Railroad News, Newspaper Articles from the Enterprise 1891, Hubbard Co., MN USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Ira Benham Railroad News! 3 stories for the price of one! These submitted courtesy Ira Benham from his research in area newspapers, the paper and issue information is as written in each piece. ON TIME! The Wadena and Park Rapids Railroad Completes Their Tracklaying July 29th. Regular trains from Aug. 1st, on regular time ------------------------------ GRAND CELEBRATION TOMORROW. --------------------------------------- The cars are here. The track is laid from Wadena to Park Rapids. The contract has been complied with by the road and we are all O. K. "Everything is lovely and the goose hangs high." The tracklayers completed the main track Wednesday a little past noon. Since then they have been busy laying side tracks. They will get out of the way today, and tomorrow regular trains will commence running. Tomorrow, as the program, elsewhere appearing in this issue announces will be given up to a grand celebration over the greatest event in the life of the Shell Prairies. A trainload of distinguished visitors from St Paul and other points along the line of road will be given a Shell Prairies welcome. It will be a great day. The largest time we've ever had. Let the American Eagle Scream, the canon belch forth it's loudest tones; the Stars and Stripes float over a prosperous people and every son and daughter of Adam in all this region shout with glad acclaim ! Hubbard County Enterprise, July 31, 1891. Names dropped - Annett Baker Cobb Meade Needham Rice Shields Schoneberger Speelman Vanderpoel Whitney Winslow A GREAT DAY. Park Rapids rejoices over the advent of the railroad and welcomed her guests with cordial greeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------- The greatest event in the life of the Shell Prairies. --------------------------------------- Saturday, August 1st was a red letter day in our local history. The rain and threatening clouds of early morning gave way to sunny skie and an almost perfect day greeted the incoming crowds. At about nine o'clock the terrible accident elsewhere spoken of in detail, by which two of our most stalwart young men were brought down to death,s door and maimed for life occurred. For a while it paralized all effort or thought of any thing else. Physicians did all they could to alleviate the suffering of the victims and friends and citizens, startled and distressed, aided in every way possible the wounded boys. When all had been done that could be done for them the thought of what due the strangers in our midst reasserted itself and as the noon hour approached a procession was formed and headed by the marshalls of the day. F. E. Baker and H. C. Meade followed by the "Great Norther" cornet band, proceeded to the depot to meet the incoming train from the south. At 11:45 the first passenger train over the Wadena and Park Rapids R. R. arrived at the depot. They had been met at Menaugha by the reception committee, F.C. Rice, R.F. Shields, and M.C. Schoneberger. There were two passenger coaches full of envited guests. The procession reformed, the invited guests in carriages, and drove thro the principal streets, to the music of the band. One wagon coveyed a bevy of young ladies representing the different stations along the line from St Paul to Park Rapids. They were all dressed in white with the names of the stations on red sashes. The procession halted at the stand and as it was now past noon the President of the day, Hon. F.A. Vanderpoel, announced that the exercises would begin aT 1:30. A little before 2:00 o'clock the crowd which had assembled at the stand were called to order and after music by the band, the oration was given by H.C. Cobb. Music by the Orchestra followed. Mr. F.C. Rice gave an address of welcome, in which he alluded to the faith which had posessed him during these years of waiting and the work which had been done by his associates and himself in planning and ultimate construction of the Wadena and Park Rapids R.R. On behalf of the people of the Prairies he welcomed all the distinguished company to a share in this day's events. Col. Wm. F. Crooks of St Paul, president of the W.& P. R. R. R. Co. responded briefly. Mr. Crooks thought the brave women who accompnied the earnest men to this new country and had shared its vicistudes, dissapointments, and toil, were worthy of special comendation and to them were these results largely due. He alludeded to the long years of waiting and how the road was endorsed by railroad officials, referring to the recent visit of Gen'l Manager Mohler of the Great Northern. Mr. Mohler on returning to St Paul said to him, "Col., the building of the Wadena and Park Rapids Railroad is no mistake. That Norther country is a surprise to me." Hon. J.A. Wolverton of Minneapolis, Sec'y of the W.& P.R. R.R. Co. made some excellent remarks in which he showed very plainly the inter-relation and dependence of all classes and business interests to one another and that the theory so prevelant that the interests of capital and labor were antagonistic was pernicious and false. The genial Col. Whitney of Wadena referred to former trips made to the Prairies. How he started out some years ago to find Park Rapids, got lost in the wilderness and short of grub returned home. He complimented our people upon their character as a Community as evidenced by their noble school building and numerous church spires, giving proof of culture and thrift. A.S. McMillan, editor of the Verndale Journal in well chosen thoughtful word, showed that above and beyond all material blessings that the success and well being of any commumity depends on individual character. The future of Park Rapids as a place worthy to live rests in the daily life, purposes and asperations of its citizens. Maj. Purcell of Chicago made a telling speech full of witty anecdotes and pointed hits, which pleased the audience and served as a relish to close the speaking of the day. Music by the band and orchestra intersperced between different addresses enlivened the exersises. Mr. Vanderpoel mentioned letters of regret rec'd by Col. Crooks from various gentlemen, among them Gov. Merriam and various officers of the Great Norther R.R. One from Judge Holland congratulating the people and himself that the long stage ride was a thing of the past, was read. At the close of the exersizes W.L. Winslow made an appeal for aid for Will Zimbrick and Will Fox, the victims of the morning accident. over $600 was pledged for them. Music concluded the exersisis here. Many went out to the Ball grounds and witnessed the games. One game of five innings between Park Rapids and Hubbard clubs resulted in a score of 16 to 9 in favor of our boys. another of equal length with the Osages was won by the Rapidites by a score of 16 to 4. At five o'clock the visiting friends sat down to a supper prepared for them by the ladies of the Methodist and Congregational churches. Three times were the tables filled and manywere the praises bestowed on the supper as an excellent one. A large corps of waiters were kept busy under the direction of Mr. Seymour Annett, whom the societies desire us to thank for his invaluable services. At seven o'clock the guests retuned. The train service under the management of George Needham was excellent. A construction train bringing Speelman and his crew came up in the afternoon with the engine gaily decorated. A dance at the bowery in the evening concluded the exercises of an evenful day in the life of Park Rapids and Hubbard county. Hubbard County Enterprise, August 7, 1891. Names dropped Cutler Fox Grandy Walling Winship Zimbrick ARMLESS A premature discharge of a cannon results in the loss of arms to Will Zimbrick and Will Fox. The celebration Saturday was made a sad one by the most terrible accident that it has been our lot to record. About nine o'clock Saturday morning, Dr. Winship, John Grandy, Will Zimbrick and Will Fox were engaged in discharging the cannon located west of the depot on the park. Two discharges had taken place and the third was being prepared. Zinbrick and Fox were at the mouth of the cannon using both arms in ramming the charge, John Grandy was at the air vent of the cannonwith his thumb up on it. Suddenly there was a flash, a report, Grandy's thumb was dislocated and shattered and a rod from the cannon lay two men, Zimbrick and Fox, terribly mangled and blackened, weltering in their blood. The wounded men were taken to the Headquarters hotel and Drs. Cutler, Walling and Winship were soon in attendance. It was found that four amputations were necessary, Zimbrick's right arm below the elbow, his left below the shoulder. Fox's arms were both shattered below the elbow. Of the amputations Dr. Walling performed two, Dr. Cutler one, Dr. Winship one. The faces were badly blackened. All day the Physicians with the aid of friends, worked untiringlyover the boys but their condition was critical and life was uncertain. Seven days have now passed and each day there seems an improvement in their condition and chances are favorable for their recovery. But they must go through life armless, a sad outlook for stalwart young men. Will Zimbrick is 23 and Will Fox 18 years of age. The sad accident has its lessons which we believe should be heeded. While the results of Saturday cannot be averted, similar occurences can be prevented in the future. There should be a law prohibiting the handling or firing of a cannon, under heavy penalties by any one, other than experienced men by the state itself. Hubbard County Enterprise, August 7, 1891.