The evening times., 1897-03-11
HE SPED BACK ON SPECIALS
Robert Treat Paine Started From
Here on a Race With Death.
His Wife Expired Before He Reach
ed Wilmington on His Jour-
ney to Boston.

This city furnished one OF he scenes last
Tuesday evening of one of the most re-
markable train races against fate on
record.
Robert Treat Paine, a Boston million
aire, was travelling toward Washington on
a train OF the Southern Railroad when he
received telegram advising him OF the
serious illness OF his wife in Boston. At
the next station at which a stop was made
q telegram was sent to the officials of the
railroad company here, asking them to
have a special sent at once 10 meet him on
the arrival OF his train at Manassas, Va,
to bear him to Washington.
In addition TO ordering the special sent to
meet him at the Virginia town, Mr.. Paine
telegraphed 10 have IN readiness a special
train TO convey him at top speed from the
station, at Sixth and 3 streets, TO the
station in Jersey City. His Instructions
were carried out, and when he arrived at
Manassas, a special was waiting for him.
Mr.. Paine jumped Il ON the platform Ofthe
Southern to the steps Of the special, giving
the order TO go ahead at such speed as the
engine could make. A clergyman friend
accom- panied him. The conductor was in
strlcted TO tell tie engineer TO make the
effort Of his life. The fires had received
the most careful attention and the en- gineer
had clear track.
Such speed as never before had been
heard of over those sleepy Virginia rails
was attained. AS a consequence, the dome
of the Capitol was sighted at 6:25 O'Clock
Tuesday night, and the special dashed into
the station five minutes later. The time
OF the regular train on wllch Mr.. Paine
had dfirst been passenger had been beaten
by one hour and twenty minutes.
1.-TWO dollars a mile and handsome re-
ward for the men that get me into Jersey
City in less time than it has ever been done
beforeir Mr. Paine shouted as he swung
himself on the steps Of the fresh special and
noti0ned for f. Vaughn, the engineer, to
start. Vaughn turned q lever and the en-
gine, No. Gil, one OF the fastest in the serv-
ice, started on the run toward Jersey City,
22S miles away.
IL was 1890 O'Clock when the special
rushed into Wilmington, Del, and tele-
gram came ticking over the wires for Mr.
Paine The yellow paper told him Of the
death OF his wife, but he gave no orders to
siaoken speed.
Gray's Ferry was reached at two minutes
20 1 O'Clock, and few minutes were con-
sumed in letting the journals cool Then
the race was resumed, and no other stop
was made until Jersey CITY was reached.
Ii was twelve minutes past / O'Clock
YESTERDAY morning when Mr. Paine stepped
off the train III Jersey City. The 22S
miles had been covered in four hours and
thirty y-six minutes.
The Grand Central Station was reached
as the hands on the big clock pointed to
twenty-six minutes past two O'Clock
Assistant superintendent J. 8. Scbof1eld,
ofthe New York, New Haven and Hartford,
had another special ready.
The run TO New Haven was made in one
hour and twenty-twO minutes. the actual
running time, allowing FOR slowdowns and
stops, being one hour and fifteen minutes.
Considering the darkness and fog and the
unusual precautions that the trainmen had
10 take this IS considered remarkable
performance. AT New Haven a new set OF
trainmen took charge.
Mr.. Paine reached Boston at O'Clock
and hurried at once to his wife's death
chamber.