873 A. The following experience of Mr. W.'s is quoted from Pro-ceedings S. P.R., vol. xi. p. 463:-

October 26th, 1894.

. . . The following is an account of an experience I had last April.

In the afternoon, I was riding eastward towards Schenectady, N.Y., on the N.Y.C. and H.R. road. I intended to get off at Schenectady, and take a train from there to Troy, and at Troy get a train on the Fitchburgh and Hoosac Tunnel Road. I asked the conductor whether I would be able to make good connections at Schenectady, also at Troy. He informed me that I would at Schenectady, but at Troy I would not, for the reason that I would not arrive in Troy until five minutes after the departure of the train on the F. and H. T. He told me that I would not arrive in Troy until 5.5, and my train departed at just five o'clock, and that it was the last one for the week. This was Saturday. I asked him if he could suggest any way for me to get my train or reach my desired place of destination, but he said he could not. It seemed certain that I must lay off in Troy over Sunday. The conductor passed on, and I meditated, but to no purpose. After some time I took a pencil and paper, and thought, but did not write, "Well, I think I shall not get through to-night, I am very sorry." Instantly the pencil wrote, "You will reach-- to-night," naming the place I was bound for.

I replied, by thought, "Why, it's impossible, how can I? - the train out of Troy leaves five minutes before my train arrives." The answer was, "Yes, but you will get to-- to-night," again naming my place of destination.

Again I thought, "Pray, tell me how I am to do so." The answer was, "Oh, never mind how, I tell you you will arrive in-- all right to-night." I urged the impossibility of the matter, but that was stoutly denied. I pleaded for an explanation, but it was written that I needed none, and that none would be given me. I asked for instruction and it was written that they had none to give. I insisted on the fact that I could not get the train, but this was not conceded.

On arriving at Schenectady I found my train for Troy, and as I boarded it, I asked the trainman if we would arrive in Troy in time for me to get a train on the Fitchburgh and Hoosac Tunnel Road. He replied, "No," very promptly, and added, "it leaves five minutes before we arrive." I took my seat. When the conductor came along I tried hard to appear innocent, and asked him if I would get to Troy in time to get a train out on the Fitchburgh and Hoosac Tunnel Road. I said I hoped to, for I was very anxious to arrive at-- that night. His reply was, "We do not arrive in Troy until five minutes after five, and the train on that road pulls out at just five, and it's the last train." He passed on picking up tickets, and I settled back into my seat. It seemed as if the last chance was gone, and I could not help but wonder what would be written, so I observed mentally, "Well, you see your prediction is wrong, do you not?" And then came to me what seemed to be the height of foolishness, "Why, you will get there all right, just as I told you." No explanation being vouchsafed, I fell to planning what I would do in the city of Troy over Sunday, for I had no hope of getting out.

After a while the conductor came back and took a seat just behind me, and leaning over towards me he said, "So you would very much like to get that train, would you?" "Yes, sir," I said. "Well," continued he, "there is just one way that is possible for you to do it, if you are a good runner and willing to take chances." Of course I asked how. Said he, "I don't advise any one to do it, but it is possible to jump off this train, for we stop before we reach the Troy Dep6t, and run and jump on to that train while it is going out." And he took a pencil and drew the railroads and the depot (a Union one) about like this [diagram omitted here].

And then he went on to explain: "We are not allowed to run into the depot until the train for Saratoga and the one on the Fitchburgh and H. T. R. have both pulled out, which they both do at just five o'clock. We should arrive at our stopping place X at about five. You could get off there and run across the Saratoga track and over to Z [a point on the Fitchburgh line] and jump on to that train. There is a street from a point near X to Z".

At X, as our train stopped, I jumped from it and ran to point Z and caught my train which was passing at that point.

When seated in the car I gave the pencil one more chance, and it was written: "I see you are on board all right; don't you think I knew what I was telling you?"

I had no further trouble in reaching the desired place that night.

I will say that I was not aware of any of the material facts prior to their appearing as I have stated them. I had not consulted any time-table or otherwise learned as to the times on which these trains were to arrive or depart: and I knew nothing of the train stopping outside the Troy Depot or of the possibility of getting from it and running up the street and catching the train I wished to take. I never had the slightest idea of such a thing until the conductor laid the plan before me just as I have stated it. I was travelling alone. I did not know the conductor or anybody that I saw.

I had no occasion to look up or inform myself as to trains at Troy for the reason that I expected to travel on the West Shore Road instead of the N.Y.C. and H.R.R.; but I missed the train on the West Shore Road and so took the N.Y.C. and H.R.R. as the best thing possible under the circumstances. On the West Shore Road my journey would not have been through Schenectady and Troy, but would have been to Rotterdam Junction on the West Shore Road, and there I would have connected with a train on the Fitchburgh and Hoosac Tunnel Road, all very nicely.

I think this experience is quite unique. Perhaps some one can explain it.

W.

N.Y., November 8th, 1894.

In accordance with your suggestion, I send you herewith a further statement that you may subjoin. I think it covers your inquiry.

C-- W--.

About two years prior to that I had travelled from Schenectady to Troy, and out of Troy on F. and H. T. R.; but at that time the train did not stop outside of Troy Dep6t. I had travelled in years previous, that is, from five to twenty years ago, several times on trains between Schenectady and Troy, but none of them ever stopped outside of Troy Dep6t. I had not been in since the trip of two years before. Prior to that I had been in that place perhaps once in two years, for a day.

It might be well to add that no friend of mine at -- or elsewhere knew any of these facts, to the best of my knowledge and belief. After arriving at -- I told my friends, but none of them had known of the matters. I feel confident that no friend or acquaintance of mine knew I was to travel from Schenectady to Troy, and that none of them had made or heard of a connection in that way. From talks with them I know they did not.