Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-03-04
,ouLD CHANGED HIS MIND.

I3OULD CHANGED HIS MIND.
IN Second Thought He Didn't Want to
Ride Fast ON Texas Road.
Jay Gould once made q trip to
Mexico to inspect the International
md Great Northern Railway, says
The San Francisco Chronicle. 1t was
n the autumn of 1878, and. as usual,
5he millionaire was in a hurry. Meet
ing the gentleman who had the sale
Of the road in hand, he said:
'rm a busy man, and I want to be
oack in New York next week. Rush
ne through"
A special train was made up and
put in charge of Jake Lauer, one Of
the pioneers in Mexican engineering.
Rush him." was the order, and
Mr.. Lauer did some hard thinking.
He knew that the roadbed was in
terrible condition, and that to run
over TWENTY miles was taking desper-
ate chances. Lauer had lots of nerve,
but he felt the responsibility imposed
On him by the officials in placing
Gould in his hands He concluded
finally to use his own judgment, take
no chances and stick closely to the
schedule time.
Between Marshall and Galveston
the schedule called for 1926 miles
to be made between dark and
daylight. Jay Gould did not retire
early, and on that night seemed par
ticularly wide awake. He sat read
newspaper by dim light and
every once in while glanced out the
window impatiently. 1t was evident
that the great man was becoming an
cry. Finally the storm burst. TurD-
ing to one Of the officials accompany
ing him, he remarked testify:
IF this were funeral train it
couldn't possibly travel in more de-
corous manner Steam up and let us
20 along"
The gentleman spoken to was
aware that the night ride had been
especially arranged in order that the
condition of the road bed could be
concealed from Gould, but thus forced
he had nothing to do but to order an
increase of speed The order was
given, but the train moved along at
the same speed.
"Send the engineer to me-" said
Gould. '1'll talk to him."
At the next stopping place Lauer
was summoned and given to under
stand that he was not capable of
driving car horse much less running
an engine.
'Get along! Push her! Let's see
what the machine can do" urged
Gould.
Lauer demurred, and the railroad
magnate concluded thathe was afraid.
''He's coward" he finally said; 'put
another man in charge"
Lauer overheard the remark and
flushed up. "All right" he said,
''we'll open her up"
In a few moments the little special
was speeding through the night at
the rate of forty-f1ve miles and hour.
1t was a ride to be remembered. The
cars rocked from side to side. creak-
ing in every joint, and now and then
lifting as If about to leave the track.
Everybody chung to some support,
those who knew the condition of the
roadbed expecting to be hurled into
eternity every minute.
Lauer sat at the throttle, watching
the rails as they cleaned like silver
threads. He was as pale as those in
the train behind, but, as he remarked
in telling the story: ''I'd have gone
up with pleasure before l would have
given that little cuss the chance to
say was squealer."
Once he looked back at the sway
ing train and said; "He won't stanG
it long"
The engineer was right. at a
particularly bad place the cord was
Jerked and the train brought to
standstill. Jay Gould was picked
from under seat, where he had been
thrown, and angrily faced the engi-
neer, who had come back to the Car.
what in the name Of all that is
good and holy, do YOU mean?" he de-
manded. ''Do you want to kill US
all?"
you said you wanted me to pull
her open," replied Lauer, quietly.
Gould glared at the man for mo-
ment and bis manner changed.
"MY man." he said, 'you go back
there and use you own Judgment the
rest OF the trip. I know how to
manipulate railroad, but 1 guess
you know more than l do about rum
ming an engine" Then he was as
sisted to his berth.
Disease In Paper Money.
The bill introduced by Congress
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