The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-08-18

A special to the Baltimore Gazette says: The
ride OF the two consulting physicians to Wash
ngton must go into history as one Of the most
remarkable on record. Dr. Frank LII. Hamil-
ton received the dispatch summoning him to
Washington at his house, 43 West Twenty
second street, New York, on Saturday. 1t
took him only ten minutes to prepare for the
journey. He lett the house at about two
o'clock, with the remark that he did not know
when the next train would start, but that he
would get carriage and go to the ferry SO that
he would be ready to take it. The dispatch,
which was brief, he took with him. He hast
ened in a carriage to the Desbrosses street
ferry, where he learned that the first train for
Washington was over the Pennsylvania Rail
road at $40 O'Clock. 1t would arrive In Wash
ington at 1920 O'Clock p. m, Some time was
spent in inquiries as to the departure of trains
on other roads. Then he crossed the ferry
and entered the Jersey City passenger waiting
room, where he was recognized while he was
making inquiries at the palace car window.
Superintendent jackson, who was in his Office
in another part of the depot, was sent for A
very brief time sufficed to make him aware OF
the situation. He hurried away from DR..
Hamilton, and seven minutes later the latter
was rushing out Of the depot on a special train.
1t was $40 p. M. when the depot master and
the train dispatchers received notice TO be spry
Engine 915, one of the best of the ordinary
engines, with five-foot driving wheel, was
hitched to new Eastlake coach, and at 800
it was run out of the depot. The new East
lake coaches are chiefly remarkable for their
heigh ceilings, their low and comfortable seats
and tor the elegance of their panelings of light
unstained maple and ash. Each panel is carved
after an original design. They run very
smoothly.
The freight trains were all got out of the
way, one after another, on side tracks in time
TO allow the special to roar past them without
stacking speed, but two passenger trains de-
layed the conductor fifteen minutes. He arrlv-
ed at Philadelphia at five o'clock, a distance OF
~ miles, in 100 minutes. The engineer was
A. Vandegrift, and the conductor was IL. w.
Headly. At Philadelphia a stop OF but few
minutes was made, in which to change engines
and allow DR.. Agnew to get on the cars.
From Philadelphia to Wilmington, with
stop at Chester and other places, the run was
made in twenty-seyen minutes, the distance
being twenIy-six miles, A dispatch had been
sent to Wilmington for a brakeman, and a
man named Humphreys was detailed to make
the train" At 527 the special came dashing
through the city at the rate Of at least eighteen
miles an hour, and the intrepid brakeman
stood near the track He made desperate
grab for the rear platform, and at the risk OF
his life succeeded in gaining hand and foot
hold. The car steps were protected by wire
railing, and he was carried considerable dis
lance clingng on to this before the conductor
came back and unlocked the gate. The train
arrived at Washington at 7:5O p. Man aver
age run from New York of almost fifty miles
an hour, and from Philadelphia of over fifty
five miles an hour This is the fastest railroad
time for the distance and considering the stops
on record.