The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-08
A PSYCHIC MESSAGE
IT RousEo A RAILROAD OFFICIAL TO
SUDDEN ACTIVITY.

Presented with the opportunity Il
display their knowledge, some Of the
passenger men drifted. into the realms
OF esoterlc Buddhism aud pscychic phe
nomena, with touch Of spirituallsu
thrown In for full measure, Finally one
Of the party, passenger traffic man.
ager, Insisted that he was neither su.
perstitious nor did no understand
psychic phenpmena.
Just the same he concluded, Il
had one of those psychic things happen
to ME when was engaged In trying to
induce every one In Nashville TO travel
by the Louisville and Nashville The
| Grau Opera company was coming to
town for week 8 engagement. and the
outfit, scenery and all. was coming
over our line, thanks to the persuasive
ability OF the Louisville and NAshville's
gentlemanly representative. who at
| that time was your humble servant.
"The day before the grand opera sea
son should be upon us the advance
agent called upon me and. rubbing his
hands gleefully. declared that the ad'
vance sales had been enormous.
"'A good first night hs declared,
would make the engagement record
breaker. II everything goes well to
morrow night they can't stop us. l
suppose that scenery u on the way all
right and will show up on timer
Il assured him that IL was as he sup
posed, and he left me in happy frame
OF mind. The next day as was sitting
In my office thinking about nothing
particular the conviction flashed upon
me that II was up to me TO get the
Grau scenery to town In time for the
opening performance. l laughed a,
the conviction at first, but It REQUIRED
to me with irresistible force, and !
could not get It out OF my head that
the scenery was doing time on side
track somewhere between st. Louis
and Nashville. | remembered that the
opening opera was to be Aida which
requires the double stage and there
fore an endless amount Of scenery. Ac,
cordingly If that scenery did not ar
rive no makeshift would supply the
want Of It.
by early afternoon I had worked
myself into state bordering upon
nervous prostration, and finally l bolt
ed for Major James Geddes' office. The |
major was then division superintend
ent, and, after apologizing for mixing |
up in a matter that was really none OF |
my business, asked him II the Grau
scenery was on the way.
Certainly II H., he replied convinc.
ingly. 1T left st. Louis early last even
ing and Is coming special on a fast
schedule. II will be here within an
hour from now
"'How do you know all thatr de.
manded.
"'Know II, know itT shouted the ma.
jor wrathfully. How do know I'm
alive? Haven't | got the reports
the makeup Of the special. the
time IL left St Louis aud the schedule
on which II is running? You had bet.
ter go back to your Office, young man,
and keep on selling tickets. Don't med
die with the operating department un-
less you can talk sense
"Just the same, major insisted, 4
have reason to know that the Grau
scenery is not on the way to Nash.
Vile
'The majors wrath knew no bounds.
"'Where is it, thenY he snorted.
Somewhere on side track between
here and St. Louis replied
young man. said the major. Fis-
ing, you are such blamed fool that ]
win break my rule and take the trou.
bic to convince you that you are one
instead Of kicking you out Of my Office
Come with me-
I'VE rushed upstairs to the train dis
)atcher's office, where the major or
Tered the dispatcher to show me prog
'ess Of the Grau special.
"Tt's not progressing. 1t has been
ylng on the side track at RloIado for
I've hours replied the dispatcher, and
we been securing the system for an
'nglne. The specials engine went
Iead.'
The major forgot me, forgot every
hing, except that special. In n trice
Ie had another engine tearing up the
rack to get to Riolado from a point q
ew miles away, and then he cleared
he track and gave the scenery the :
light Of way clear to Nashville. That
un Of 1S5 miles from Riolado to
stands as southern record
oday, but 1t burned up nearly every
ar in the outfit to make It, The spe-
lal arrived thirty minutes before open.
lg time. had an army Of wagons
nd men waiting for 1t, and before the
rtaln was rung up every stick of It
vas In place"
what did the major sayI" was ask.
d.
"The next day be sent for me and =
hid, Young man, the next time you
ave one Of those nutty lunches hit
10 main line and see me before 1t
orks off.'"-s. g. A. in Chicago Rec
ID Herald.
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