Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-02-12
BOUND TO GET THERE.
, RAILROAD OFFICIALS STORY OF TWO
ENGLISH LADS WHO WERE
IN HURRY.

ENGLISH LADS WHO WERE
IN HURRY.
1.-The English tourist is often sur
prising person." said railroad official
land | have irequently lal cause &
wonder at him. Some time ago nae
an experience with two English tourists
that was out OF the ordinary. was in
large western city in charge of the pas
senger business of the trans-continenta
railroad which ran two special trains
week 10 the Pacific coast. One after
noon WAS about TO close my desk aud
90 home, when the local ticket agent
came into my office with two youpg
men. IL was not necessary 10 look nj
them twice To understand that they
were Englishmen. They were the typi
cal tall. hig-boned, blonde-haired mer
whom one recognizes Immediately as be-
ing English. They were dressed In ultra
English style, and carried themselves
With the self-contidence and independ-
ence of meu who thoroughly believe In
themselves and are utterly indifferent to
the estimate placed upon them by others
call them men, though they could not
have been over Is or 10 years old. The
agent told me that they wished to see
me about a matter of business. assur'
ed them that was at their disposal,
and watched, wondering what they
could want of me. The taller OF the two
acted a. spokesman.
"'We want 10 get 10 san Francisco,
he said, in time 20 connect with the
next steamer for Japan
~ am very sorry replied, but our
special train which connects with the
steamer passed through here two hours
ago -,
They looked serious at this, but did
not seem overcome.
al suppose said the tall one, that
the next regular train will be too late
TO connect with the steamer
"'Oh, yes said |. you would be de-
layed about a week IN San Francisco.
.Oh, that will never do he replied.
We must catch that steamer. You will
have 10 make some arrangement by
which We can overtake this special
train
II was paraly zed by the cool assurance
with which he suggested this. The tram
he wished 10 overtake was known as the
Golden Gate Special, and was record
breaker. IL was one OF the fastest trains
on our road, and we were proud oil the
time Il made. Yet here were couple
of youngsters who wanted TO know
whether they could not arrange to catch
IL with the same calmness that they
might have asked for cup OF coffee.
smiled on them pityingly.
.HDon't YOU know said |, that this
is an exceptionally fast train, and that
il is almost impossible 10 beat IL: Why,
even IL IL we're possible 10 do what you
asked, the expense would put II out oi
the question.
They listened calmly without change
of expression. Then the one who had
spoken before said:
nYeS. | know all about that, but We
have got 20 catch that boat. We are at
tached To the British embassy at Toxic.
and have been travelling on leave OF at
sence. Our time will be up the very day
that that boat reaches japan. We must
be there at that time because we have
promised to. We had Intended 10 catch
the previous boat, but we were having
such a good time that we thought We
would chane il and wait over. Now
nothing can be allowed to Interfere with
our plsn.'
Well said, don't see how can
aid you, sorry rs may be for you.
The Engli.hman looked at me in
bored sort Of way, and said:
~ don't see why there Is any need
of arguing about this. We want \
specisi train to overtake that special,
and II we can't do it in any other way
we will have 10 follow il across the con-
tinent.'
IL looked in amazement at these two
clerks-that is what they amounted 10,
suppose: at least what We would con-
slider them in this countrywide were
coolly asking for special train TO cross
the continent. was not all convinced
that they appreciated the enormity of
their demand. la fact, felt more anus
ed than credulous.
II suppose said, you have some
idea of what it will cost you 10 do this:
"sOh, we are willing TO pay whatever
il is was the reply in "A drawing tone.
alt will cost you $500 IL we oyertake
the special al her first stop said SOU
il we have 10 wait for the second stop,
and $1,000 il 60 clear across 1t is barely
nossihle that we can make connection
al the first stop
s.'The Englishman made no other reply
than to thrust his hand into his trousers
pocket and pull cut big roll OF bills
lie counted out 81 900 aud laid them on
the desk. :,
..Of course he said, Il presume II
we make the connection that you speak
Of, | will get back what | have paid In
excess
IL saw then that he was in earnest. l
took out $500 10 guarantee Us, and re-
turned the rest to him with the under
standing that he YVES TO pay the con-
ductor il he missed the first connection,
according to the terms had outlined.
AT once set the machinery In motion To
get out the train. Ii required good
deal of work. In the first place we had
no engine in which the fires were up,
and found it would save time 10 nave
one brought on from another station.
Then we had TO send for an engineer
who would be capable OF running the
train at the high rate OF speed that was
demanded and still avoid unnecessary
risks. As ours was in the main only 2
single-track road we had to telegraph all
along the line to keep the track clear oi
freight trains and arrange to have the
ordinary passenger trains side-tracked
at convenient times and places. Alto
gether about four hours were taken up
in these preliminsries. During that time
the Englishmen loafed around, looking
very bored, and not very interested 10
our efforts to hurry things. When II
was announced that the train was ready
they invited me TO drink to the success
of their trip in a bottle OF wine-con,
descension on their part that amazed
me. and the last saw OF them they were
bowiug from the rear platform OF thelI
ear as the train went flying out OF tnt
depot. They made the connection al tht
fir.t junction, as learned that night D,
telegraph. How they ever did 1t don
know. but | have a shrewd suspicion
that thew bribed the conductor and en-
pineer to run the train at rate never
known before. and that would have beer
condemned by the higher authorities II
they had heard of it.'-New YORK sun
DIFFERENCE WAS PLAIN.
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