SLAVE NARRATIVES - Library of Congress

Later, it changed its name to the Missouri Pacific* I worked for them from
1891 to 1935* On August 29th I received my last pay check* I have tried
ever since to get my railroad pension to which my years of service entitle
me but have been unable to get it. The law concerning the pension seems
to have passed on the same day I received my last check, and althougji I
worked for forty-four years and gave entire satisfaction, there has been
a disposition to keep me from the pension* While in service I had my jaw
broken in two pieces and four front teeth knocked out by a piece of flying
steel*
^mother man was handling the steam hammer• I was standing at my
regular place doing my regular work* Khen that happened, I was cut down
like a weed. There wasn't a man ever thought they would see me in that job
again after that piece of steel cut me down*
"Also, I lost my right eye in the service when a hot cinder from the
furnace flew in it while I was doing my regular work* Then I was ruptured
because of the handling of heavy pieces of iron at my work* I still wear
the truss. You can see the places where my jaw was broke and you can see
where my teeth were knocked out*
ff 0ut of all the ups and downs, I stuck to the company just the same
until they retired me in 1935 because of old age* The retirement board
wanted to know when I asked for a pension^ -wiy did I think I was entitled
to a pension? I told them because I had been injured through service with the
company and had honerably finished so long a period of service* It is now
admitted that I am eligible to a railroad pension but there seems to still
te a delay in paying it for some reason or other*
* 58