The Washington times., 1902-01-10
SCHLEY BOUND
FOR SAVANNAH.
Said He Was Going to Loop
by StarbOard Helm.
PURCHASES A TRAVELLING CAP.
Did Not Want n Navy blue One. and
IInd to Reveal His Identity to the
Man of whom He Made the Pur-
chnsc-Was Taken for HIMSELF
Tells of His Miraculous Escapes

| Il am going to loop by the starboa rd
helm this time remarked Rear A miral
Winfield Scott schley last evening. as he
was checking his baggage at the Penn
! sylvania depot baggage room preparatory
| to leaving over the Southern Railway for
| a ten days sojourn in Savannah.
| The train which came through from
New York was reported twenty-five min
| utes late when the admiral, accompanied
| by Mrs. Schley and her maid. entered the
ladies waiting room of the depot. The
waiting rooms were crowded with travel
ers waiting for their trains, and. although
no demonstration was made when the ad-
niral passed through and out to the bag
gage room, eeyry eye was riveted upon
him, it having been passed in audible
| whispers from lip to lip that 1.-The hero
of Santiago had arrived"
His Train Was Late.
The fact that the train was late annoyed
| the admiral considerably, as the drawing
| room on car d had been reserved at New
York for himself and party; SO there was
nothing to do but wait about the depot
| until the train arrived.
After checking his baggage the admiral
placed himself at the mercy of couple
| of newspaper men, who we're at the depot
to see him off.
Seeks Rest From the Weary.
You can say said Admiral Schley,
that l am going to Savannah to spend
:he next ten days as the guest of my
frisnd, Gen. William W. Gordon. 1 am
going down there to get a rest. l shall
put in the time in hunting, fishing, and
resting"
At this juncture the admiral remem-
bered that he wanted to purchase a
travelling cap, and suggested that the
newspaper men pilot him to an establish
ment that was open at that hour where
such a purchase could be made.
Wanted to Purchase a Cap.
On re-entering the main waiting room
he found that the depot superintendent
had suggested to Mrs. Schley that she
make herself comfortable in the drawing
room of another sleeper, pending the ar
rival of her train from New York. While
the welfare OF his wife was thus being at
tended to, the admiral left the depot to
purchase the much desired travelling cap.
The proprietor Of the mems furnishing
establishment in the National Hotel
building was Just turning down the
lights when the admiral and the newspa
per men reached there. Seeing possible
sale in sight the electric lights were
again turned on, and the front door un-
locked.
Il want to purchase a travelling cap
said Admiral Schley. as he entered the
shop. Can you fix me out with No. II
A box containing the desired articles
was produced and soon the admiral was
going through a number in which the
patterns of the material differed.
Did Not Want u Navy Blue.
Perhaps you want navy blue" sug-
gested the proprietor, producing cap
OF that color.
''oh. no; don't want navy blue. l want
a fancy COLOR was the admirais reply,
Selecting a design that suited him. the
admiral tried it on and asked. How
does this enc suit my complexion?'
Desires House of His Own.
Having satisfied himself that it was
quite the correct thing, the admiral
asked the price, and On learning that 1t
was but 80 cents, rendered 4 dollar note
fresh from the Treasury in payment.
While lie was waiting for his change,
Admiral Schley said:
II buy one OF these caps every time
go on a trip, but bless me If l car ever
find one when l am packing my baggage
preparatory to going on another trip. !
will he heartily glad when l can have
house of my own. where l can cross my
legs at the hearth stone and smoke ana
when | want any of my belongings. be
able to go and put my hands on them
AS the proprietor of the place was
handing the admiral his change he SAID:
II certainly would take you for Admiral
Schley. Is he not the perfect likeness OF
Admiral Schley?" he queried, turning 10
the newspaper men.
81 though so myself when I met him
few minutes ago on his arrival from New
York" was the reply of one of the news
paper men, who, having taken in the sit
uation. was willing to make capital stock
Of it.
Acknowledged His Identity.
But the proprietor proved doubling
Thomas, and augmented his previous COM
ments by emulating the lrishman TO tne
extent of asking a question by way OF
making an assertion, for he said;
And perhaps it is Admiral Schley him
self Is that not so?'
Admiral Schley laughingly acknowledged
his identity and shaking hands with the
man who knew his likeness but not HIM
self left the shop.
Miraculous Escapes From Death.
On returning to the depot waiting room
Admiral Schley began to discuss the ter
rible train disaster that occurred in the
tunnel in New York city Wednesday.
That reminds me OF how l escaped be-
ing in a railroad wreck during the Worlds
Fair at Chicago. ] refer to the terrible
disaster at Battle Creek. Mich. in which
so many lives were lost. | was in De-
troit at the time, and fully intended leav-
ing for Chicago on the very rain that
was wrecked Some friends. however. in
sisted on my waiting for the next train,
which left several hours later ferhaps
if / had been on the train that was
wrecked | would not be alive to tell the
tale.
AT another time I almost miracuously
ESCAPED death. l had AN engagement TO
meet the manager of an acetylene gas plant
in Jersey City. Some important business
intCrfered with me keeping the engage
ment and il was indeed most fortunate
for me. On the very morning lhat was
10 have been at the plant II was wrecked
by an explosion. Every soul in the plant
at The time was killed, including the man
a,ser with whom / had the engagement.
ReInted Train Leaves.
The arrival of his train from New York
at this juncture brought the relating OF
"reminiscences bv the admiral to an ab-
runt close. Bidding the newspaper men
farewell, he sought his wife, ana was soon
quartered in the drawing room
of car ID. which will constitute his nome
la al. Ia II.