Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1910 — MONTICELLO OFFICIALS HAVE NARROW ESCAPE. [ARTICLE]

MONTICELLO OFFICIALS HAVE NARROW ESCAPE.

Mayor O’Connor, Four Conncilmen and Chief of Fire Department Damped From Our Fire Wagon. Mayor T. W. O’Connor, Councilman S. W. Thompson, Geo. K. Hughes, JEJ. R. Gardner and C. W. Davis, and Chief of the Fire Department Tony Anhier, of Monticello, came to Rensselaer this Monday morning to look over the Rensselaer fire fighting apparatus and see the system so ably inauguarted by Fire Chief. Montgomery and his corps of fire laddies. That they were all able to return home aliv| is a bit of good fortune. They were invited to take a ride on the hose cart behind Prince and Dewey, and driver Bert Campbell gave them a lively spin down Cullen street. He had slackened up to make the turn west on Grace street and the hind wheel of the wagon skidded on the ice and slipped off the grade and in the twinkling of an eye the hind wheel on the left side crushed down and the hub dragged on the ground. Standing in the rear of the wagon were Councilmen Thompson, Gardner and Davis, while the visiting mayor and Councilman Hughes and Fire Chief Anheir were in the front with Driver Campbell. Fortunately the horses were going little faster Hum a walk or serious injury would suroly have resulted to some of the visitors. As it was no one was even jostled* from his position. It was the driver’s intention to take the visitors anotherlively spin and the wheel, which proved to have besfe defective, would doubtless have broken and a bad spill resulted. Mayor Meyers and the Rensselaer councilmen and other officers acted as hosts to the visitors and all dined at Fate’s Model, and a pleasant time was enjoyed. Mr. Davis will be remembered by some of our Rensselaer people. He was a painter here from 1880 to 1884. He is now engaged in the grocery business at Monticello and was eleced a councilman at the recent city election.