The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-04-02

ton Spa. The superintendent OF
the railroad alighted from the train'
and stood for a moment watching ", As
it sped on toward Saratoga Springs
the next station. He turned his lace
homeward, thankful that it was Satur-
day night, and that his busy weeks
work was ended.
Just then the telegraph operator ran
ont of the station and handed him
message. 1t was from the superin-
tendent of the Hudson River railroad
1t stated that a gentleman had ierS
New York on the six o'clock train'
who was very anxious to reach Sara
toga Springs without delay, as he oe-
sired to obtain an order from
Judge who was there in an i'm
portant law suit; that rs 1t 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
quarter-past ten p. m. That would
leave one hour and forty-five minutes
for only thirty-eight miles
Certainly 1t could be done. He turned
back to the telegraph Office and sent as
answer the single word: Yes"
Then he Immediately ordered an en-
CINE 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 heavy coat, for the
first drops of q coming shower were al
ready 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. 1t STOPPED
for moment to take the superintend-
cnt ON board and then proceeded at
moderate rate to Albany.
There it arrived at about 10 o'clock.
The light shower n had begun
about eight o'clock hal ~ecome heavy
summer thunder storm, and by That
time had settled into hard, driving
rain, with a strong wind.
Through the midst of this the super.
intendent ran up to the station of the
Hudson River railroad and asked the
station master. Mr.. Foster, If the SIX
o'clock train from New York was on
time.
Forty minutes late and losing
time" was she reply
That meant that it would be at least
eleven o'clock before it would arrive
Mt Albany. Only one hour to mid
night. and thirty eight miles to go ove'
a crooked road! The superintendent
began to be anxious, but still HI
thought he could manage it, though i
would not be pleasant.
He gave up at once the idea of taking
car for his passenger and decided
that he must ride on the engine. Thu
he had brought up to the station yart
of the Hudson River railroad, and ar
ranged details with Mr.. Foster SO as t
save every minute after the New Yorl
train should arrive.
This took but q brief time and thel
there was nothing to do but wal
Half-past ten came; then ten forty-five
and a message arrived from Hudson
'Train is fifty minutes later'
Eleven o'clock and no further news
Eleven five-thc superintendent ha
his watch in his hand, counting ever.
minute and watching the long bridg
that spans the Hudson river at Alban
for some sign of the approaching train
Eleven ten. eleven twelve, and the
Mr.. Foster cried out: There she is!
The headlight of the train was see
coming over the bridge
The next minute the train was in tn
station. Then the question was ho'
to find the passenger who was to b
carried to Saratoga Springs. The s,
perintendent ran one way, Mr.. Foste
another. and in the confusion of tn
storm and of the alighting passenger
from the long train, two or three NOR
precious minutes were lost FINAL
Mr.. Foster called out: Here he isl"
The gentleman was pushed upon tn
engine with scant ceremony and place
in the fireman's seat. The superinten,
emit took his place In front of him an
nodded to the engineer, and the rae
against time began.
II was just sixteen minutes pa
eleven when the engine left the A
bany stasion--forty-four minutes IL
the thirty weight miles. This perhal
will not appear anything very difficu
for many of my readers, but to thos
who are familiar with the road, e
pecially as it was then, it will be a,
mitted that 1t was fast time.
There were then no safety switch,
In the track, no block signals, not eve
a light on any switchstand to te
whether the switch was right or no