mill inst west Of the North Westarn