The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-01-29

A day in August,
1877. The even
ing train from Albany, known as the
"Day- Boat Special" stopped at Balls
ton Spa The superintendent OF
the railroad alighted from the train,
and stood for moment watching 1t, as
1t sped on toward Saratoga Springs,
the next station. He turned his face
homeward, thankful that It was Satur.
day night, and that his busy weeks
work was ended. 4n
just then the telegraph operator ran
out of the station and handed him q
message. 1t was from the superin-
tendent of the Hudson River railroad.
1t stated that gentleman had left
New York on the six o'clock train,
who was very anxious to reach Sara
toga Springs without delay, as he de-
sired to obtain an order from q
judge who was there in an i'm
portant law suit; that, as it was
Saturday, it was necessary to appear
before the Judge before midnight, and
q 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 mo-
ment The Hudson River railroad
train would be due at Albany at a.
quarter-past ten p m. That would
leave one hour and forty-fve minutes
for only thirty eight miles.
Certainly it 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 a heavy coat, for the
first drops of a 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-
ent on board and then proceeded at
moderate rate to Albany.
There it arrived at about 10 o'clock
The light shower which had begun
about eight o'clock had become heavy
summer thunder storm, and by that
time had settled into u hard, driving
rain, with 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 the reply.
That meant that it would be at least
eleven o'clock before it would arrive
at Albany. Only one hour to mid
night, and thirty eight miles to go over
crooked road! The superintendent
began 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 taking
. car for his passenger and decided
that he must ride on the engine. This
he had brought up TO the station yard
of the Hudson River railroad, and ar
ranged details with Mr.. Foster SO as to
save every minute after the New York
train should arrive
This took but brief time and then
there was nothing to do but wait
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 fve-the superintendent had
his watch in his hand, counting every
minute and watching the long bridge
that spans the Hudson river at Albany.
for some sign of the approaching train.
Eleven ten, eleven twelve. and then
Mr.. Foster cried out: There she isl"
The headlight of the train was seen
coming over the bridge.
The next minute the train was in the
station. Then the question was how
to find the passenger who was to be
carried to Saratoga Springs. The SUI
perIntendent ran one way, Mr. Foster
another, and in the confusion of the
storm and of the alighting passengers
from the long train, two or three more
precious minutes were lost Finally
Mr.. Foster called out: Here he isl!
The gentleman was pushed upon the
engine with scant ceremony and placed
in the fireman's seat. The superintend-
ent took his place in front of him and
nodded to the engineer, and the race
against time began.
1T was just sixteen minutes past
eleven when the engine left the AL
bany station-forty-fou minutes for
the thirty eight miles This perhaps
will not appear anything very difficult
for many of my readers, but to those
who are familiar with the road, es-
pecially as it was then, it will be adj
mitted that it was fast time.
There were then no safety switches
in the track, no block signals, not even
a light on any switchstand To tell
whether the switch was right or not