Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-19
CHRISTEN ENGINE
on FOREIGN SOIL
American Made Locomotive Give.
Name Of "Chicago,- Writes Captain
'. II. Hagelbarger.


u. 5. A. engine No. IS, which ar.
rived yesterday from America wher.
it was made, was christened Chicapo
this morning by or commanding OF.
ficer, Colonel c. W. Kutz. He broke
bottle of champagne over her bow in
the most approved manner while both
officers and men cheered Justify. Some
OF the pictures Of the ceremony wera
taken which | will send you lust as
soon as they are finished"
Thus writes Captain V. II. Haye,.
barger with the Thirteenth railway en-
gineers of the United States army
stationed in France. He is a former
employe in the Siivis shop Offices NJ
the Rock Island road. His interesting
letter to Vice President A. G. Ridpwav
OF the Rock Island lines is printed in
the January number of the Rock Is
land Employees magazine. Steve
Mueller, former round house foreman
at Rock Island, and c. R. Haberlaw.
former road master of the Illinois d.
vision, went to Europe with Captain
Hagelbarger.
Continuing he writes: AT 7:30 she
left on her maiden trip pulling trais
No. III, which was loaded with 'per-
returning for duty in the
trenches. Company B Of the Thir-
teenth was again specially honored
Engineer Abraham F. Alderman, for
merly of the Iowa division and located
at Valley Junction. was at the throt-
tie, and Hall Mcdaniel, also a Rock
Island man. was firing. When the
monstrous iron horse gave the old IA
miliar snort and started away easily
with heavy train, which it takes
three ordinary French engines to pull,
every one grew wildly excited, but
when the bell tolled-there are none
on the French engines-it brought to
the boys the thoughts Of home, and
many eyes grew moist 1t is certainly
OF great comfort to the American rail-
road men on this side to receive this
tangible proof that you folks at home
are sQuarely behind us.
There are eight of these American
engines in service on the road we are
now operating, and more are expected
in the near future. They are consoli-
dators and are about the size Of our
200 class. The boys are greatly
pleased at receiving them and rivalry
runs high as to who will be chosen to
operate each one as 1t arrives.
Good work of the Thirteenth ensi-
neers is praised through France and
even the Paris papers aremaking men-
ton of the inability Of the so-called
hoodoo 10 to stop us.
Our boys are all in very good
health and are fully settled in their
various positions. They have knuck-
led down to the new work and have
adapted themselves admirably. The
feeling Of satisfaction regarding their
circumstances is general and each and
every man is displaying a desire to do
more than is expected of him"
Captain Hageibarger is quite chum-
my with an officer of the French
Chausseurs, a captain. who is the only
original member of the blue Devils"
who were organized in 1914. Up to
date it has taken $4,000 men to keep
the ranks supplied with the required
1,400. This Franch officer and Hagel-
barger exchanged photographs. The
French officer is hero. as is indi-
Gated by this story, which is related
by one of his fellow officers:
During the very hard fighting in
1915 the captain. with his company.
was shut off from the French for three
day nd AI - I'll han
entire German division by strategy
and other ways, until help arrived. At
one time he, with only so of his COM
mand. was separated from his own
company. and when all seemed lost he
jumped to the top Of his trench in full
sight of the Germans and with out
stretched arms blessed his men. He
was padre as well as a soldier.
Speaking again of engine No. 49,"
now about decided that we will use
this engine when we go to Berlin, and
if l can haul Company B into that city
we will be ready to come home"
MANY of the Rock Island boys are
holding important positions and are
making good" says the captain. "For
instance. Thomas A. Carmody. former
ly water service foreman Of the Ne
braska division at Belleville. Kan.
holds a similar position here. and 60
ing along in the same old faithful wsy
as he did with the Rock Island.
George S. Case. formerly signal SUPER
intendent of the Chicago terminal d.
vision. is now in charge OF signals
and protection on section OF TINS
line. ". F. Mcdowell an engineer OF
the Illinois division. is road foreman
Of engineers on section of the rail-
road German and HARDY. Tiedeman
and Tinsman are doing Office work ana
are sure lending their bit 10 help whip
the kaise- FLOYD A. Williams, Tor
merly section foreman at Rock lslari
is one of the roadmasters AID doing
fine. Walter T. Mott. formerly dining
car steward and who Is my mess ser.
geant. has been given additional
duties. the colonel having apno;nlea
him travelling mess sergeant Earl j.
DunH. formerly dispatcher. also DIS
hatcher L. f. Warner and W. J.
Burke Of Rock Island disnstchers' Of
fee. have ve-v important positions
located at an imnortant triangle OF the
road where they keen the supplles
gc'"o to the font without delays.
Canta'n Haselbarger mentions
names of number of Other Rock Is