Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-12
A RACE WITH DEATH.
Robert Treat Paine's Effort To See
His Wife Alive.
New York Herald)

(NeW YORK Herald.)
One of the most remarkable races
against fate on record was run and lost
Tuesday night. and in the early hours Of
yesterday morning Robert Treat Paine
a Boston millionaire, was travelling to-
ward Washington on a train Of the
Southern railroad. when he received a
telegram advising him Of the serious i'll
ness Of his wife, in Boston. At the next
station at which stop was made a tele-
gram was sent to the officials Of the
railroad company in Washington, ask
ing them TO have a special sent at once
to meet him on the arrival of his train
at Manassas, Va, to bear him 10 Wash
inton.
In addition to ordering the special sent
to meet him at the Virginia town, Mr.
Paine telegraphed TO have in readiness
a special train to convey him, at top
speed, from the station, at Sixth and b
streets, Washington, to the station in
Jersey City. His instructions were car
ried out. and when he arrived at Manas-
sas a special was waiting for him.
RACE BEGUN
Mr.. Paine Jumped from the platform Of
the Southern TO the steps of the special,
giving the order to go ahead at such
speed as the engine could make. a clergy
man friend accompanied him. The
conductor was instructed to tell the en-
eireer TO make the effort Of his life.
The fires had received the most careful
attention. and the engineer had a clear
track. Such speed as never before had
been heard of over those sleepy Virgin =
rails was attained. As a consequence,
the dome Of the Capitol was sighted at
% minutes past 6 o'clock Tuesday night
and the special dashed into the STATION
five minutes later. The time or the re-
gular train on which Mr.. Paine mad hIsl
been a passenger had Deeh pedIeh ny
! hour and 20 minutes.
1.-TWO dollars a mile and handsome re-
ward for the men that get me into Jersey
CITY in less time than il ever has been
done before" Mr.. Paine shouted. as ne
swung himself on the steps Of the lresh
snecial. and motioned for e. Vaughn, the
oDgineer 10 start Vaughn turned the
lecer and the engine, No 81, one or the
fastest in the service. started on the ruh
toward Jersey City, 22S miles away
II was 1890 o'clock when the speciai
rushed into Wilmington, Dell ana q 'e ,,.
gram came ticking over the wires LOT ~, ~
paine The yellow paper told him OF ths
death Of his wife, DuI nc gave HO
to slacken speed. .-.,,,
crov,s Ferry was reached at two min
utes 10 II o'clock, and a few minutes Were
consumed I'm letting the Journals cor.
Then the race was resumed, ana no olhel
eton was made until Jersey city was
reached. 5000. ,,orriro
II vas 112 o'clock yesterday mornhs
when Mr.. Paine stepped of the traui III
Jersey City. The 22S miles from Washi ms
ton had been covered in -FOUR houis o.
thirtv-six minutes. Mr.. Paine had 10 W.
only three minutes Tor a DoaI 80 49,
Deshrosses- Street ferry. In the snort tliNe
to+,rean the arrival of the train In jersey
f$tty and the departure Of the terry-boat ht
toio,,honed TO this side for carriage
49,, the hoat entered the DesprosseS'
c,raet sIin fifteen minutes after ieaNlnE
the Jersey slip, Mr. Paine ana the clet IsSs
- ,,ode a dash for the carriage, WD'cn
was waiting. -..o,rt c,rrv
MAD DRIVE THROUGH CITY
..r,r,,,a ae Won never drove before crleo
NJ paine as he sprang into the cohF 1,,,
~ a,,d slammed the door after nm. h'
oaoeh,non dashed his horses. Ihroush tiI'
denee fog Of the early morning tneS -,
olono the downtown streets a. -.
which made policemen open me- o.cbef
nv Grand Central station was , :.
inS bands ON the big clock pointed u
disappointment j. >. sc1 JIort'
20 the New York, New Haven ana mo-
ga had another special ready, o,d
eIooner No 10l6 Of the New haven 49,
attacbed TO Engine No. 81. ~
49, is n big "twelve-wheeler' -
No 9g1 is considered one OF IN
sastest in the possession Of the coinp,'iry
D,,I,, two minutes were spent III
ne snecial ready for the race o,,orv
'lU tratn-disnatcher had taken ever
e,,tion 10 give the special the az
I'I 1.ll.a over other trains, but at Julo
lions drawbridges. ana at 100 Eioa carr
nlaces where more than oluI,l'r' GUNS
u,ss reoulred 10 be eXerciseu' S,o - am
we're Necessary. But FOR an 'iliI so',r AND
% New Haven was mace III one m ,,-nrina
tyeuty-two minutes, the "e -.'s~...,,, and
time allowing for the STOW W. nod III.
stops mentioned being one no"i aartIness
~ ,,i,utes. Considering the uarAiio-.
srd fog and the unusual precaueioilS 80.
re trainmen had TO take, TINS -
orod q remarkable performance. ,.,o,
A. New Haven a new set OF u"'i ,a,or
.aoE charge. An engine had peeh pa.
a., readiness coaled and prepared 10 So 80
,,,,tbout a seconds delay. Cohuuc'or 49,.
,onev was I'm charge OF the seco,iu ~ =.
zion and gave the order 10 30 ans" -
soon as the change in engines hau -
oeoc,ed There was more delay uui i ,'e
rte mart of the journey. ana II was 49,
s'.a,,ossihle to make extraordinary u l.'
I'm New London, where another c Iiana,
~ engines took place. 10 the opJeo.'
lint Mr.. Paine reached Boston az
n'clock and hurried at once TO "'a WA
death chamber.