The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1895-01-25

$3.50 o'clock last evening, when the
Chicago HerGLds fast special, Just
sixteen hours and fifty-seven minutes
out Of Chicago, pulled under the shed.
The moment the dazzling headlight
OF engine 240, Western and Atlantic
road, hove in sight the multitude of
representative citizens, city officials,
newsboys and every class of people
that had gathered inside the depot,
sent up terrific shout, and the Fifth
Regiment band struck the inspiring
strains Of Dixie"
WELCOME THE HERALD MEN.
The exposition directors and the
leading citizens quickly boarded the
car and went into the dining car,
where they met and congratulated Mr..
Robert Ansley, the business manager
Of the Herald, and Mr.. John J. Finn,
of the editorial staff of the Herald,
the able special writer of the Herald,
who prepared the article about Atlanta
and the exposition, which made up the
Southern edition of the Herald.
NIX. HARTMAN HAPPY.
Mr.. Charley Hartman, the live gen.
eral passenger agent of the Western
and Atlantic, who personally conduct
ed the special from Chattanooga, was
on hand all aglow with smiles, shaking
hands with everybody.
"One hundred and thirtY-eight miles
in one hundred and sixty-fve minutes,
with two stops" was all he had to say
to the enthusiastic greetings that he
received from every side.
After the general reception in the
parlor car was over, the Chicago party
was taken in hand by the exposition
directors and escorted to the Aragon
hotel
A RAILROAD SENSATION.
The marvelously quick run from
Chicago to Atlanta was the sensation
of the hour in railroad circles. No
such time had ever been made before.
During the Worlds Fair the announce
ments made in the advertisements that
the vestibuled fair specials would cover
the distance in twenty-four hours was
greeted with incredulity. Nobody
believed it, and as matter of fact, it
was rare occurrence that the dis
tance was covered in shorter time
than twenty.seven hours.
To make the run in sixteen hours
was a feat unparalleled in the railroad
world. 1t was at the very least eight
hours shorter than any known time
between the two cities. 1t marked
new era in fast travelling, and it was
meet that the rapid run should be
made between Chicago and Atlanta,
the two most enterprising and pro-
gressive cities in the country.
There were many railroad men who did not
believe that the run could be made in any
thing ike the time proposed. They predicted
that the train would get into Atlanta about
midnight, but they were beautifully disap-
pointed. 1t is fact deserving Of special men,
tl0n that the run made over the Western and
Atlantic Road, one of Atanta's lines, was
made in as quick time as was made on any
other line between Chicago and Atlanta. Mr.
Hartman made 1t a point to cover the distance
In lightning fashion, and If the train had
reached Chattanooga on schedule time, it
would have been put into the depot in this
city without the loss of single moment. He
special, and 1t came through without hitch.
The train was scheduled for Chattanooga
at 800, and on the main line, awaiting the
coming of the train, was engine 240 one of the
smartest locomotives in the South. 1t is an
engine that Charley Barrett has covered q
mile In less than fifty-eight seconds with, and
Is one OF the most graceful movers in the
world. On 1t was Billy Harris, an engineer
who knows every crosstie between Atlanta
and Chattanooga, an engineer who can get
Neyery wrinkle out OF mover an engineer
the horses--always to win. he was sitting
there waiting for Bob Stallings, that conduc-
ter who is known all over the South, to wave
MIN out while Mr.. Stalings, with watch In
hand, was watching for the coming train TO
turn the curve a half mile away. Hon. Charles
Hartman, the general passenger agent of the
road, was beside the track fussing because
the train was late and a dozen yardmen were
present to do the work allotted to them. Just
nVe minutes after o'clock the train rolled
IN. second later the engine was uncoupled
and NO. 24O was swung in line. In two min
utes every axle had been creased, every wheel
had been sounded and the train was moving
MT. Finn and Mr.. Ansley had shaken hands
with number of gentlemen and had, been
told dozen times or more that the feat was
one Of the most remarkable they had ever
heard OF.
Is there anything in our way?" asked Mr..
Ansley, Rlancing from the face of his watch
into the face of Mr.. Hartman.
''Not thing" replied Mr.. Hartman. "Ths
train has the right Of way over everything"
And what's the distance?" asked Mr.. Finn,
ginncing at the time table.
Zone hundred and thirty eight miles," was
the answer.
''How long viii it take us2r asked Mr.. Ans
ley.
ALess than three hours" was the answer.
I'VE will make two stops only, and we viii
put you in Atlanta in less than three hours"
Three minutes before o'clock the train
came into Atlanta, having covered the dis
1ance in two hours and fifty minutes, includ-
ing the two stops Of about four minutes each
and the slow-up at Howells and the slow pace
within the city.
1t was a run of 1888 mics In 40 minutes, in
Guiding two stops, and was the best running
the train did from the time it left Chicago
until it reached Atlanta
The entire time, including the stops, changes
and SO forth, was sixteen hours and twenty
seven minutes as figured by Mr. Stone and