The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-25
Neil Burgess Fast Ride to Win a Wager.

A red letter Christmas day in my exist
ence vas one year ago. | Will remember
it the longest day l live. for in a race
to win a bet l nearly lost my life. l.
happened like this:
Two years ago, when the County Fair"
was on at Union Square Theatre, New
York. | met an old boyhood friend after
the matinee performance on Christmas
day. Our meeting was a Joyous one in
deed. ard we spent the time between the
matinee and evening performance in re-
calling anecdotes and events OF our youth
and in discussing theatrical matters. for
my friend had become a manager of con-
siderable reputation. After a bird and
our last bottle preparatory to my nights
Performance my friend made a wager.
"Now, Neil, you play I'm Boston next
Christmas day, | believe" said he. well
III invite you to a spre1d at Del's on
that day, and I'll bet you don't keep the
engagement, and it's only a short run
from Boston TO New York at that"
Not for a moment thinking Of my natl
nee performance i'm Boston, and the short
time that would leave me for n run TO
New York, l at once made the bet,
naming my own hour. half-past seven
A. NJ, for cur breakfast. / agreed, II |
failed TO keep my appointment, on the
following Christmas day. the one we are
now approaching. TO lay covers for my
friend and ten others he might name.
Did I keep the appointment
OF course l did. left Boston at mid
night last Christmas Eve, and was at
Delmonico's at half-past seven o'clock
sharp 20 meet my friend.
Did / enjoy the repast?
OF course | did. 1t was the best that
gold could procure. But l didn't leave
DelmOnicO's till Il was too late 10 catch
my express. Every moment / stayed in
New York lessened the possibility OF my
playing that matinee in Boston. A Christ
mas day matinee is worth for the
Get nty Fair" in Boston about 1900.
and then. too. I would not have disap-
pointed my audience for five times $1,000
on a Christmas day. l had arranged to
make the matinee hour 3 o'clock as a mat
ter of business.
I chartered an engine from the con-
solidated railroad. and at $3.50 left the
Grand Central depot TO make the Boston
Theatre at 3 o'clock or at 3:l1 o clock at
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 ahead2'
"True." he replied, but there is a posi-
bility Of her getting a hot box and tagging
a little on the way. She IS heavily loaded
with Christmas home-goers and wont
time. I'll try Il any way
l have heard of fast runs made by old
Commodore Vanderbilt and other famous
railroaders, and 1 have ridden on fast
trains myself all over the world, but that
engine didn't seem 10 touch the rails at
all. | almost imagined her cutting across
lots through the woods and barren fields;
my head was dizzy, but I chung to the
cab seat and caught an occasional breath.
oven catch the express az New
Haven" said the smiling engineer as ne
patted the lever of his elegant machine.
"NNel catch the express"
I was trying TO catch my breath. and
could scarcely gasp out my reply, Il
hope so. ! do"
As we were nearing Milford. n town
about twenty miles from New Haven. our
nishaps began. First We tossed a horse
over a t~en-foot fence. ana then, near