The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-02
IN PALACE CAR.
$4,000 Residence Of a Young
COI0rsd Man and His
White Wife.

For eighteen months Allan Dudley a
young colored man, and his white wife
have been living in Springfield, Mass. in
a residence which is valued at $4,000, rs
fitted up with the most modern conven-
fences, and is stocked with big assort-
ment of valuable solid plate, yet Dudley
has as many times been reduced almost
10 point OF threatened starvation, AID
even now does not know where he VIII
get his next weeks food.
Dudley is the porter of the finest pub
lie palace car ever built. which has.
since Jan. 25. 1899, been standing idle on a
sidetrack in the grounds of the Wason
Car Manufacturing company at Bright
wood. and he lives in the big coach, TAX
ing careful care of II 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
named Harris, and at his order IL was
built at the Wason works. Its peculiar
ity Is that the berths fold up under the
floor OF the car during the day, thus per-
curing the oay.
The car was built TO exhibit the inven-
tion, and accordingly. was constructed
as "A magnificent hotel car, with every
convenience. The American Palace Car
company was formed To exploit IL. In
charge OF Harris. with Dudley as porter
h. aur xtSilaH al the United
States and Canada. attracting wide at
tention from railroad men.
I'm the course of the trips OF the car
Dudley visited Springfield many times In
1897, when on a trip to Montreal. he be-
came acquainted with a white girl, and
the two soon became engaged. The car
then went to Chicago, and the young
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.
The affairs of the company became
somewhat involved about two years ago.
and Harris was frozen OUT of the man.
agement. The car was sent To Spring
field to he repaired Jan. % 1892 and
since that time II has remained on
side track i'm the wason yards In Bright
wood because OF continued difficulties
among the stockholders.
Dudley and his wife live in the car,
which Dudley keeps in good shape. He
has never been discharged. and Is still
I'm the employ OF t..c company, but he has
not received any OF his salary OF 10
a month since May, 1898 He corresponds
occasionally with the officers OF the COM
pany, who always give him encourage
ment but no money.
In various ways, with the assistance or
Rrightwood people. he has ekcd out pre-
carious living. He does not take regu-
lar position because that would entail
legally surrender of his present posi-
tion. and ne might never DC able TO col
lect his hill
IL is only his careful watch Of the car
which has already prevented heavy loss
from thieves who have made three at
tempts 10 break IN and rob the valuables.
such az silver plate. The car at pres
ent is in possession ~ the Wason com
pany. which has "A bill OF $1,000 FOR repairs
on H.
The various creditors of tho company
are represented by six Springfield law
yers. who will all attempt to attach ihc
car 4 ~ Is ever taken from tho Wason
grounds.
The car itself is magnihciently built
and furnished coach. AZ ono end is the
portcr's bedroom. used IN the day for an
observation room. Resides this are large
lavatorics for men and women.
\ linen cupboard contains l,bo pieces or
the best finen. ana wine cupboard Is
stored with every design OF wine service
In the middle OF the car a. the parlor nv
day and the berthroom by nignt BY day
~ II n regular parlor-clmir car with APP
planes for its quick conversion into a
dining ear
AZ each table of the ten tables which
may b. set up - n service OF thirty
pieces OF solid silverwart. At night ten
berths on each side of the car are raised
up from what u called I'm railroad par
lance the "hcliv." under tho flooring
There arc sleeping Accommodations for for
~ persons