Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1896-09-11

Niagara Falls, n. Y, Sept. 6.-The
special train bearing Ii Hung Chang
and his party arrived here at noon to-
day 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 ex-
an.ined. The rain was a great disap-
pointment as the viceroy was very de-
sirous of visiting the American falls in
the afternoon. There was no cessation
in the downpour of rain until after 3
o'clock, when the sun struggled through
the clouds. Carriages were quietly
summoned and the visitors spent two
hours in inspecting the wonders of Nj
agara At the electric power-house of
the Niagara Falls Power company the
distinguished visitor had his first expe-
rience with American electricity, the
result being as startling as it was unex-
pected With his usual curiosity and
desire to make personal investigation of
the machinery before him, he poked at
a switch-b board with his walkingstick.
| The metal ferule closed the circuit in
stantly and LIS stick was violently
thrown from his grasp. He was natur-
ally much astonished at the effect of the
sticks contact with the switchboard,
but fortunately he suffered no damage
beyond good scare. However, he de
cided that be had seen enough and went
to his rooms, where ne remained until
bedtime.
After eating rather hearty supper
Ii sent for George w. Boyd, assistant
general passenger agent of the Pennsyl-
vania compa. V, who piloted the train
over the lines OF his company, and
spent about two hours questioning him
about railroads. He had 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 par
LlCQldElH dOOlL LlAC DdLliCo III NlAANA
Grant participated and all of them
were indicated on the map, for his ben
eft. He dwelt long on this subject, and
marveled 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
inquired what became of Booth and
where Lincoln is buried, and then quer-
ried: do not the American people re-
gard Lincoln as very good miami"
The deep interest he shows in rail-
road matters convinces those who
paid little attention to the subject that
his object in visiting this city is to study
American construction and manage
nent, with 4 view to the adoption of
some of the features in a proposed
general extension of the Chinese rail-
road system. In fact, the viceroy imi-
tated to-day that he is negotiating with
an American civil engineer, who, if he
accepts the offer made him, will go to
China in the near future and take
charge of the railway extension scheme
now being outlined. Ii says 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
so crude and the liability to accident a
constant menace.
Ii slept during the night in bed
made especially for him, with soft,
downv mattress more than foot thick.
He declared when he arose this morn
ing that he had rested better than in
hotel bed. The preparation of his toilet
occupied an hour, and he then ate some
birds-nest soup and drank a cup of tea.
At 80 he was ready to receive visitors.
At Rochester, General Passenger
| Agent George A. Daniels of the New
York Central, and E. D. Weeks boarded
the train. AS soon as Ii awoke, these
people were received. He INDUCED in
his usual cross questioning for nearly
three hours. He asked Mr.. Daniels his
age and salary, and inquired how much
President Depew received, and was
astonished to learn that his salary
;s equal TO the salary of the
President of the United States. The
earl said that If he had some money he
would invest in American railway
stocks. He declared he was too poor
- .fI - - -o;ea G ~ ~, This state