Norwich bulletin., 1919-02-06
JEWETT CITY

The recent death of Thomas O'Neil. of New London; recalls a relative of his, Thomas O'Neil an engineer who attended the funeral MT. O'Neil now is engineer on a train rusining from Worcester to Webster. Thirty years ago he was engineer of the boat Vain from Worcester to New London via the
 New London Northern from Norwich. The boat train at that time made no stop between DanielSon and Nor wich. A state law then provided that this train should be "wa:ched' so- called, and every night aFd morning, at the first switch it would pass over, man had to show a white lantern to the engineer, or the law compelled him to stop, after which he might proceed. Mir. O'Neil who learned to be an en- gineer under the able tuteIage of the
 late Otis Winchester, of Norwich,
 took the boat train to run, relieving
 the famous Cooper of those days. The
 way Mir. O'Ncil would blow his whistle
 when obliged to stop was something
 beautiful to hear and a work of art.
 The boat train was variously due then
 at different times from 3 to , a. m.
 north and from 10 to II D. m. south,
 connecting as 1t does now at New Lon
 don with the boat for NcW York.
 When littln late the way MT. O'Neli
 would sail down througl .fewett City was wonderful to behold and the cry,
 The boat train is coming. brought everybody within hearing out to see the streak Of sparks and smoke. At the upper and lower switches where the watchmen had to wait. often for weary hours. the railroad company placed little 4x4 foot shartics with a little stove. It was a surprising thlng on cold night how many tramps could pile into one of these shant4es and that with a red hot sove.
 l When the boat train was first es- tablished an1 the law became effec- tive, the late Israel MGihe,Tson was watchman. The late William Harvey followed There were tive north bound boat trains in his tine, one at ? a. m. It was he who discovered l the fire that destroyed the first Jewett | City hotei when going to the a. m train.
 Others who performed this most l lonesome duty were the late Rufus | Bailey. A. H. fones Harry Darling, E | H. FTiscoX .n5 James Hopkins. TWen- | ty years ago the law was repealed, ant soon after that the boat train was scheduled to stop at Jewett City. One Of these watchn1en, who was l P years old then. and Who now lives l in Jewett City, one daril stormy l morning, while at the early train be- tween and ! o'clock fell over the body of John Whitford. local cot0red man who, having been killed during the
 night by a height lay toside the track ill the covered bridge. That th'
 watchman was frightened doesn' . touch it! For weeks af,er that h, i carried, right in his naEG too a bis l r1TrN- which was purchased lv the late s E. Pl,inney in Albuquerque New Mex 1 ico. in 1880. He has the weapon nov
 and strangely enough, # was manu l factured by the Hopkins & Allen plan l of Norwich
 Earl Howard has been honorabE i discharged from the army and is liv Ing at his aunt's, Mrs. Herber 1 Hurst's.
 Provisionary Master Fred L. Kan
 ahan. Worshi"ful Brotne.' F. M. Gray | representing inc senior warden, ant l B. R. Gardner, junior warden. are i'll Hartford as representatives iron l Mt. Vernon lodge. No. 75, F and A | NJ. to the ora hundred and thirty frs annual communication of tho gran i lodge of the State of Connecticut. Mt /! Vernon lodge at it's stated communi 1 cation Tuesday evening voted to hol it's annual banquet and .adies' night The lodge has just passe'i 6 banne year; five ha8ve been made Mater Ma sons and two have taken the fello1 l craft degree.
 The following statement is for tn information of the men and women i the service of their country: The Home service of the Red Cros was organized with specific purpos
 to see that the families of the me and women in their country's servic are maintained in comfort during thei absence.
 Those in the service in any branc
 know that they will be taken care C
 if they are sick or wounded and the should know also that the Home ser
 vice of the Red Cross is ready to re lieve them of their anXieties of thei families so far as that is humanl possible.
 If you want to know about allot ments, allowances, insurance, rent, ( any of the many problems arisin through war conditions, ask any mem Der of the Home Service section, wh will be glad to advise you. The Home Service section in Jewe City comprises Dr. G. H. Jenning chairman, Rev J. J. McCabe, Horac Mailhotte, r. L. Kanahan, Lisbon, E mer Coon, Voluntown, J. r. Henno I Elizabeth Dealy is the executive set I retarY.
 MT Mailhotte is vocational advise 5 If any of the returned men is diffidel X about applying for his former positic H or searching for one, Mr. Mailhotte B ready to help him secure one. No one need hesitate to apply f. k help, as the relations between worke