Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-08
KING ALBERT
RUNS HIS OWN
SPECIAL TRAIN

Belgians today ran the engine Of 4,
own train for ten miles The spech
train on which the King and Nj,
party are travelling westward va,
stopped at Wauseon, Ohio. while H,
Majesty climbed into the cab of h,
engine and took over the thrc.A
FRONT he piolt.
The King. who has a thoroun
knowledge OF locomotive enginee,.
ing. ran the heavy train ten miles
without a jolt. Then he stopped ia.
engine and returned to his car.
The King, travelling ''unoliiciaiiy'
with his Queen and the Duke d
Brabant, passed through OHIO an.
Indiana today en- route to Califor1k
The train was stopped FOR an heg
at Toledo, the home of Brand VA.
lock, American Ambassador to Be-.
GUM, where the part received a.
enthusiastic welcome. The ste? W.
made by. the King as ii p2rcoaa
friend of Mr.. Whitlock and not as 4,
official visit.
A crowd had gathered at Il, 81.
ton at Wauseon. but they were lock-
ing for a king in uniform. and di
not recognize the tall figure whic.
climbed out clad in what might have
been the garb of an engineer, inclut.
ing a flannel army shirt and CAP.
But the citizens Of Wauseon were in
no worse plight than many Of those
on the Royal Special. All Of them
recognized Bill" Nye, chief special
agent of the State department, bu.
not His Majesty.
An American staff officer ATTACHED
to the party called out to Nye
where is his Majesty" and Nw
grinned.
At each station along the way
school children cheered the train as
it went by.
At Toledo the Royal party was
driven from the station to the Mu'
scum Of Art, where there was an ad'
dress Of welcome by Mayor Cornell
Schrieber, a brief response by Albert
and a few words Of greeting to his
by Mr.. Whitlock.
While their Majesties were re-
ceiving the committee appointed 10
welcome them. three little girls, the
oldest about eight and the younses!
not more than 3, presented the Queen
with flowers. Her Majesty received
them graciously after Virginia Wits
the Oldest had started bravely with
a little speech but forgot the last o.
1t. Elizabeth bent and kissed all
three Of them. In his response to the
address Of welcome, the King said ne
the splendid feeling
found in Toledo. There exists BE-
tween Toledo and all Belgians tie
and a very strong one. he said, in the
person Of Mr.. Whitlock. Every
citizen Of Belgian loves Mr.. WhitlocS
AZ we'll as any citizen Of Toledo Dc
declared.
The King praised arnestly the
great dignity and splendid courage
with which the American diplomat
himself in Belgium during
the war.
Queen Elizabeth is enchanted with
America and the experience she mas
had since coming here.
THE atmosphere Of America mus
% wonderful" Her Majesty said to,
lay, because I couldn't have stood
n our country what I have here.
sleep well and I feel none OF the
Of fatigue"
While King Albert also is enjoy
ng the trip. he IL losing no oppor
unity to absorb information. HI;
rain was parted for seven hour:
,arly today at q water station caliec
'Amboy" on the outskirts Of Con
,eaut. o. It was guarded by Il
'tate department agents and detec
Ives. About 6 o'clock q railroad de'
ective reported to Passenger Repre-
tentative Blosicr that q man un'
Inown to him had emerged from th'
Royal car. It was little more thar
daylight and Blosier had visions o.
anarchists. He and his men dashes
Town to the tracks ana encountered
His Majesty stroliing calmly aions
q cigar. Immediately he De-
ran firing a volley OF questions D.
3losier.
How many freight trains a "a!
ire there on this road?"
How many cars are there in
rainy" what Is the capacity o.
'ach carr" "How heavy are these
ails?" The questioning stopped when
slosier's railroad knowledge wa
lear exhaustion.
The Royal train arrived in Chr
ago late tonight. 1t immediateN
vas switched onto another road anu
esumed its journey.