Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-10-18
1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
began to see more and more what
fool was to let myself be caught at
such a time in such land, but still had
so much confidence in my good fortune
that I felt would be on time for the
steamer on Monday.
It was now O'Clock Friday. We
were all aboard for Madrid and just
pulling out of the station. We would be
due there the next morning. From Mad
rid to Cadiz there is only one through
train in "a hours, and that leaves seven
mornings O week; but, as it runs only
Is miles an hour and is seldom Oh time
at that, one must figure on taking all
entire "a hours for the journey. Still as
we would be due Saturday morning |
had big margin for delay.
At last we were off. On the train and
in every group we passed there were
signs of subdued excitement Between
Royalists and Republicans sharp lines
were evidently drawn which soon We're
to culminate in bloody conflict.
Soon after 10 o'clock we arrived i'll
the walled town of Avila, about 50
miles from the famous Escurial built
by the second Philip, and about l5O
miles from Madrid. Here we got al ex
cellent dinner and good coffee. But din
ner was spoiled for me by the disastrous
intelligence that martial law had been
proclaimed and that the government
had seized the roads running north from.
Madrid to transport troops.
Here was a pretty pickle! I was ell
ragged. saw the chief of the railway al
Avila, but he was fool, and under the
unwonted state of affairs had lost what
little head he ever had.
So once more our baggage was all
piled out of the train, and once more
we had to 60 into camp on the floor OF
the station, with a terrific din around
Us.
I arose early, and looking up the tele
graph clerk and railway chief I made
them both rich by the present to eaci.
of 5 escudos
Then I telegraphed CASTELAR, and tn.
minister of war that I was an Englisl,
man; that I had my family with me.
and having important business in Mad
rid I must not be. detained in Avila. ]
demanded that he should at once direct
the military officials to send me on Il.
Madrid by special train. I also sent
telegram to Hernandez, president of the
road in Paris, Offering 5000 francs for
special train. Another urgent messas"
was sent to the superintendent in Mad
rid repeating the offerfor special train,
the same sum to himself if he expedited
the train. I also authorized him to
spend similar amount if necessary in
bribing the military authorities.
At II O'Clock I had long telegram
from him saying train would be made
up at Avila But an hour having passed
away sent him message to order up
an engine and one car from Madrid.
Another message arrived at 10 o'clock,
and down came an engine and car.
The local railway chief was more
than anxious to see us off, as had add
ed another S. to the IS already given.
Just then the telegraph operator flew
out with an order for our train to wait
the arrival Of the train from Madrid.
I stormed. kept the wire hot with
messages Of protest to officials. Two
messages came from Madrid saying the
delay was but temporary. So there l
sat in that musty compartment with my
wife by my side and heart full Of bit
terness, for saw the precious hours slip
ping away and with them my chance
Of taking the Sunday morning train so
as to catch the Cadiz steamer. To miss
it meant ruin
Hour after hour passed by, and there
we sat. My secret cause of unrest had
to be kept locked in my breast, while
my young wife, all unsuspecting, was
merry and happy, chanting little snatch
es Of song and telling me 100 times she
was the happiest Of women She did
not care for revolutions nor for delays
Was she not with me? The sun began
to go down the sky, and the shadows
fell Still we sat on, expecting every
moment an order to proceed The sus-
pense was terrible.
The time wore on, when suddenly,
toward midnight, the operator rushed
out Of his Office, and, shouting to the en-
gineer, few up to our compartment,
said goodby, and in minute we were
off. After that long and terrible day it
was happiness to be moving.
I had given the engineer a tip; he
put on steam, and as we few over the
road hope returned. I felt We were SAFE
At the rate we were going should
have two or three hours to spare. We
soon were at the Escurial AS fate
would have it, we found here an order
to run us on side line and to keep the
track clear for train going north. For
two miserable hours we waited, and no
train. Then set the wires in motion
again, and just as the eastern skies grew
gray we started
Madrid is situated on a high sandy
plain, storm swept in winter worse than
any plain in northern Europe. We had
a wheezy engine. -Four miles out it
broke down, and then I gave up the
struggle.
At 4 O'Clock Sunday afternoon, nine
hours too late for the Cadiz train, we
arrived at Madrid. Too late to reach
Cadiz by special train Not too late