Evening star., 1897-03-11
BEATEN IN HIS RAG E
Robert 7. Paine Was in Virginia When He
Was Informed of His Wife's Illness.
Sped Back On Specials-In Wilmington
He Learned That She Was No More,
but His Efforts Did Not Cease.
From the New York Herald.

FROM tne new 10fk Herald.
One of the most remarkable races against
fate record was run and lost Tuesday
night and in the early hours of yesterday
morning. Robert Treat Paine, a Boston
millionaire. was travelling toward Wash
ingtcn on train of the Southern railroad
when he received a telegram advising him
of the serious illness of his wife in Boston.
At the next station at which stop was
made a telegram was sent to the officials
of the railroad company in Washington
asking them to have a special sent at once
to meet him on the arrival Of his train at
Manassas, Va, to bear him to Washing
ton.
In addition to ordering the special sent
to meet him at the Virginia town, Mr..
Paine telegraphed to have in readiness q
special train to convey him at top speed
from the station at 9th and B streets.
Washington. to the station in Jersey City.
His instructions were carried out, and
when he arrived at Manassas special was
waiting for him.
His 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 clergyman
was instructed to tell the engineer to make
the effort of his life. The fires had received
the most careful attention and the engi
neer had a 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 twenty-five minutes past 3
O'Clock Tuesday night, and the special
dashed into the station five minutes later.
The time of the regular train on which Mr..
Pa1ne had first been passenger had been
beaten by one hour and twenty minutes.
Two dollars mile and a handsome
ward for the men that get me into Jersey
City in less time than it ever has been done
before" Mr.. Paine shouted. as he swung
himself Oh the steps of the fresh special.
and motioned for f. Vaughn, the engineer.
to start. Vaughn turned the lever and
the engine, No 911, one of the fastest in
the service. started on the run toward Jer-
sey City. obs miles away.
1t was half-past 10 o'clock when the spe-
cial rushed into Wilmington, DEL and a
telegram came ticking over the wires for
Mr.. Paine. The yellow paper told him of
the death of his wife, but he gave no Or
ders to slacken speed
Grays Ferry was reached at two minutes
to ii O'Clock, and a 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.
1t was ZIP o'clock yesterday morning
when Mr.. Paine stepped off the train in
Jersey lily Inc - miles from Washing
ton had been covered in four hours and
thirty-siX minutes. Mr.. Paine had to wait
only three minutes for boat across the
DesbroSses street ferry. In the short time
between the arrival of the train in Jersey
City and the departure of the ferry boat he
telephoned to this side for a carriage. When
the boat entered the Desbrosses street slip,
fifteen minutes after leaving the Jersey
slip, Mr.. Paine and the clergyman made a
cash for the carriage, which was waiting.
Drive as you never drove before cried
Mr.. Paine as he sprang into the conveyance
and slammed the door after him. The
coachman lashed his horses. Through the
dense fog of the early morning they tore
along the downtown streets at a pace which
made policemen open their eyes The
Grand Central station was reached as the
hands on the big clock pointed to 2:26
o'clock.
Assistant Superintendent J. S. Scofield of
the New York, New Haven and Hartford
lad another special ready.
Sleeper No 1916 of the New Haven road
was attached to engine No. 231. The sleep
er is a big "twclve-wheeler." Engine No
I31 is considered one of the fastest in the
possess ion of the company. Only two min
Utes were spent in getting the special ready
for the race.
The train dispatcher had taken every
precaution to give the special the advan-
drawbridges and at crossovers places
where more than ordinary care was re-
Guire1 to be exercised, slowdowns were
necessary. But for all this the run to New
Haven was made in one hour and twenty
two minutes, the actual running time al
lowing for the slowdowns and stops men
toned, being one hour and fifteen minutes
Considering the darkness and fog and the
Unusual precautions that the trainmen had
to take this is considered a remarkable
performance.
At New Haven a new set of trainmen
took charge. An engine had been placed in
readiness, coaled and prepared to start
without a seconds delay. Conductor Mo-
roney was in charge of the second division.
and gave the order to go ahead as soon as
the change in engines had been effected.
There was more delay during this part of
the journey, and it was also impossible to
make extraordinary time from New Lon
don, where another change of engines took
place. to the objective point. Mr.. Paine
reached Boston at o'clock, and hurried at
once to his wife's death chamber.