The herald., 1896-09-07
THE AMBASSADOR
FROM THE ORIENT.
Took a Lesson in EIec-
trical Science
ne WAS MORE SCARED Than HURT
But Won't Monkey With Dy.
namos Again
THE OBJECT OF HIS VISIT
Seems to Be the Investigation Of Rail.
way Systems
Negotiations Pending for the Employment Of
Civil Engineer
Ii Hung Wishes He Had Some Honey to Ia
vest In American Railway Stocks.
he Will Start for
Home Today
THE OBJECT OF HIS VISIT
Seems to Be the Investigation Of Rail.
way Systems
Negotiations Pending for the Employment Of q
Civil Engineer
Ii Hung Wishes He Had Some Honey to Ia
vest In American Railway Stocks.
he Will Start for
Home Today
Associated Press Special wire


The special train bearing Ii Hung
Chang and his party arrived here at
noon today. Rain was falling at the
time and the visitors dampened their
silk blouses and gold lace somewhat in
the journey to the Cataract house. where
rooms had been engaged.
Immediately upon arriving here Ii sat
for a dentist and had his teeth exam
ined. The rain was great disappoint-
ment, as the viceroy was very desirous
of visiting the American falls in the
afternoon. There was no cessation in
the downpour until after 8 o'clock. when
the sun struggled through the clouds.
Carriages were quickly summoned and
the visitors spent two hours in inspect
ing the wonders Of Niagara. At the
electric power house of the Niagara
Falls Power company the distinguished
visitor had an experience with Ameri-
can electricity. the result being as
startling as 1t was unexpected. With
his usual curiosity and desire to make
q personal investigation Of the machin-
cry before him, he poked a switch
board with his walking stick The
metal ferule closed the circuit instantly.
and LIS stick was violently thrown
from his grasp. He was naturally much
Astonished at the effect Of the sticks
contact with the switch board, but for
tunately he suffered no damage beyond
q good scare. However, he decided that
he had seen enough and went to his
rooms, where he remained until bed
time.
Last night Ii ana his party passed
their first night in an American sleeping
car. The meal on board the train, which
was especially prepared by the Penn
sylvania railroad dining-car people, was
quite elaborate. The menu card was
decorated with the American and Chi
nese flags intertwined, and a fac smile
Of the autograph Of Earl Ii done in yell
low.
After eating a rather hearty supper,
Ii sent for George w. Boyd, assistant
general passenger agent Of the Penn
sylvania company, who piloted the
train over the lines Of his company, and
spent about two hours questioning him
about railroads. He had a map of the
United States before him, and once he
branched off to the war Of the rebellion.
asking the names Of the states that Sc
ceded from the union. Ii asked partic-
ularly about the battles in which Grant
participated, and all Of them were in
dicated on the map for his benefit. He
dwelt long upon this subject. and mar
veled that, although the southern
forces succeeded in approaching quite
close to Washington. they were never
able to capture that important point.
The story of the assassination of Lin
coin also interested him greatly. He in
quired what became of Booth and
where Lincoln Is buried. and then quer-
led: do not the American people re-
gard Lincoln as very good MANI"
The deep interest he shows in railroad
matters convinces those who have paid
attention to the subject that his prin-
cipal object in coming to this country
Is to study American construction ana
management, with view to the adop-
ton of some Of the features in pro-
posed general extension Of the Chinese
railway system. In fact, the viceroy in
timated today that he is negotiating for
the services Of an American civil en-
gineer. who, II he accepts the offer made
him, would go to China in the near fu-
ture and take charge of the railway sx-
tension scheme now being outlined. LII
says that there are only about 200 miles
Of single-track railroad in China at
present. Only three trains are run each
day, and there is no traffic at night. the
system being crude and the liability to
accidents a constant menace.
Lii slept during the night in a bed made
especially for him. with a soft, downy
mattress more than foot thick. He
declared when he rose this morning
that he had rested better than in a
hotel bed. The preparation Of his toilet
consumed an hour, and he then ate some
bird 'snest soup and drank a cup of tea.
At $3.50 he was ready to receive visitors.
At his request, no effort has been made
at fast running, an even speed Of about
thirty miles an hour being maintained.
Even on the train the earl's personal
bodyguard stopped outside the door of
his stateroom.
Contrary to his usual custom, he took
a morning siesta, sleeping soundly from
Z o'clock until Q. At o'clock Canandai-
qua was reached. Here the train left the
Pennsylvania and passed on to the
tracks Of the New York Central and con-
Meeting line to Niagara. The only
change was the substitution of a loco
motive Of the latter company and . new