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5. Leaving Saratoga—Burning of the Baggage Car—Visit to New York
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• 5 Leaving Saratoga— Burning of the Baggage Car— Visit to New York The season at Saratoga having closed, I had to return to Albany to get paid for my clothes. I had forgotten to mention that the season I have just been describing, my baggage had been all burned up on my way to Saratoga . I will now give you a description of the circumstance. I had intended stopping at the Yellow Springs that season, as many of our aristocracy were there; but concluded not to do so. I took the cars at Xenia for Saratoga, and after riding a day and night, when I was just two and a half hours’ ride from Saratoga, we had stopped about ten or fifteen minutes at a little place called St. Johnsville.1 The most of the passengers were asleep, but as I had scarcely ever slept on the cars, I chanced to be looking out of the window, and at the moment envying the gentlemen in a refreshment saloon drinking hot coffee, when I saw a man walk hurriedly out of the saloon. He glanced with a look of alarm toward the foremost cars, and immediately hallooed “fire.” I called to a number of ladies and gentlemen sitting around, and told them the cars were on fire. They laughed at me, and said I must be dreaming . I then threw up the window, and looking out, could just see the least perceptible smoke coming out of the baggage car. I then threw a shawl around me and went out. Even then, although some moments had elapsed since the alarm, there was but little fire; but no person seemed to be trying to put it out, or endeavoring to check it. 56 A Hairdresser’s Experience in High Life I saw no one doing anything except the express-man, whowas striving to save his own property, and he having succeeded, it amused me very much, though in trouble myself, to see him quietly take his seat on his chest; and thinking he had done sufficient, now his little property was saved, he would allow no one to come near him. I then went into a room in the house and having sat down, tried to compose myself. I felt very badly, till I heard the conversation of those around me; many were in great distress, and were crying—they had lost their all. I then felt blessed that I had still a little something at home, and was going where I could make something too. Others had important papers and other valuables with them, who felt very badly about their loss. I myself was not among the fortunate ones, as I had some things no money could pay me for. On the next seat to me was a poor old woman, who had lost everything she had in the world. She had been to see some friends, and got from them yarn to knit stockings and socks for sale, to help her get over the winter. Her little bundle was burned up; and she was so much affected by the accident , that though my own losses did not force a tear from my eyes, I wept freely for her. We soon got another locomotive and went on. Instead of turning to the left for Saratoga, we turned to the right for Albany, the grand office being in that place.2 On arriving in Albany, I went to a well known family there—that of Mr. R. K. I was received and treated by this family in such a wayas, should I live thousands of years, I never could enough express my gratitude to them for their kindness.3 At nine o’clock I went down to the office, where the first of the officers I met was Mr. F. I was requested to come back on Monday morning. I went, and was again requested to call on Tuesday. While sitting there, I saw the old woman whom I before spoke of as having been so much afflicted, talking to Mr. F., and crying very sorely. After they had settled with her, she came along and told me she hoped they would do better by me than they had done by her, as she lost her all and got little or nothing for it. On telling me the amount she received, I was really ashamed for the company who could treat a poor old woman in such a manner, but at once determined...