Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-11-26
EDITOR MITCHELL'S TRAVELS.
"A Visit TO Martinsville.-A Mysteriuus
Bundle.-Train Crew Happy.-Pas-
seuger rinyestigate.-The Bean
ties of Freight Train Tran
ssit.-Entertained in
Danyille.

Ties OF FrelgHt IraIn ran
ssit.-Entertained in
Danville.
We left Danville about 2:3o p. NJ.
Tuesday for Martinsvile. Va. We
were aboard train on the Danville and
Western r. r., that carried two coaches
Tor passengers and about six for freight
One of these was designated for coiored
people, but it carried the mail bags in
one of its seats, the white train-h hands
and any of the white passengers who
cared to come in to take drink of whis-
key without his white associates being
aware of it.
THE DOCTOR GRUMBLED.
When he got in. he was slow about
going out We were in company with
Mr. and Mrs. l.. w. Holbrook and DR..
r. A. Reynolds. The latter grumbled
not q little. At times, we thought q
little ''cussing" might have done him
some good to the extent of relieving him
in a measure of his Indignation. At
nearly all of the stations, we ''lost' our
engine, which would disconnect itself
and proceed to shift cars, while the pa.
tient gers sat down on the road.
side or counted the railroad ties or fl
CURED out the distance to Martinsville
until the engine connected itself again.
and the cry OF ''All aboard" started us
en- to Martinsville again.
IMBIBING ON THE PLATFORM.
Itwas at one of these stops that two
white passengers became overcome with
sympathy for their fellows and drowned
their sympathy in pint bottle of whis-
key which they emptied within them
selve son the rear platform.
Reaching Martinsville, we were met
by many of our friends and were soon
within the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Green
Penn. where we were made comfortabl'
Nr. Penn owns valuable piece of r
estate. I'M l1ade us welcome. we
spoke that gut to packed house at
the High Sc. Baptist Church of which
Rev. j. II. Hamlin is pastor. Prof. j.
l. Hill is idolized by the people of this
town and is an orator of the first wa
ter" He was the Master of Ceremonies,
while Mr.. Green Penn looked after the
finance.
THE RETURN TO DANvILLE.
We left Martinsville at about O'Clock
the next morning. The trip was about
~ miles and we were due in Danville at
1906, but the train brakeman assured
as that we would reach there at IL
o'clock. He was about right as we ar
rived there about five minutes after that
hour.
In the parcel rack just above our
heads was a mysterious bundle, wrapp-
ed in newspaper. We presumed that
it waslunch belonging TO the train crew.
After we had gone some miles down the
road, it was tenderly lifted from its
place and conveyed into the toilet room.
TOOK CARE OF THE BUNDLE.
A few moments later it re-appeared
IN the arms of solemn fac ed man in
over-alls. When he got little further
down the road, he again reached above
our heads, took down the package and
then again disappeared in that toilet
room The bundle was placed In the
rack again. A white passenger came in.
His eye settled on that same bundle,
and he tenderly lifted it from its place
and disappeared in the colored folks toi-
let room.
THE PHYSICIAN INVESTIGATES.
He came out solemn-faced too, but
satisfied. but he did not bring the bundle
with him. "Say. General whispered
DR.. Reynolds, L want TO see what those
fellows have i'll that bundle" He dis
appe arcd to- i'll that toilet room. He
liquor IN that Jug he remarked. lis
1t ali gomez we inquired. ''Oh no, it's
abouJ half-fall now"
He nodded TO Mr.. Holbrook. He
laughed and shook his head, saying he
didn't want any. Mrs. Holbrook sat be-
side him, but a few minutes later one OF
the traln-men looked at the parcel rack
lt was minus the bHndle and he disap-
peared IN that toilet room.
THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR ANXIOUS, TOO.
A few moments later, he reappeared
bot with no bundle. Brother Holbrook
moved uneasily and finally he decided to
explore the mysteries of that same room.
he came out smiling, but up to this
time has made no statement as to his
explorations. Both he and DR.. Rey-
nolds were simply on scout to see wh 1t
the boys were doing and it is on their
testimony that we are able to state that
the Jug OF liquor contained no lunch for
the inner man.
FRIENDS TO MEET US.
There was no sign of drunkenness
SooIrd that train and it seemed that the
jug was as essential aud as potent in
bringing that train to Danville as was
the locomotive, which disconnected it,
sell and "cut up capers" at nearly every
station.
Reaching Danville we were met by
Mr.. George W. Rison and Mr.. H. s.
Keen. a few moments later we were
on street-car, en- route to Mr.. Rison's q
Hesldence, the conductor being sentep-
tlousiV told to stop at "Rison's Avenue, "
street that was not down in the citv
dlrectory.) There are no Jim Crow,
street cars in Danville and all efforts to
establish them there have failed. The