The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-11-23
sCHUYLER CoLFAx.
HI. Lecture In Emperia.
A Chapter Of Unsortunate Delays.

i
| A Chapter of Unfortunate Delays.
Word was received here about 3 O'Clock
p. m. Wednesday, by telegram, that Hon
Schuyler Coliax, who was announced fol
bis celebrated lecture on Abraham LIN
colin, that evening, that he had missed
connection at Kansas City with the San.
Ia Fe train, by reason Of the g Old ReltG
bic" II. d st. 10. being three hours late
in arriving at Kansas City.
) No lecture ever announced here had
caused such a popular demand for tickets
and between three and four hundred seatl
had been sold. Judge OF the general and
deep felt disappointment when the news
OF his failure TO make the connection
above related was circulated.
Mr.. CeIfax used every endeayor tc
I'LL his appointment, offering round
price for a special engine to bring him
through, and exhausting every means in
his power to reach here. Failing In these
he tefegraphed that the only thing he
could possibly do was to come through
ON the night freight and deliver his lee
ture at o'clock the next morning, get.
ting through in time TO take the eastern
passenger train at 1910.
There were people here from Council
Grove, Cottonwood Falls, and from dis
tanees OF eight, ten and twenty miles in
the country In teams. To these the dis
appoinoment worked the greatest hard
ship. Many of them, however, were so
anxious to hear him that they at once de-
termined to remain over night. To those
who did not wish TO do 80, as well a. ali
who asked 1t, the ticket money was
promptly refunded.
The next morning friends went to the
depot to meet Mr.. O., and convey him to
the residence of Capt. j. c. Bennett,
where. with party OF friends, he was TO
take breakfast. This train was due at
7:1O. After some delay and telegraphing
it was ascertained to be over an hour late.
The friends then telegraphed through the
junction office, to ascertain If Mr.. G. was
On the train. The first reply was that he
was coming on the M. X. q T. This train
was then In sight and the party Of friends
drove rapidly to the NJ. X. &. T. depot.
The conductor informed them that he was
not on the train and that he knew nothing
Of his whereabouts. Returning to the
junction the party received what purport-
to be q telegram from conductor Head, Of
the Santa Fe tr ain, on which Mr.. Colfax
had said he would come, that he was not
on that train. The friends then concIu-
ded he was not coming and returned ts
people on Commercial street, who were
waiting the news they should bring.
This caused deeper disappointment than
ever, ind many people turned and went
to their homes.
In q few moments afterwards Mr.. Col.
fax drove into town, and after spending
few moments with friends went TO the
hall. The news OF his arrival after the
happening Of SO many dIssapoinments,
spread over the city with great rapidity,
and q fine audience OF two hundred and
fifty people gathered, to whom he talked
an hour and fifteen minutes, when the ap-
proach Of the eastern bound train compel
ed him to close.
There Is no use in speaking in terms Of
praise of this lecture. The audience list
ened with the greatest interest, and were
almost unwilling the Grafton on the life of
one so dear TO memory, should close. Had
he been here the evening before he would
have had an audience Of at least six hum
dred people. No man in the country has
a greater number of personal friends here
han the noble and true-lived Colfax.
We understand some blame Is attached
to the'party here who was managing the
lecture. Everything was done that could
be done, and we are not aware that any
one here can be held responsible for the
delays OF the railroads. We regard the
kilograms in regard 10 Mr.. Colfax being
on the n. x. q T. train and his not be-
ing on the Santa Fe train, as wilfuI mis-
Mr.. Head never sent the
that purported to GENE from him,
and on the contrary he was doing all in
his power to get the lecturer here at as
early a moment as possible. Who the
author Of these lying kilograms was we
shall endeavor to ascertain. We do not be-
leve the company will keep such shysters in
their employ.
At the close OF the lecture, on the way to
the train, and at the depot, Mr.. C. was liter
ally besieged with friends, who were anxious
to grasp his hand. Many OF them had lived
in his old congressional district in Indiana,
and they were glad TO greet and honor their
old and true friend. Mr.. COlfax regretted
exceedingly, more than any one else could
his failure to meet his appointment here at
the time advertised, and that he could not
have more time to spend with his old friends
He expressed n desire to return at some fu-
ture time and will undoubtedly. do so.
Wewill say 70 all who purchased tickets.
and could not use them, that they can get
their money refunded by calling on Miss
Laura Thomas. FL