The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-19
A QUEER
Home in a Palace Car, but Food Often
Lacking.
Philadelphia North American.

Philadelphia North American.
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, and is
stocked with a big assortment of valuable
solid plate, yet Dudley has as many times
been reduced almost to a point of threat
ened starvation. Dudley is the porter Of
the finest public palace car ever built.
which has. since Jan. Is, 1899, been stand
ing idle on a side track In the grounds OF
the Wason Car Manufacturing Company
at Brightwood. and he lives in the big
coach, taking careful care of IL and guard
ing against thieves. although he has not
received 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 it was built at
the Wason works. Its popularity is that
the berths fold up under the floor of the
car during the day, thus permitting the car
TO be used as a parlor during the day. The
car was built TO exhibit the invention, and,
cent hotel car, with every convenience.
The American Palace Car Company was
formed to exploit it. In charge of Harris.
with Dudley as porter, the car visited ali
parts of the United States and Canada, at
tracing wide attention from railroad men.
In the course of the trips OF the car Dudley
visited Springfield many times. In 1897,
when on a trip to Montreal, he became
acquainted with a white girl, and the two
soon became engaged. The car then came
TO this city, and the young woman fol-
lowed. and was married to Dudley soon
after by City Clerk Newell, after she had
obtained written permission from her par
ents.
The affairs of the company became some
what involved about two years ago, and
Harris was frozen out" of the manage
ment- The car was sent TO Springfield TO
be repaired JAN %, 1890, and since that
time IL has remained on a side track in
the Wason yards in Brightwood because
of continued difficulties among the stock
holders. Dudley and his wife live i'm the
car, which Dudley keeps in good shape.
He has never been discharged. and is still
in the employ of the company, who also
give him encouragement, but no money.
In various ways. with the assistance of
Brightwood people, he has eked out a pre-
carious living. He does not AXE a regular
position, because that would entail legally
a surrender of his present position, and
he might never be able 10 collect his bill.
II is only his careful watch OF the car
which has already prevented heavy loss
from thieves. who have made three at
tempts TO break in and rob the valuables,
such as silver plate. The car ar present
Is in possession OF the Wason Company.
which has a bill of 1890 for repairs on il.
The various creditors of the company are
represented by six lawyers I'm this city,
who will all attempt to attach the car IL
Ii is ever taken from the Wason grounds.
The car itself is a magni1cently built
and furnished coach AT one end II the
porters bedroom, used In the day Tor IN