Miscellaneous

Baggageman H.H. Purdy on the Lyon Brook Bridge

Chenango Union, July 5, 1906

 

The death of Mr. H.H. Purdy, which was announced last week, has recalled many interesting anecdotes of his career on the Ontario and Western and men who knew him years ago when he was running as trainman, baggageman and later as conductor, are fond of telling of his escapades.

 

It was when Lyon Brook bridge was still a curiosity in this section of the country and excursion trains carried thousands of people to view the structure, that Mr. Purdy was baggage master on the O.&W.  On one occasion he was acting as baggage master on an excursion train to Lyon Brook bridge.  While the train was standing on the bridge Mr. Purdy thrilled the sight-seers by running the width of the baggage car, catching the iron rod on which the door slides and swinging out into space.  He repeated this operation several times, the crowd which watched him with gaping mouths increasing all the while.  Finally there came another run across the car, and a jump for the iron rod.  Apparently he missed his hold.  Anyhow the horrified crowd saw a blue overalled body shoot through space and then go tumbling down the rocks to the bottom fo the gorge.  Men screamed, women fainted and the braver hearted hurried to the bottom to rescue the mangled remains of the baggage master.  What they really found was the baggage master's cast off overalls stuffed with straw.

 

Superintendent Day was on the train and discharged Mr. Purdy on the spot.  He was too good a man to got along without, however, and after a short time he was back on the road which he served faithfully for many years thereafter.

 

Wind Storm Causes Damage

Bainbridge News & Republican, April 8, 1945

 

Guilford, as well as the entire towns adjoining, was visited by a real wind storm, which started late Saturday afternoon and continued unabated with increasing velocity until early Sunday morning.  It was a freak storm, in that when it started the sun was shining brightly.  It was proceeded by a heavy downpour of rain.  The only real damage ascertained so far occurred on Merchant street. One of the large pine trees in front of the Fred Dimorier residence was uprooted and fell directly across the highway, taking with it the electric light and telephone pole.  Fire works began immediately as the street lights began to arc.  No street lights came on during the evening.  Highway Commissioner Earl Gridley immediately blocked off the road and placed flares at both ends, thus eliminating the hazard of anyone coming in contact with the live wires, which continued to burn throughout the night.  All telephones above the Dimorier residence, two direct lines and a party line were out of order.  Everything Sunday morning was at a stand still waiting repair men from the New York State electric & Gas Corp. and C.&U. Telephone Corp. to clear the trouble, so the town gang could remove the tree.  Mr. and Mrs. Dimorier have been spending the winter at Saugerties and have not as yet arrived home.  Another tree, this side of the one uprooted withstood the storm.  It also tore the wires from the house. 

Lowell Harrison Freed from Japanese Camp

Bainbridge News & Republican, March 29, 1945

 

Mr. and Mrs. C.I. Harrison, of eight Bixby street, Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], are very happy parents as a result of news received from their son, Lowell Harrison, telling that he, his wife, Martha, and 3-year-old son, Charles, were liberated from a prison near Manila by the American Troops.

 

Lowell Harrison had lived in the Philippines for 16 years in the employ of the International Harvester Co.  In January 1941, he married a United States Army nurse and he and his wife were first interned at Bagulo, in December 1941.  Their son, Charles was born in the internment camp March 23, 1942.  In June, 1943, the child contracted infantile paralysis and the child and mother were removed to a hospital.  In December, 1944, the three were removed to the prison at Bilibid, near Manila, and they were released from there by the Americans Feb. 5. 

 

Mrs. C.I. Harrisonalso has a brother in the Philippines, Lawrence Cooper, 63, who has been there ever since the United States took over the islands.  He married a Filipino girl and they have five children.  Mr. Cooper was interned at Santo Tomas when the Japanese first took over the island but was later released because of poor health.  He was interned again in 1942 and when he was freed by the Americans he was seriously ill.  Four of his children have attended colleges in this country and two of them are now in military service. 

 

In a letter dated Feb. 10, 1945, Lowell writes to his family here:  "Just one week ago tonight we heard the American tanks roll down the street and knew our people were here.  The battle goes on and the noise is rather hard on people's nerves, but we know they are our own guns and that our men are all around us.  What a relief after three years watching the Japanese guards and wondering what they might do next.

 

"The soldiers say they are very tired of canned food, but to us it is wonderful.  What I appreciate most is milk.  Martha says that sugar is what she most appreciates.  I guess 'Chuckie' likes the candy best--first he's ever had; we have to watch him every minute or the soldiers stuff him with it.  For the past year we've lived on rice--the worst kind at that--cracked corn (full of weevils), sweet potatoes, and sweet potato tops for greens.  Not enough of even that.

 

"We moved here (Bilibid) from Bagulo Dec. 28.  Can see St. Tomas Camp, but communication is difficult so have not been able to contact Uncle Lawrence (Lawrence Cooper).  That attack of polio in June 1943 has left Charles with apparently slight damage to his legs, but we are most anxious to get him home and checked by experts."

 

On Feb. 17 he writes:  "Yesterday I got a pass to go over to St. Tomas Camp to see Uncle Lawrence.  He is well, but very weak from lack of food.  He expects to go home soon.  We hope to get out of here by the first or not later than the middle of March--should be home not later than May.  Don't know what my status will be with the company, but I'm not much worried about getting a job with all te shortage of manpower.

 

"Life here in Bilibid is far from comfortable, but with our own army around us we have a sense of security and well being that we have not enjoyed for three years.  We are eager to see you all and to walk again on American soil." 

 

A friend of the Harrison family who was interned with his wife and child at Santa Tomas, Manila, writes on Feb. 15:  "We are slowly being starved to death by the Japs.  I was down to 120 lbs. from 212 at the start of the war and Irene (wife) from 165 to 110.  The last year has been a nightmare for all of us.  The first few months after the surrender were the worst as far as death rate was concerned, due partly to starvation diet by the Japs only the hardiest pulled through those first few months.  The death rate was terrific until Jan. 1943, then the Japs increased the rations and improved them until the start of 1944, when they started gradually cutting down until it became just slow starvation. The worst was the last six months when the food was so drastically cut that only a bare existence was possible--and for many impossible--the death rate started going up by leaps and bounds.  the last three months only about half of us were still able to get up to get our own chow.  Only a handful of rice (made into a rice soup twice a day) and a little weed soup.  I managed to stay in better shape than most because I stayed active and didn't stay down when the going was tough, and grew a few vegetables in a private garden.  Those that gave up and stayed down on their bunks gradually weakened until they would get some sort of illness. 

 

"I was never able to see Irene the whole time. I saw Teddy once from a distance (his child) although I was for a long time confined within five blocks of them. Although I remained as a civilian (by request of the Army, to facilitate the work I was doing), I was classed by the Japs the same as Army since I was captured with the armed forces, and was treated in the same way as a private in the Army.

 

"I was fortunate not to have been shipped to Japan as nearly all war prisoners were.  I have suffered from dysentery periodically since internment and sustained a slight permanent disability of one hand which kept me from being shipped out--thank God--for many of those that were sent on to Formosa, Japan, Manchukuo have died and the last 1600 that left Manila Dec. 13, 1944 we fear are still lost as the convoy of ships they were on were sunk by American bombers.

 

"Fighting in Manila is still heavy.  the Nips are fighting to the last man and systematically destroying the whole city and killing the civilian population as they are forced to retreat.  The slaughter is terrific-unbelievable-barbarian!  They herd the people by the thousands into the big buildings, churches, schools, hospitals, etc., and then dynamite the buildings.  Most of Manila is just a shamble-leveled to the ground, pure wanton destruction!

 

"We are all gaining weight and strength rapidly--I've gained 15 lbs, already and Irene and Teddy have gained in proportion.  The Army and Red Cross are providing everything for our comfort.  The food is wonderful--to us at least--all the things we have been dreaming of for the last three years!"