Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-03-26
A CONGRESSMAN'S RACE.
FLYING ACROSS THE CONTINENT.
A DEMOCRATIC MEMBER WHO WAS WANT
ed At THE ORGANIZATION OF CON.
oREss--THE FASTEST RIDE ON
RECORD, ETC.


RECORD, ETC.
The Pittsburg Telegraph of Monday,
the 18th, gives the following exciting
description of trip across the Cont
nent:
Congressman John Whlteaker, of
Oregon, in company with Hon. Henry
Poehler of Minnesota, spent yester.
day afternoon in the city, and left last
evening for Washington. Mr.. White.
aker was the object Of considerable in.
terest, from the fact that he had come
across tho continent in FIVE days, for
the purpose of reaching Washington in
time Tor the extra session. Governor
Whiteaker was away back in Oregon,
nearly 1000 miles from San Francisco,
when the call was issued. He was ad.
vised by telegraph that his presence
was wanted in Washington on that
date, and set out on the journey in
good time. But wind and tide delay
ed his arrival at San Francisco until
the train which he expected to take
had been gone more than twenty-four
hours from that city. The Democratic
managers learned OF the detention, and
telegraphcd him TO take special train.
He did so, and left San Francisco at
1920 q. IN. on Wednesday last. He
will arrive in Washington at 9;02 q. m.
to-day. He will have crossed the con-
tinent in less than FIVE days, and will
have made the fastest time on record
from San Francisco TO the East Yes
terday afternoon the gentleman was
"a Had -r-- hy- sa-e-~i fy--st---~-, ~-a
to them he told the interesting story
of his trip.
"He started from his home In Main
county, Oregon, on Friday, March 7th,
in response to q message from the Dom.
ocratic managers, asking him to come
to Washington Immediately. He took
a special train and reached Portland, dis.
tant one hundred and fifty miles from
his home, in good time for the steamer
On Saturday, the 9Th, the steamer
started down the Columbia river Ia
Astoria. The first vexatious delay
was had at the bar. After o weary
wait, the boat started across at seven
o'clock Sunday morning. The wealth
er was ugly, the water was rough and
travel tedious. The boat should have
reached San Francisco by seven o'clock
Tuesday morning last, but being tossed
about by the waves she was detained
over twenty-four hours. She arrived
at San Francisco, distant 657 miles from
Portland, at $50 Wednesday morning
Governor Whiteaker had expected to
take train at the former point at {
o'clock Tuesday. This train would
have taken him through to Washing
ton by 9 o'clock Tuesday morning
March 18th, early enough to bc pres
ent at the organization of Congress.
"News of the delay was telegraphed
to Washington, and back went the
message, "Tako special train and come
on at all hazards" The instructions
to the traveller we're followed up with
arrangements for his journey. The
special train was provided. A mar
with light craft was instructed tc
pull up to the steamer as she approach
ed the San Francisco wharf. He obey
ed the instructions, and while Other
passengers were eagerly awaiting the
tedious process Of tying up the steamer
Congressman Whitheaker was in the
little boat, cutting through the water
to Oakland. At 1925, or less than an
hour from the time Of leaving the
steamer, he had reached Oakland, had
taken the special train and was soon
Afterwards whooping across the coun
try over the Central Pacific at the rate
Of forty FIVE miles an hour. The inten'
ton was to overtake the train which
he'bad missed. The special consisted
of locomotive and sleeper.
"A clear track was gwen the
special, and she sped at a terrific
rate of speed until Ogden was reached
Twenty.o hours had now been gain
cd, but the regular train was still far
ahead. There was no delay ut Ogden
but the special continued her way, now
on the Union Pacific, flying at nm enor
nous speed across the plains. The
traveller was determined to reach Wash
ington In time for organisation in spite
of wind and tide and railroad sched'
ules, and to be sure of doing il had
given mp the idea Of taking the train
which he had missed at San Francisco
He determined TO stick TO the special
and allowed no diminution in the speed
Of his own train. He swept on through
Wyoming and then Nebraska, some
times travelling at tho rate OF forty
Ave miles an hour, sometimes less than
twenty FIVE miles, but always maintain
ing the average OF over thirty miles ar
hour. .r.
At balfpast two on last Saturday
morning bis special pulled into the dc
pot at Omaha, having made tho run
from San Francisco, a distance OF J,
928 miles 10 sixty-four hours. The
usual time for the fastest train is ons
hundred and one hours. The usua
rate Of speed is an average Of not quite
nineteen miles an hour. The averag'
rate Of Congressman whiteaker's sPe
cial was something over thirty milel
an hour. There was no detention o.
Omaha. The special continued hel
way now over still another road. Sh'
left Omaha on Saturday last At 3:05 .
m. She pulled up in Chicago at 5;i'
n m. She delivered hcr distinguished
passenger at Chicago just In time Y
take the Atlantic express over tho ~
Wayne road. The Congressman hus
tied himself into the Atlantic and q
hall past FIVE O'Clock was still shooting
over tara frma and was now on th'
frst regular schedule train since b
had lsft his home. three thousspd mile