The Topeka state journal., 1911-08-11
PURCELL GAVE UP.
For First Time Santa Fe Official
Shows White Feather.
Deserted COncOrdia Banquet at
Critical Time.
HE HAD STAGE FRIGHT
Fled to His Car Before Called
On for Speech.
Absence Unnoticed Till Intro
ductiOn Was Made.

attractions of the harmony tours" OF
the Santa Fe in the past, has lost ms
reputation as a public speaker ana a
public mixer"
It all happened at Concordia, the
other night, when the Santa Fe OH
cials were the guests of that town
The Santa Fe special arrived II
Concordia about o'clock in the aIleE
noon. The party was met at the Se1
ton by citizens with motor cars ana
a drive over town and through the
country was made. Superintendent
| Purcell was feeling in fine spirits ana
as he was whisked over the roads ne
laughed and talked with his hoStS anu
expressed himself as being delighted
with the town, the country ana the
world in general
In the evening a meeting was held at
the opera house and speeches were
scheduled by a few of the Santa =
In the course of this meeting Pur-
| cell applauded with the crowd When
an especially brilliant point was
made. He sat and laughed and talked
with those sitting nearby. stun ms
spirits were at high tide and he was
bubbling ocer with healthy enthusl-
asm.
His companions among the, officials
were looking upon him as an honor TO
the road he represented. a
After the meeting at the opera
house the crowd mingled and for near
life history. spoke of the excellent
weather and the new relation pc
tween the people and the rallroads:
Purcell was at his best. He talkeu
with the women Of the crowd, glggled
with the young girls, put MS arm
around the shoulders of the old mer,
telling them about how his grand
father fought in the Big War.
Back and forth he went smIli'g
here and there sprinkling sunshine
and raindrops at their respective need
ed places. He was the life OF the
throng, the Chesterfield of the even-
Later in the evening the townsmen
and the railroad officials adjourned to
the Elks building. Here once more
they were thrilled at the brilliancy OF
the shop superintendent. Concordia
citizens struggled to catch glimpse ~
him and to shake his hand. He was
the Big Tent-With such men as Gen
eraI Manager Kouns as side shows.
= Finally a call for refreshments was
heard and the big dining room was
entered.
placed at a big table with the town
lmillicnaire. The man who owned the
biggest mansion in north central kan
sas was chosen as his personal host OF
the evening.
, During the meal the Topeka shop
head shone like '57 kinds" He
spark1ed. Between every mouthful OF
his part of the banquet he told how
/
was never feeling better in his life. He
: said he couldn't remember when he had
eaten so much as this evening.
After the meal the toastmaster made
I a witty speech and "Jawn clappedi, 9i,, ms
: patty cake" hands in applause Ihen
another Concordia citizen made talk
and once more Mr. Purcell yelled II
delight.
have'' he said to his millionaire friend
9 Really l could listen to them all night
4 Learned gentlemen, I assure YOU
Then the POSTMASTER called o.
= Frank farrell for a few remarks.
G Following the prince of them sl,
) came another Concordia citizen. TheI
n c. W. Kouns was called upon to say
|. few words
i After four Santa F'e officials had beer
e called upon to entertain the croWt
SUPERINTENDENT Purcell had an anx
ious look on his face. He appeared
n worried and his host hastened to ex
d tend his sympathies and his susplc
: After another half hour had passe'
J. four more officials had been summon
u ed to appear before the crowd on thel
o feet and turn loose their pent up bril-
: By this time Mr.. Purcell was smoking
FIRST one end of his cigar, then tn
other The consistant drumming Q
mis- fork on TIE table caused the Il! X
- to glare ct their dented table ana thel
l. SCARED siIverWare No more were tn
: claps from the Purcell corner loud an
= appreciative. They came IN spurts AM
: with little enthusiasm.
Another Santa F'e man was gwen IN
q Aoor-and once more the shop superin
y tendAnt crossed his left leg over tn
u Finally the man with the $50,OO'
mansion turned to his guest and IN
ouired as to his health
r you are well. are you not? n
= asked.
answered Purcell as his lips trempied
ae But don't feel just rieht, someWa'
o or other. I am afraid I am going Z
le After a few more Santa Fe men hat
- been looked over by the Concordlan
e. land given a rousing lau~h after ever!
a oaken bucket joke. the toastmaste
70 stood up, threw back RS shoulder
and began.
Eve have with US tonight mai
rv whom I consider one OF the creates
as Igeniuses of the age he said A maj
as who has given to the world the great
IN est locomotive=the largest locomotlv
IS. that was ever built. A man who j
Nv known from one end of the country Z
r the other. Gentlemen ] know tina
as this man isn't much on public speak
0d ing-he has too many ether things [
do-but I know that h = will have
few words to say to US tonight Gen
lrt tlemen, 1 have the pleasure OF intro
on ducing to you tonight Ny sohn Fur
~ cell Superintendent of the Topek
d. lshops-ah, ah-Mr Purcell"
to The crowd cheered. Chairs wer
scraped on the floor as the banqueter
!. turned to listen to the promised tai
as es..4, ~ ,7s.ie, -'-estlS xv;tl, pIeaear
- expectancy for the speech from rhei
as big shop superintendent.
AZ All eyes were turned. to the tabl
en- NHeTe Johh PufceA was sed1ea a. 81
"a. beginning of the evening.
he Horr1fled, they saw nolnlnS out q
en- lempty chair. John-our Jawn-ha