Charitonians, accustomed for 150 years now to near constant train traffic, first heard that rumble and roar --- and warning whistle --- during July of 1867 when the first locomotive rolled into town on newly completed Burlington & Missouri River Railroad tracks. According to some stories, it was pushing a modified freight car that would serve as a temporary depot.
By spring of the following year, the B.&M.R.R., stalled at Ottumwa since the outbreak of the Civil War, had reached Osceola. But Mother Nature seemed to be doing her best to derail the operation.
On May 4, 1868, a correspondent who signed himself "Albianian" climbed aboard a passenger car in Albia for a round trip to and from Chariton. A week later, on May 14, an account of his adventures was published in The Albia Union. It had been a hair-raising ride over tracks damaged by what some were calling the greatest deluge to hit the south of Iowa since the great flood of 1851. Here's the report:
+++
Mr. Editor --- On May 4th, by paying the sum of 25 cents, I secured a passage through the rain and mud to the 7 o'clock P.M. train for Chariton. By the way, it's rather singular that Albia can't afford a free bus to and from hotels to railroad if Chariton and nearly every other town on the B. & M. can.
As we looked upon our way on the falling deluge, farms denuded of fences, carcasses of drowned stock, abandoned houses surrounded by the rising waters, bridges and railroad tracks carried away, huge piles of drift, and reflected upon the corruption of the times, it seemed the "bow of promise" had lost its prophetic assurance and that the heavens had opened its sluice to again cleanse the earth of its wickedness.
The B. & M. has suffered severely from 5 miles west of Albia to near Melrose. The east end of Bridge No. 85, across the Cedar is swung down the stream, still hanging by the west end. Passengers crossed a few rods above on a primitive pontoon, secured by cables. As railroads seldom manifest much regard for the travelers' comfort, it was certainly creditable to the B. & M. to find boards laid down to and from the pontoon over the deep mud. The road appears to be making every possible effort to keep the track in running order for the accommodation of the traveling public.
One of the section bosses said he had hardly slept any for several days, constant supervision of and repairing the track being necessary to prevent serious accidents to the passing trains.
The abutments of many bridges, and the filling about them, were washed away, and are supported by "cribs" of ties. Over one, the passenger car was disengaged from the locomotive and pushed by hand. In many places for several rods the road bed is washed away one to four feet deep, and the rails upheld only by crib-works of timbers. At the same places the rails are swerved four to six feet sideways. To ride over this cobble work resting on soft, yielding mud, and bridges propped up with timber, made one's blood chill. The train moved cautiously, often at a snail's pace, frequently halting to reconnoitre ahead.
As we neared Melrose, we found the bottoms were covered with one sheet of water, extending to the bluffs on either side. Several dwellings were two to four feet in the water, the hotel only approachable by boat. The Cedar is said to have been 8 inches higher than in the great flood of 1851.
Most serious damage has befallen many farmers on its banks in loss of fences and stock. The appearance of the meadows and oat and wheat fields, however, promise abundant crops this fall.
WE MADE CHARITON at 9:30 o'clock P.M. and enjoyed the hospitalities of G.J. Stewart, our former fellow townsman, who holds forth on the south side of the Public Square, and who knows how to keep hotel. We found the rooms well furnished and clean. He has with him our old and respected fellow citizen, R.M. Hartness, ever ready to respond to call with his usual suavity.
Chariton is certainly a "smart little village" and evinces renewed life in her numerous new buildings, new sidewalks and fine stocks of goods. In 2 or 3 years, she may hope to attain the present size and trade of Albia. Like most western towns, I observed that a great majority of the new dwellings were one-story 6 by 9s.
The grounds of Mr. E. Temple (Edward Ames Temple) were a feast to the eye, covered with grapes, apples, maples and fruits. In a few years they will be a paradise gratifying to good taste and the pocket. Why will men expend every cent (and more, too) in the erection of palatial houses surrounded by bleak nakedness instead of embowering in shrubbery, fruits, and evergreens that will be a constant source of pleasure and profit more unpretentious structures.
The Court House is a disgrace to the town, is a dilapidated, rickety affair, illy proportioned outside and in.
We noticed at Russell on our return, a newly-built Episcopal Church that speaks well for the enterprise and intelligence of the people thereabouts.
We must commend the B. & M. for the good example it is giving the country in the extensive planting of shade trees about its depots. at Albia, Chariton and even at the small station of Russell it has set out long rows of maples. We certainly think no better evidence of the good sense of the superintendent could be given. May our citizens profit by it.
Our legislature offers munificent inducements for their planting and every consideration of good taste and sound sense dictates their extensive setting. Raising corn or hogs, the farmers should learn is not the only or best way of securing money or pleasure. Plant trees, and make your farms blossom with beauty.
AT 9:30 A.M. THE 5TH, some 40 seated themselves in the passenger car for Albia; including several delegates to the state and congressional conventions, and business and professional men from Albia, Centerville and elsewhere, to whom a few hours of delay was of importance. The little baggage was checked and we sat there one hour patiently awaiting a movement.
Suddenly there was a strange commotion on board, the few packages were thrown out upon the platform, the conductor saying the "train would not go," some a dozen rushed from the passenger to the baggage car, as if upon this precipitate transit hung issues of life and death, at the same time the latter was uncoupled from the passenger car and started at such speed that none but those secretly informed of the gentlemanly (?) conductor's intentions could get aboard. The comparative power of muscle and steam was thoroughly tested by some of the humbugged passengers, impressed with a dawning suspicion of being left, who tried to overtake the locomotive moving at 25 miles an hour. Their efforts were wonderful considering the sLipperousness of the track, but the locomotive won and one of the ten commandments was seriously outraged.
It was a matter of wonder among the "left" how the fortunate dozen were advised of the purpose of Mr. Morton, and many denounced his conduct in thus leaving the passengers without any notification (save to said favorites) as lacking all gentlemanly courtesy. A special train was sent down at 6 o'clock P.M. and we arrived in Albia thankful for our safe journey and indignant at certain railroad officials "clothed with a little brief authority," &c. (Signed) ALBIANIAN
+++
It's kind of hard to figure out what's going on in those last three paragraphs, but it seems likely that railroad officials, due to track conditions, had decided that only the locomotive and freight car could make it safely to Albia. Rather than deal with 40 angry passengers, the conductor whispered invitations to a few favorites to scramble aboard the freight car, leaving the rest behind to sputter and cuss.
Those extra hours in Chariton did, however, give our correspondent sufficient daylight time to assess the community, view the grounds of Edward and Elizabeth Temples' new home in the vicinity of the current intersection of Woodlawn Avenue and South Eighth Street and assess the condition of Lucas County's 1858 brick courthouse --- already "a dilapidated and rickety affair" just ten years after construction. That absurd and ill-fated building had 20 more years of life before it finally was condemned, abandoned, torn down and replaced with our current seat of county government.
No comments:
Post a Comment