The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-07-31
AT HOME IN A PLACE CAR.
The $50. 900 X esidence Of a Young Color
ed Man and His " lite Wife.


For eighteen months Allan Dudley. a
young colOred man. and his white wife
have been living in this city in a residence
which is valued at $4,000, is fitted up with
the most modern cOnveniences. ard i,
stocked with big assortment of valuable
solid plate. yet Dudley has as many times
been reduced almost TO point of threat
ened starvation. and even now does aot
know where he will get his next week
food Dudley Is the porter of the finest
public palace car ever built, which has
since January ., 1899 been standing idle
on a sidetrack in the grounds OF ;he
WaSOn Car Manufacturing Company al
Hrishtwood, and he lives in the big coach
taking careful guard of it and guarding
against thieves. although he has not re-
ceived any salary for two years, and Is
apparently forgotten by the company.
The big sleeping car was invented about
six years ago by a BOStOn man nama1
Harris. and ar his order it was built al
the Wason works. It's popularity is that
the berths fold up under the floor of the
car during the day, thus permitting the
car 10 be used as rarlor during the day
The car was built to exhibit the inven.
ton, and, accordingly, was constructed as
magnificent hotel car, with every conven-
fence. The American Palace Car Company
was formed to exploit IT, In charge 81
Harris. with Dudley as porter. the car Wis
tied all parts of the United States and
Canada, attracting wide attention from
railroad men. In the course OF the trims
of the car Dudley visited Springfield many
times. In 1897, when on "A trip to Mon
treal, he became acquainted with white
girl. and the two soon became engaged
The car then came to this city. and the
young woman followed. and was married
TO Dudley soon after by City Clerk New
ell, after she had obtained written per
mission from her parents.
me affairs of the cOmnanv became
somewhat involved about two years ago
ana Harris was frozen OUT Of The man
aSement. The car was sent 10 Springfield
10 &c repaired January - 1889 and sine
mat time il has remained on a sid,
track in the W2sOn yards in Rrightwood
because Of continued difficulties amouc
the stockholders. Dudley and his wife live
in the car. which Dudley keeps I'm good
shape. He has never been discharged
and IS still in the employ Of the COMPANY
but ne has not received any Of the salary
OF SO month since MAY, lNB lie cor
responds occasionally with Ire officers of
the company, who alWsvS give. him on
enlargement but no money. I'm VariCT.
ways, with the assistance Of BrightWooi
people. ne has rked out a DrecdriOUs Iiv-
ing lie does not take a regular pasi.
ton because that would entail legally =
surrender Of his present position. and ~
mleht never be able 10 collect his bin. n
- only his careful watch Of the car which
has already prevented heavy loss fr.n
thieVes, who have made three attempts
ito break IN and steal The vaIuables. such
IS silver plate The car al present T. IT,
possession OF the Wason company, which
has Dill OF $3.50 for repairs on IT, The
various creditors of the company are rem
resented by six lawyers IN this clty. VINO
VIII ali attempt 10 attach the car IL II
Is ever taken from the WasOu grounds.
The car itself Is d maguilceutlv Quilt
and furnished coach. At one end is tho
pOrter's bedroom. used in the d4v for
an observation room Beside this are
large laVatOries for men and for women
\ linen cupboard contains go pfecez NJ
the best linen, and wine cupboard Is
-fOr.d with tvery design Of wire service
ln the middle OF the car D. the parlor d.
day and the D%rthroOm by night BY DAY
II Is regular parlcr chair car. with ap-
planes for its quick conversion INFO q
dining car Al each table Of the ten Ia
bies which may be set no Is 4 service -
thirty pieces Of solid siiverWare At ui2ht
ten berths on each side ~ the car ara
falrta UP rom Nudl Us called u railroad
parlance the belly under the hGcr-k
There are sleeping accommodations fIr
forty persons. All the berIhs are H4ga!g-
Gently fitted. and are much more roonnr
tsan those 81 a usual Pullman. Al tho
other end Of the car b. q writing des K and
a library. Beside this Is . st-asn-iesi.,-.l
aDTa-stus DO small room. closets for al
purposes. and perfectly flCtcd kitchen.
with cupbOaFds Elled with tie best Chi
Ha ware.
Mr. and Mrs Dudley ara both living IN
the car and have the use % an is fue
Furnishings. but both are wondering When
they can leave a.