The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1891-11-12
A WILD RIDE.

in August, 1877. The evening train
from Albany, known as the DAY
Boat Special" stopped at Ballston
Spa. The superintendent OF the rail
road alighted from the train, and
stood for moment watching it, as it
sped on toward Saratoga Springs,
the next station. He turned his face
homeward, thankful that it was
Saturday night, and that his busy
weeks work was ended.
Just then the telegraph operator
ran out of the station, and handed
him a message. 1t was from the
superintendent of the Hudson River
Railroad. 1t stated that agentleman
had left New York on the six
o'clock train, who was very anxious
to reach Saratoga Springs without
delay, as he desired to obtain an Or
der from Judge who was there in an
important lawsuit; that, as it was
Saturday, it was necessary to appear
before the judge before midnight, and
a special train was needed to take the
gentleman from Albany to Saratoga,
since the regular night train did not
reach there until nearly one o'clock in
the morning.
The message ended with the words,
"Can you do it?"
The superintendent reflected a mo-
ment. The Hudson River Railroad
train would be due at Albany at q
quarter-past ten P. NJ. That would
leave one hour and forty-fve minutes
for only thirty-eight miles.
Certainly it could be done. He turn
ed back to the telegraph-ofice, and
sent as answer the single word, Yes"
Then he Immediately ordered an
engine that was in Saratoga Springs
to be got ready; sent another order to
the train-dispatcher Of the road in
Troy, telling him what was to be done,
and went home to get a heavy coat,
for the first drops of a coming shower
were already falling.
Returning to the telegraph office, he
watched the orders that were given by
the train-dispatcher, and saw THAT
every agent and operator on the line
between Albany and Saratoga Springs
was notified of the special train that
was to be run, and of the probable
time it would pass each station.
By that time the engine was ready,
and had come to BallstOn. It stop
ped for moment to take the superin-
tendent on board, and then proceeded
at q moderate rate to Albany.
There it arrived at about ten O clock.
The light shower which had begun
about eight o'clock had become a
heavy summer Thunderstorm, and by
that time had settled into hard,
driving rain. with strong wind.
Through the midst of this the sup
erintendent ran up to the station oil
the Hudson River Railroad, and asked
the station-master, Mr.. Foster, if 1.-THE
six o'clock train from New York was
on time.
Forty minutes late, and loosing
time" was the reply.
That meant that it would be at least
eleven O'Clock beforeit would arrive at
Albany. Only one hour to midnight,
and thirty-eight miles to GO over a
crooked road! The superintendent be-
gan to be anxious, but still he thought
he could manage it, though it would
not be pleasant.
He gave up at once the idea of TAX
ing a car for his passenger, and decid-
ed that he must ride on the engine.
This he had brought up to the station
yard of the Hudson River Railroad,
and arranged details with Mr.. Foster
so as to to save every minute after
the New York train should arrive.
This took but brief time and
there was nothing to do but
wait. Half-past ten came; then
ten forty-fve, and a message ar
rived from Hudson: "Train is fifty min
utes late!"
Eleven O'Clock, and no further news
Eleven-fve-the superintendent had
his watch in his hand, counting every
minute, and watching the long bridge
that spans the Hudson River at AL
bany for some sign OF the approaching
train.
Eleven-ten, eleven-twelve, and ther
Mr.. Foster cried out, "There she isl
The headlight OF the train was seer
coming over the bridge.
The next minute the train is in the
station. Then the question was how
to find the passenger who was to b.
carried to Saratoga Springs. The su
perintendent ran one way, Mr.. Foster
another, and in the confusion of thu
storm and of the alighting passengers
from the long train, two or three
more precious minutes were lost. Fl
Eally Mr.. Foster called, out "Here h,
isl"
The gentleman was pushed upon tn,
engine with scant ceremony, anC
placed in the fireman's seat. The su
perintendent took his place in front o
him, and nodded to the engineer, ant
the race against time begun.
1t was just sixteen minutes pas
eleven when the engine left Albany
station-forty-four minutes for tn,
thirty-eight mills. This perhaps will
not appear very difficult for many o
my readers, but to those who are fa
milias with the road, especially as i
was then, it will be admitted that i
was fast time.
There were then no safety switches
in the track, no block signals, no
even, a light on any switch-stand t,
tell whether the switch was right O
not. The agents and operators a
each station showed white light, t,
signify that all was right at their sta
ton, but aside from that, the roa,
was in absolute darkness the entir
length.
i The engine ran moderately througl
the upper part of Albany, and whel
once clear of the streets the engi
neer pulled out the Unbelievable
and off they bounded. The rail
poured, the wind blew fiereely
and before them the darkness
was SO thick that it seemed as if tn
gleam of the headlight only served t,
render the darkness more intense.
The superintendent stood with hi
head and shoulders out of one window
and the engineer with his out of til
other; but neither could see more thai
four or five rods ahead of the engine
The driving rain beat against thei
faces, almost binding them with it
80. es-Er. s.szS.s~., sSssss AIS ss.s@ 'e'fy