The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25

Delmonico's till il was too late to catch nv
express. Every moment | stayed IN New
York lessened the possibility OF my plav-
ing that matinee in Boston, A Christmas
day matinee is worth for the County
Far" in Boston about 81 900. and then,
too, would not have disappointed nv
audience for five times 81 900 on a Christ
mas day. | had arranged to make the
matinee hour 5 O'Clock as a matter of
business.
| chartered an engine from the CONSOLE
dated railroad, and at half past left the
Grand Central depot to make the Boston
theater at 3 o'clock or a quarter past 8
O'Clock a. the latest. We were following
the express and the track was kept clear
for US right through.
IF we can catch that express I'll put
you aboard and lay over at New Haven"
said the engineer as We flew along
But she's thirty minutes head ?"
True, ne repiied, but there is posi-
bihty OF her getting hot box and tagging
little on the way. She is heavily loaded
with Christmas homegoers and won't
meke time III try it, anyway"
| have heard OF fast runs made by old
Commodore Vanderbilt and other famous
rallroaders, and | have ridden on fast
trains myself all over the world, but that
engine didn't seem TO touch the rails at
all. | almost imagined her cutting across
lots through the GODS and barren tieidS:
my head was dizzy. but chung to the c8
seat and caught an occasional breath.
Well catch the express nj New Ha-
ven, said the smiling engineer, as he
patted the lever of his elegant machine
We'll catch the express.
was trying 10 eaten my breath. and
could scarcely gasp out my reply, Il
hoppe so. | do"
As We were nearing Milford, a town
about twenty miles from New Haven, our
I'll.
over ten-ioot fence, ana then. near West
Haven, We smashed farmers wagon.
Inc farmers n rise baked just clear OF the
track, and he wouldn' | bulge, even when
We wnlzZed down upon him. The farmer
jumped just IN time. We sped on, for we
had not taken lie, and ventdred to gasp
out
How much will this trip cost me?"
~ ou're alive, amt you?" sang out the
engineer rs lie ordered his feeder to shovel
IN more coal.
Five miles from New Haven we sighted
a hand car on the track ahead. We had
Just passed curve and couldn't stop in
time We "histied and Nhistled, and the
car men jumped of into the ditch
DUCK your head shouted the en-
gIneer.
We piowed- through that big hand car
loaded with tools snd railroad parapller-
MALTA. Axes and crow bars :lew about that
Gao, anu the CanhohaUe laStei, II seemed
to me, Iuly two minutes All the glass
IN the cab was shattered, and what was
lett OF the car was scattered about the
fields. We had IL stop this time 10 make
some needed repairs. the collision had
| nearly thrown the engine of the track.
but the great speed at which we were
running saved Us.
Dat eaten the express
es. Stree. The tram was DELAYED az
New Haven, and | actually had time for
luncheon there. | bought couple OF
bottles fer that engineer-;he coolest man
ever met. II We had run into = river
really believe he would have quietly sung
ont
say. duck your head; were in for il. -
received the bill the next dav. but
Won isAy how much IL cost ne IN settle II
his CHRISTMAS day | take dinner with
/ my Trend IN New York. ami instead OF
paying tor ten u his friends he paws for
zen oi NINE. NEIL BURGESS.