W. J. Robinson, of Omaha Division 126, and Chief Dispatcher C. L. Eaton. Brother Burns is entitled to special mention, being introduced to us as “the largest conductor on the Burlington Route. He is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 290 pounds.” “If we only had ‘Big Frank,’ of the New York Division, with us,” says Brother Denniston, “we could beat that by 1 inch and 10 pounds.”
“While we are not able to produce our largest conductor to compare him with yours,” spoke up Manager Wyman, “we have with us one who enjoys the distinction of being the smallest conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad System, being but 5 feet 3 inches in height and weighing only 109 pounds. I take pleasure in introducing you to Brother Charles L. Springer.” Brother Springer took the joke good-naturedly and responds in a pleasant manner, telling the advantage of being small; that his size enables him to get through places with ease where large men dare not attempt to go. We notice that Conductor Chase is a great favorite with the ladies of our party, who are trying to rob his uniform coat of its pretty golden buttons, that they covet for souvenirs. A stop of half an hour is made at Lincoln, where we arrive at three o’clock. Conductor Chase, to save his coat, procures a number of uniform buttons and distributes them among the ladies. Division 227 adjourned meeting this afternoon to meet us at the station on our arrival, an action very much appreciated by our boys, and the half hour was spent in pleasant greetings. The “boys,” the cooks, waiters, and porters, and the ladies gave their yells in turn as the time came for us to leave, and the effort of the ladies was loudly applauded.
We leave Lincoln with the same engine and crew that brought us from Hastings, and they take us to Pacific Junction, a run of 177 miles. We feel that we are in good hands, for Conductor J. G. Chase was selected to take charge, from Pacific Junction to Hastings, of the Mayham Special, that on February 15th and 16th, 1897, broke the world’s record for long-distance running, having made the run from Chicago to Denver, a distance of 1025 miles, in 1047 minutes. Engine 227 that is now pulling us drew the special from Lincoln to Hastings, a distance of 96 miles, in 109 minutes, a speed of about 53 miles per hour. This did not quite reach the average rate of speed made on the trip, which was 58¾ miles per hour. Leaving Lincoln we have with us as additional guests Brothers W. C. McDermott and C. Kast, of Division 227, and Engineer F. B. Arnold. We arrive in Omaha at 5.15 P. M., and within ten minutes after our arrival we are speeding through the city on electric cars, under the escort of Brother W. J. Robinson and Superintendent of Street Car Service T. H. Todhunter, who has placed two fine open trolley cars at our service and personally directs their movements, switching us from one thoroughfare to another until almost the entire city is traversed. It is a pleasant afternoon and we greatly enjoy the delightful ride through this, one of the greatest cities of the West, noted for its rapid growth, having increased from a population of 30,518 in 1880 to 140,452 in 1890, and we are told that present indications point to the likelihood of it reaching 300,000 in time for the census of 1900.
Omaha is up to date in all that pertains to the health, comfort, and welfare of her citizens, and we are all favorably impressed with her clean streets, pleasant homes, and fine, substantial public buildings. Omaha has a curfew law, recently established, the beneficent effects of which are already noticed and highly recommended. It keeps off the streets after nine o’clock at night boys and girls under sixteen years of age, unless accompanied by parents or guardians.
We have consumed more time in doing the town of Omaha than was intended, and consequently, when we leave at 7.05 we are thirty-five minutes late on our schedule; but we are on a line noted for its “fast time,” and probably the delay will be made up. A number of the boys from Creston Division No. 21 and their ladies came up to Omaha to meet us this afternoon, and return with us to Creston.
We have the pleasure of having with us L. H. Wright, C. C. of No. 21, Mr. and Mrs. R. McCoy, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Smelley, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Felker, Mr. and Mrs. Nugent, Mr. and Miss Bradey, Mr. Donoven, Train Dispatcher Ed. Robeson, Master Mechanic G. L. Beckwith, J. W. Fedder and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, F. M. Price, Miss Galeger, Miss Thompson, Miss Gaul, Miss Gaven, Miss Obine. Leaving Omaha we do not cross the Missouri River and enter Iowa via Council Bluffs, but follow the river south for 26 miles to Plattsmouth, where we cross the turbid stream on a substantial bridge and enter Iowa at Pacific Junction, having traversed the southern border of the State of Nebraska for 366 miles. We saw a fine, level country, dotted with neat, substantial farm buildings, and judging from the many well-filled cribs of last year’s corn, it must be a country extremely rich in agricultural products.
At Pacific Junction a change of engines and crews is made, and bidding adieu to good-hearted, good-natured Captain Chase and his genial crew, we continue on our way with C. B. & Q. engine 318, in charge of Engineer George Goodrich and Fireman T. H. Hillis, conducted by M. Farrell, whose brakemen are T. A. McDonald and T. Munson, who will take us to Creston, a run of 86 miles. Thirty-five miles from Pacific Junction we make a short stop at Redwood, and receive additional guests in the persons of Division Superintendent J. H. Duggan, Mr. Frank Gillman, J. B. Kirsh, chief engineer of Creston Division No. 112, B. of L. E., and Conductor T. G. Snair. We have now about thirty-five guests aboard and our train is pretty well filled up. It seems to be an off Sunday with many of the good people along the line, and they have turned out to show us a good time, and they can never guess how much their efforts are appreciated. It is 10.15 P. M. when we arrive in Creston, and as we approach the station Superintendent Duggan, who has been watching the time, informs us that our train has covered the last 36 miles in forty-two minutes. A large bonfire is burning on an open lot near the station, and the juvenile band of Creston is playing a stirring piece when our train comes to a halt. There is a large crowd on hand to greet us, and the forty-five minutes we remain among them passes quickly and pleasantly away. We bid good-bye to our many new-found friends, and at 11.02 P. M. leave Creston with C. B. & Q. engine 232, with Engineer J. Consodine at the throttle, and conducted by G. W. Yetts. The brakemen are W. D. Willits and G. A. Bessey, which crew takes us to Burlington, 190 miles. The “232” was also on the famous Mayham Special from Creston to Red Oak, and made a record of 62½ miles per hour. Conductor Yetts had charge of the train from Burlington to Creston.
We have had a full day, and every one of the party feels that we have been honored by the demonstrations of good-fellowship that have marked our progress through the States of Nebraska and Iowa. We are all very tired to-night; this is the thirtieth day of our outing; each day a picnic and every night a circus. It is now drawing near the midnight hour, and as we steam away from the hospitable, wide-awake little town of Creston, with her bonfire and her band, our sincere wish is that the sun of prosperity may ever shine upon her. The combined car has been vacated and the refreshment corner is deserted; George H. Anderson, the hardest-worked man in the outfit, is making up his bed, Brother Sparks’ El Paso pup has ceased his whining and now is snoring, and Sister Matthews’ Denver magpie for once in its life is silent. These things I notice as I quietly leave the smoker and make my way to little No. 3, in the “Marco.”