The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-12
VISITS FROM CRANkS.
Noted Men Keep Such visitatiOns as
Quiet AS Possible.

A well-dressed woman of imposing stat
ure and impressive dignity entered the
ante-room of the office of one OF the most
noted men in New York few days ago
and demanded that the attendant take her
card 10 his chief without delay. The card
was passed on TO the private secretary.
and, as IL bore an unfamiliar name he
stepped INTO the ante-room 10 see who the
caller might he. i do not wish TO see
you" she exclaimed. 'Iet me see DIR. -
at once. This company has possession Of
forty trains OF cars that belong TO me. ard
i want them. You have had them FOR
thirty-one years. and that Is long
enough
"Wheels!" muttered the private secre-
tary. Then aloud he said: Certainly,
madam. you are entitled TO your proper
~. The president would be glad to talk
the matter over with you. but he has an
engagement in the western part of the
state today and will not return here for
some time Perhaps 1t would be better for
you 10 put your claim in writing
Very we'll" replied the woman. calm
~. But could you not personally give
me one or two trains for my immediate
use?''
1T would afford me pleasure 10 do So
madam" replied the secretary but / have
no authority The president alone can
act In such matters
THAT is unfortunate. for I really need
train today" said the woman in tone
of regret. However. l will write let
ter 10 DR.. - Please see that my prop
erty Is well cared for"
The woman made her exit with graceful
dignity. and left the private secretary ard
the office attendants wondering who sh 9
was. Her manner was that OF person Of
good social station. ana aside from her
extraordinary demand she did not appear
Irrational
''She Is the fourth crank that has baen
IN here this month" said the private sec
retary. Some of the newspapers pub
iished an account of the first visitation
Just after New Years and since then the
freaks have been coming along every few
days II is a singular fact that whenever
a story Is published about a crank calling
or noted man. that man Is sure To be
brsieged 10y cranks for several days after
ward. Such is invariably the case with
Dr. -. We Try 10 keep all mention OF
these crank Visftattons ouf OF the news
papers. but once in q while a story ge'a
Into print, and then We have 'wheeis' hy
the dozen-hoth callers and letters 1t
seems TO me- that al the crazy people who
Jre at large read the newspa pers When
they learn that one OF their kind has been
calling On any particular person. they
ali become seized with a burning desire 10
do likewise. OF course not one OF them
gets into DR.. IS room. but those Of rs
who guard the approaches have TO BE- on
the alert Consta ntly. Twenty cranks. with
ridiculous errands. have been turned away
from here ia che months time. Nineteen
or them were the natural result OF the
pubiieati OF story about the FIRST visit
While mos; OF these mentally unbalanced
visitors are harmless occasionally one
cFmss along with a hom5cidal mania ~
'er big railway accident. for instance
a sef-apposnted aveuger Is certain to turn
sp with ar Inspired mission 10 remove the
presieen. Of the road from the earta.y