The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-04
GOT TO SAVANNAH AT LAST.
WEDNESDAYS TRAIN FROM ATTAIN
ia CAME IN LAST NIGHT.

Fifty or More Passengers Spent
Twenty Hours on the Cars at
Brewer and Were Entertained for
Two Days BY the Central at Guy
ton - Sad Lot of Drummers In n
FearfuIIy Wet, Yet AwfuIIy Dry,
Town "A Narrow Escape From n
Further Delay.
About fifty weary but happy passengers
who have been eighty-four or more hours
getting from Atlanta and intermediate
points TO Savannah, fiocked out of the
Central railroad depot at 10 o'clock last
night and made their way to hotels, board
ing houses and the homes of friends. For
twenty hours they were delayed at Brew
er, and for sixty hours they were the
guests of the railroad at Guyton, thirty
mites from Savannah. They were as hos
pitably entertained as the accommodations
of that town permitted. but it was never
theless with great gulp of relief that
they made their third start for Savannah
and with inexpressable joy that they saw
the electric lights of the city come in
sight
Most of the passengers left Atlanta
Wednesday morning. After reaching Wad-
ley, signs of the storm became apparent in
the flooded condition of the country.
Swamps Were running over, the rivers and
creeks were rising and 1t was evident that
the rains had been terrific. When Brewer
was reached the water was to be seen
everywhere, and as the train came TO a
standstill and remained stationary there
was little surprise at the announcement
that the track was in bad condition ahead.
1t was then late In the afternoon. Find
ing that they were in for a stay of some
hours, at least, Mr.. Lawrence, a mer-
chant at that place, was induced to make
up several gallons of coffee This was sold
to the passengers, and with such crackers
and canned goods as he had In stock made
up their supper.
The night. one of heavy rains, was full
of discomfort to the women and children
aboard, of whom there were a number
car, passed the night smoking, playiAg
cards and swapping yarns. No one thought
that the delay would be longer than day
light.
Thursday morning found them in the
food. Mr.. Epperson of the Central was
with the train in special car. Leaving
1t, he came forward toward Savannah, d.
recting the work of the laborers and send
ing back to the imprisoned passengers am
pie food supplies. These were cooked in
Mr.. Epperson's car, and fairly good meal
was obtained by all.
Late Thursday afternoon Guyton was
reached, and there the passengers were
told to make themselves as comfortable as
possible as the guests of the Central A
large number were quartered al the Bay
nard House. some stopped with private
parties, and five Sisters of Mercy were the
guests of Mr.. Kennedy. The drummers all
stopped at the Baynard House. BY a re-
markable coincidence it was found that
every one OF them had flask with a pint
to a quart of whisky in his valise Owing
to the prevailing dampness, 1t was deemed
incumbent to use stimulants to ward off
chills and fever. Friday morning the dis
covery was made that the supply was ex-
hausted and that Guyton, although a very
wet town. was, at the same time, dry
town. Calls at the local drug stores, with
mysterious winks and calabistic waves Of
the hand, were found to produce no effect
on the unIuLOIeO natives. ne COlltlAlAOh
of the travellers had become desperate
when, in an injudicious moment, a drum
mer for a manufacturer of sure kidney
cure confided that it was 80 per cent. malt
whisky A number of cases of acute
Brights disease developed within few
hours, and the drummer wired last night
from Savannah for a new stock of sam
pies by express.
The passengers agree that they were well
taken care of by the railroad. OF course,
they were anxious as result of the I'M
certainty. They were well housed, got sub
stantial fare, found the weather for the
past two days fairly pleasant, and will
have something new in the way of expert
ences to tell their friends.
1t was largely by good luck, as 1t is,
that this train got in last night. 1t came
down to Savannah very slowly, almost
dragging itself along to avoid accident.
Ii had hardly passed beyond Eden, when
a washout occurred at that place, prevent
ing the shoo-fy train, which was behind
It, from coming in TO the city. A delay
Of a short time would have sent the I'M
fortunates back to Guyton to spend the
night, or perhaps even placed them be-
tween two washouts, to pass a miserable
twelve or more hours in the darkness and
dampness of the Effingham woods.
This was the only passenger train STALL
ed on the road, except the one held up at
Wadley That train came on to Millen
yesterday morning and then returned to
Atlanta.