The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-28
HER QUEER TRIP.
Bess Mitchell's Long Tour
for a Wager.
From Chicago to San Francisco,
Thence to Mexico and Home With
out Stepping on the Soil.

Five railroad men. three of them repre-
sentng American and two of them English
railroads, gathered in little knot around a
hot stove in the rotunda OF the Grand Pa
cific Hotel. Chicago. on the night Of Tues
| day. March q, 1893.
1t was a cold, clustering night, and the
railroad men began to talk of the incon-
veniences of transferring from one train to
| another at meeting points.
The Americans asserted that so perfect
was the union depot and transfer system of
the railroads in the United States that the
passengers were not exposed to any bad
weather or even cold, and drew an Invidi-
Gus comparison between English and Amer
lean railroads in the matter of transfers of
passengers and the comforts furnished them
| while awaiting their trains.
The Englishmen resented the comparison,
the argument growing more and NOR e
vehement each moment but carried on
! good-naturedy. Finally n American rail-
| road passenger agent p oke up and said;
We'll, say now. you fellows seem to
doubt our statements"
The En- glishmen replied that they were
certainly not convinced of tie correctness
of the position maintained by their adyer-
saries.
"All right" said the American. Now
Pll tell you what I'll do. III bet you fell
lows the expense of trip and big dinner
afterward that I'll start a young girl from
| this city tomorrow morning, send her to
Portland. o., thence TO San Francisco Cal,
on to FL Paso. Tex, on to the City of Mex
leo. send her TO the topof Chapultepec back
| TO Laredo. Tex, thence to St Louis, en- to
| New ork City, then to Boston and back,fo
| the depot in Chicago she started from, and
| during the whole of her travels she will 90 a 5
an ordinary trst-class passenger, and In
| transferring she will not put her foot on
| the ground from the time she leaves here
| until she returns"
Done" yelled both EnglIshmen In n
| breath, and then they shook hands.
Inc American passenger agent at once
| lett the hotel, agreeing to meet the men
| VINO had made the wager and the witnesses
! at the depot of the Northwestern Railroad
IN Chicago the next morning at 10 o'clock.
He was promptly on ume and accom-
! panying him was Miss Bess Mitchell, n
! handsome Chicago Eirl, arrayed in beeom-
| ing travelling costume and carrying her bag
gage in her hand. At 1920 o'clock the
| train pulled out of the depot with Mss
! Mitchell aboard as a first-class unlimited
passenger in the Pullman sleeper bound for
| Portland.
Since her departure Miss Mitchell has
| easily carried out her part of tile contract
| In the U MON depOts the Pullman car she
| occupied has been switched alongside the
| Pullman she was to occupy. and she has
! car to the other without touching the
| ground. Old railroad men say she will
easily accomplish the task undertaken and
! win for her friends their bet
| AT o'clock this morning Miss Mitchell
| should arrive from Portland at the Oakland
mole and there take the train for the South.
| Some question was raised as to whether ar
r1vinS at the Oakland mole was arriving in
! San Francisco according to agreement; but
| with the transfer-boats this point would
| cut no figure, as the car the lady occupied
| upon her arrival here could easily belanded
| In San Francisco aud again transferred
across the bay, or the car could be sent 20
| Niles and thence around the bay to San
| Francisco. The exact time Of Miss Mitch
! ellis arrival is uncertain, but no matter if 1t
! IS only three minutes before the Southern
! Pacific train leaves, arrangements have
| been made for her quick transfer.
The railroad route travelled by the young
lady from Chicago is as follows: North
western, Union Pacific, Sou thern Pacific,
Mexican Central. Mexican National, Inter
national and Great Northern, Texas and
Pacific, Iron Mountain. Wabash, Michigan
Central and New York Central, back to her
home, thus giving her every transfer that
an ordinary passenger would have. Leay-
ing here Miss Mitchell VIII occupy section
Of Pullman car l. All the coast railroad
men are greatly interested in the Journey of
the pretty Chicagoaa and prophesy her ulti-
mate success