The Red Cloud chief., 1881-11-03
The Esgineer's Story Of the President''
Ride 70 Long Breach.

The Engineers Story Of the Presideat's
Ride 10 Long Brsseh.
As the Presidents train swep, past
the station at EIberon, Engineer Will
lam II. Page, of Jersey City stood with
his hand on the thro,tles. his slender
figure erect aud almost mo;iouless.
while his long beard fiuttercd in the
wind. He looked like q sturdy pilot NJ
the helm. bringing his good ship into
port. Engineer Page looks like = man
worthy 10 be intrusted with sue a
cargo. Begrimcd with dust and cin-
ders this morning, he seemed almost q
part OF the locomotive. which instantly
obeyed the pressure OF his hand
A few moments later the train had
stopped, and No. 6J8 went steaming
along toward Long Branch. while Pony
No. 4 backed the cars up he switch
Just as No 65s started for Long Branch
n Sun reporter boarded her. As she
went dashing down the track, Page
drew a long breath OF relief
..Did she behave well to-day on the
journey ?" he was asked.
..Behaye well! | should saw so. She
seemed TO feel what was required oil
her. This morning she glided away as
gently as "A lady's carriage horse, ana
even when I put her TO her pace, AMI
she went along at the rate OF a mile IN
ffty-three seconds. she seemed 10 hold
her breath"
As Engineer Page said this he leaned
out Of the cab, and looked at hisengine
as kindly as a rider would look at his
favoritc horse.
..Then YOU didn't limit the speed to
forty-fiye miles an hour, as was origin
ally intended?" he wa asked.
.Oh, no; that. you see, would have
been only thrce-quarters OF a mile TO a
minute. But a good deal of the way
we made more than a mile a minute.
did the doctors and the President
know you were going at that rate?"
They didn't the first time let her
20. But III tell you how came to do
il. We Iaft Washington at 6'37 this
morning. We ran down TO Patapsico.
thirty-seven miles out, at the limited
rate. There we stopped three minutes.
This stop, like all the other stops on
the way, was made TO change crews, to
water, and TO allow the physicians 10
attend on the President. / saw n OF
the attendants--I guess it was Colonel
Rockwell-coming down the platform.
and l called out TO him, Colonel. how
is the ~President?' You see, though 1
wasn't sure who he was | felt kind OF
safe in calling him Colonel"
".He's doing finely, Page came
back the answer.
".Does he feel the motion" asked.
".Not at ALL he answered. why.
you're going rs smooth as a carriage
over an asphalt pavement
"Was it then you began TO think OF
running a little faster:'"
swell, yes. But Bay View, our
next stopping place. was only eight
miles further. so l dslnt try 1t until we
started from Bay View for ~Perryville.
s~cyenty-eight miles out from Washing
ton. There they sent me word that the
President had been doing better and
better, so l thought I'd watch the en-
! CINE and if she went smoothly try One
mile a little faster. Lamoken, where
we were to have the next halt. was
forty-six miles further on. The engine
behaved beautifully; so, halfway be-
tween Bay View and Lanoken, | threw
open the throttle and let her 20 one
mile in ffty-three seconds. | did not
feel a jOit or a jar as she went tearing
down the track. and l knew then that
if the President had a mind he might
get the sea breeze sooner. We stopped
seven minutes ut Lamoken. l called
out to one of the attendants: Did you
notice any extra motion when we were
going SO fast?'
".Why, no. was the reply. Were
we travelling faster than forty-iive miles
an hour?
Eyes, SIR says l. we went one
nile in fiity-three seconds
".Well.' said he, al didn't notice it,
and I'm sure the President didn't. I'll
go and ask
Pretty soon l saw him coming down
the platform. whip her up, Page,
whip her up he called out. The
President didn't feel any extra motion.
They were all delighted to hear that
we could get along faster. and the
President said: Tell him to go ahead.
| want to get there A short time ago,
he said: | feel as though | were on the
road to recovery
AFTER that" the engineer contin-
ned, Il vent pretty much at the speed
! thought best, according to my knowl-
edge of the road"
- suppose. after this" said the re-
porter, '.your engine will be the most
famous one on the road?"
"Yes, sir; and she ought to be. |
guess she earned a National reputation
to-day"
Ibid you have many crowds waiting
for YOU along the rOad?"
Yes. People were massed in
crowds at every station, and in the
farming districts bosses and hands lined
the fences"
"Were there any demonstrations"
mo: every one along the road SEEM
ed to feel that ours was 4 solemn jour
ney. They didn't w wave their
hands or handserchiefs. There were
men, women and children among them,
and many m gave way to their
feelings and cried-nOt aloud, but
quietly. At one station a woman hold
irg q baby was in the front rank. The
baby began to cry. and the mother at
once went away"
Engineer Page has been for twenty
five years in the employment of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He
is forty-twO years old, weighs 100
pounds. has light blue eyes, and sandy
whiskers. He began as a fireman for
his father, Ralph Page, who was also
for many years a trusted engineer on
the road. and was selected to take
charge OF the train that brought the
BODY of President Lincoln to New York
on the way to its final resting place.
After firing for his father several years.
he was promoted for faithful services
and has for several years had charge of
the limited Washington express train.
N. y. Sum