WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.359 --> 00:00:06.919 Fed up with the everyday grind, tired out by the 2 00:00:07.080 --> 00:00:11.240 dull routine, want to get away from it all. 3 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:20.920 We offer you escape, escape designed to free you from 4 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:23.600 the four walls of today, for a half hour of 5 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:24.719 high adventure. 6 00:00:27.320 --> 00:00:32.439 You are speeding through the English countryside, the fast express 7 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:37.159 train rocking beneath your feet, and you know that somewhere 8 00:00:37.200 --> 00:00:40.280 in the dark ahead of you, a band of men 9 00:00:40.439 --> 00:00:44.960 are plodding the destruction of the train, are planning the 10 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:47.960 moment of your death. 11 00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:57.840 Today we escape to England at the turn of the 12 00:00:57.880 --> 00:01:00.320 century and the story of a complete train and that 13 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:03.520 vanished from the face of the earth. As Sir Arthur 14 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:08.680 Conan Doyle told it in his Fascinating Tale, the last special. 15 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:22.760 Twenty years with Scotland Yard had brought me into contact 16 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:26.519 with many weird and unusual events in human affairs, but 17 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:29.280 none more strength than the occurrences which began on the 18 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:33.599 afternoon of June third, eighteen ninety in the railway station 19 00:01:33.640 --> 00:01:34.359 at Liverpool. 20 00:01:35.359 --> 00:01:37.000 On no case before. 21 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:40.480 Had I ever felt myself so helpless, groping blindly as 22 00:01:40.519 --> 00:01:43.560 it were, for an unseen adversary, not being certain of 23 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:46.239 the nature of the crime, not even knowing, in fact, 24 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:49.680 if it were a crime. Suffice to say that, along 25 00:01:49.719 --> 00:01:53.200 a short stretch of railway line in western England, I 26 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:57.359 learned what is truly meant by terror of the unknown. 27 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:06.439 At four o'clock of the afternoon in question, having completed 28 00:02:06.439 --> 00:02:08.919 a rather minor investigation which had brought me to Liverpool, 29 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:11.400 I was sitting in the waiting room of the railway station, 30 00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:14.000 reading and waiting for the six o'clock train for London, 31 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.919 entirely unaware at that moment of a rather ordinary conversation 32 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:20.719 that was taking place in the office of mister James Bland, 33 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:23.080 the station master, a few yards away. 34 00:02:23.479 --> 00:02:25.719 I'm very happy to know you, mister Carrotle, and you 35 00:02:25.840 --> 00:02:28.639 mister Gomez, and now if I might learn the nature of. 36 00:02:28.599 --> 00:02:31.680 Your wishes simply this, mister Bland, my companion and I 37 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:34.319 have arrived on the Schemer from Central America, which ducked 38 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:37.000 less than an hour ago. It is of the utmost 39 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.039 importance that we reach London as quickly as possible in 40 00:02:40.159 --> 00:02:42.560 order to arrange passage across the channel to France. 41 00:02:42.759 --> 00:02:43.240 I see it. 42 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:46.919 Well, it's unfortunate you missed the three o'clock train, mister Carrottle. However, 43 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:49.080 they'll be limited leaving at six that will put you 44 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.400 in London. That is not soon enough, mister Blend. 45 00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:54.680 I cannot stress too highly the importance of my reaching 46 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:56.319 Paris at the earliest possible moment. 47 00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.840 I can understand that. But there simply isn't any other 48 00:02:58.879 --> 00:03:02.759 training quite so. Quite so, I am informed, however, that 49 00:03:02.800 --> 00:03:05.719 it is possible to charter a special train upon occasion, 50 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:09.520 a special. Yes, it's possible, rather expensive, though the. 51 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.319 Cost is not important, mister Blend. How soon can the 52 00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:13.319 arrangements be made? 53 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:16.599 Well, mister Hood, do we have an engine available? 54 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:17.159 Sir? 55 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:20.039 Number two forty seven is on the north siding under 56 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:21.120 emergency steam. 57 00:03:21.240 --> 00:03:23.080 Good, very well, mister Carrotle. 58 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:24.280 It's four oh eight. 59 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:26.280 Now we can roll a special out of here at 60 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:28.479 four thirty. The charge is fifty five. 61 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.599 Pounds Gomez, you will pay mister Blend fifty five pounds. 62 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.439 Who is on the stand by, kroomised Hood. 63 00:03:34.240 --> 00:03:40.360 Let's say John Slater's engineer, Macpherson god Smith Farman. 64 00:03:40.120 --> 00:03:42.879 Call him at once, help them carry two standard coaches 65 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:45.439 behind the engine, and telegraph the station master at Saint 66 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:48.560 Helens to hold the local onsiding there until the special 67 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.080 goes through. Make sure the line is clear as far 68 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:54.240 as Manchester. Sir, I'll send for a porter to take 69 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:56.919 care of your briefcase. Mister carrottle seems to be rather heavy, 70 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:57.319 thank you. 71 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:00.439 No, I prefer to keep it with me if you 72 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:01.280 don't mind. 73 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:03.439 Certainly, whatever you wish. Now, if you leave here at 74 00:04:03.479 --> 00:04:06.120 four thirty, you should be a Manchester at quarter to six. 75 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:09.000 The station master there will clear you onto London, and 76 00:04:09.039 --> 00:04:10.759 I trust you'll have a very pleasant journey. 77 00:04:18.720 --> 00:04:20.399 As I say, I was not aware of these events 78 00:04:20.480 --> 00:04:23.079 until a while later, and would have placed no significance 79 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:25.560 on them. In any case, at four thirty one, the 80 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:28.040 special train with its two passengers and three crew members 81 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:30.879 pulled out of Liverpool Station and headed to Manchester, and 82 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:32.680 at ten minutes to six I was summoned to the 83 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:34.879 office with mister James Bland, the station master. 84 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:41.879 And so that seems to be it very likely. I 85 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:44.319 have no real reason at all to be worried, Inspect Collins, 86 00:04:44.639 --> 00:04:46.560 But since I saw you below there in the station, 87 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:48.439 I thought it was call you when. 88 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:51.120 I'm happy if you have any help, mister Bland, as 89 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:53.639 I understand it, your special train is running behind schedule. 90 00:04:53.680 --> 00:04:56.319 Is that incredibly behind the schedule? C nearly half an 91 00:04:56.319 --> 00:04:58.639 hour overdue at Manchester. Right now we've wired them to 92 00:04:58.720 --> 00:04:59.680 check and report back. 93 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:02.279 It isn't exactly unheard of for it trained to run slow, 94 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:03.199 mister Bland. 95 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:05.160 It is unless there's some reason, and I can't think 96 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:07.800 of one. In this case, the special had clear track 97 00:05:07.839 --> 00:05:10.199 all the way. It passed through Saint Helens at four 98 00:05:10.360 --> 00:05:13.680 fifty two, right on time, they wireless, and then fifteen 99 00:05:13.720 --> 00:05:16.240 minutes later released the local to follow along behind it 100 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:17.000 into Mantuster. 101 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:19.680 You mentioned something about mister Cattle having a companion. 102 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:23.079 I believe, yes, a great bulking brute named Gomeres. He 103 00:05:23.120 --> 00:05:25.319 didn't that for a word while they were here. Seemed 104 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:28.800 to be a sort of bodyguard. Carotil himself was small 105 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:33.079 and stooped, with a swathe complexion, possibly a Latin America. 106 00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:34.439 And you got the impression that he was carrying something 107 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:35.839 rather valuable in his briefcase. 108 00:05:35.959 --> 00:05:38.000 Yes, he wouldn't let it out of his hands, and 109 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:40.279 he seemed to be in great fear of something, though 110 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.720 I haven't any idea of what it may have heard. 111 00:05:41.959 --> 00:05:44.560 What about this second chapter is more typically. 112 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:47.360 English, about forty years old. Seemed very anxious to reach 113 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:48.680 his sick wife in London. 114 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:52.160 Yes, Manchester on the wire. Now, mister Blair, good, what 115 00:05:52.279 --> 00:06:00.040 do they watch the moment? Eh, well, here's a message. 116 00:06:00.399 --> 00:06:05.040 Assume change in your original plan. Local from Saint Helens arrived. 117 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:08.720 Manchester reports no sign special train. 118 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:11.839 Oh but that's impossible. Saint Helens reported the special through 119 00:06:11.879 --> 00:06:12.839 ahead of the local. 120 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:14.879 Is there a branch line between Saint Helens and Manchister 121 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:16.160 mister Bland, No, not. 122 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:19.079 Even a double track. There's only a single track mainline 123 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.279 straight through sidings of course at the local stations for 124 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:26.600 loading purposes. But mister Hood, so check every local operator 125 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:28.560 from Saint Helen's arm. We've got to get to the 126 00:06:28.600 --> 00:06:31.920 bottom of this. I can't understand it, Inspector Collins, A 127 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:36.600 locomotive and two coaches can't simply well, it's utterly impossible. 128 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:39.120 It can't have just disappeared. 129 00:06:43.720 --> 00:06:45.720 In a few moments, the answers began coming in over 130 00:06:45.759 --> 00:06:47.800 the wire. The first was from Saint. 131 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:51.399 Helen's repeating our previous message. A special train pasture of 132 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:54.920 four fifty two local departed fifteen minutes later than from 133 00:06:54.959 --> 00:06:58.279 Collins Green Special Pasture five o'clock, followed by a local 134 00:06:58.360 --> 00:07:00.079 train seventeen. 135 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:01.360 Minutes later, and then Earl's Time. 136 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:05.279 Special Pastyre five oh six, followed by a local eighteen 137 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:09.759 minutes later, Newton Special past year five twelve local train 138 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.800 seventeen minutes later at Kenyon Junction, Special through here at 139 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:18.079 five twenty local pass nineteen minutes later, and then Button 140 00:07:18.199 --> 00:07:24.120 Muss Local through five fifty three now special train past 141 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:24.839 here today. 142 00:07:28.040 --> 00:07:31.879 I tell you it's absolutely unprecedented, Inspector Collins, an entire 143 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:35.199 train and five human beings vanishing from an open track 144 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:38.920 between two local stations only eight miles apart. It's impossible. 145 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:40.959 It's the only thing to the contrary being the fact 146 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:44.519 that it has apparently happened. But I can't understand, mister Bland. 147 00:07:44.519 --> 00:07:46.399 I think you'd better make arrangements to get us out 148 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:58.079 to Kenyon Junction as quickly as possible. Within ten minutes, 149 00:07:58.079 --> 00:07:59.839 we were in a coach behind the Goods Entine, moving 150 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:02.079 full throttle on the main line east out of Miller 151 00:08:02.120 --> 00:08:05.399 of Liverpool. Since the missing Special had been reported safely 152 00:08:05.399 --> 00:08:07.920 through Kenyon Junction, there was no need for concern with 153 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:10.439 the country this side of that station. While the coach 154 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:13.199 rattled and banged along the miles, we spent the time 155 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:16.040 pouring over a large scale map about eight mile stretch 156 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:18.000 between the junction and Barton must. 157 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.319 As you can see for yourself on the map, Inspector Collins, 158 00:08:20.360 --> 00:08:24.160 it's rather open country through there, low rolling hills, mostly 159 00:08:24.399 --> 00:08:26.920 with quite a lot of coal mining and one steel mill. 160 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:29.600 No towns or villages near the railway line. 161 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:31.800 Yes, so I see, mister Blanders. What about these spur 162 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:33.799 tracks that join the main line. There must be a 163 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:36.240 dozen or more of them, fourteen to be exact Asn't 164 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:38.519 it possible the special could have been switched onto one 165 00:08:38.559 --> 00:08:39.360 of those spurs. 166 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:43.679 Well, yes, and no. Eight of them can be eliminated immediately. 167 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:47.000 Besides being narrow gauge tracks, they are also much too 168 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.320 flimsy to bear the weight of a standard locomotive. Furthermore, 169 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:53.240 they end at loading bins adjacent to the main line. 170 00:08:53.279 --> 00:08:55.080 There they're not actually connected to it. 171 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:57.799 I see, well, that still leave six are the all 172 00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:58.639 standard gauge. 173 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:01.679 Yes, but three of them Oho six can be eliminated too, 174 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:05.120 since they've been abandoned for years. The mines they were 175 00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.679 built for are no longer operated. The Red Gauntlet, Despond 176 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:10.320 and hats Ease Collieries. 177 00:09:10.399 --> 00:09:12.320 Yes, but abandoned or not if the tracks are still 178 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:13.559 there couldn't they be used? 179 00:09:13.559 --> 00:09:14.399 Though? No, they could not. 180 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:18.159 When service to the three mines was discontinued years ago, 181 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:21.320 the switches along the several hundred yards of track adjacent 182 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:24.159 to the main line were removed to prevent accidents. 183 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.639 And that settles that. But we still have three lines. 184 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.440 Left, yes, and all in operation. They served the Big 185 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:32.480 ben and Perseverance Collieries and the Calmstock Iron work. 186 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:35.320 Good that there's the probable area of our investigation. 187 00:09:35.440 --> 00:09:39.840 Probable inspector, I failed to see anything probable about a 188 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:43.480 train scheduled from Manchester turning up in a dead end siding. 189 00:09:43.919 --> 00:09:46.639 Well for many years now, mister Bland, I've been approaching 190 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:49.000 problems of this sort with a certain theory of logic. 191 00:09:49.720 --> 00:09:52.399 Once both the obvious and the impossible are eliminated, and 192 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:55.600 we seem agree on those, then the solution must lie 193 00:09:55.600 --> 00:09:58.200 in the realm of the improbable, no matter how fantastic 194 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.039 it may at first see. 195 00:09:59.240 --> 00:10:02.600 I can't believe why wouldn't the train crew report yet? 196 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:05.080 What about mister Carrotll's anxiety to get to London? 197 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:07.399 Why would quit? We're slowing down, aren't we? 198 00:10:07.519 --> 00:10:10.879 Let's write SA we're pulling into Kenyon junction. This is 199 00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:15.080 the last station to report seeing the last special. Very well, gentlemen, 200 00:10:15.360 --> 00:10:25.759 this is where we start to work. We stopped in 201 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:28.600 the junction only long enough to rig asceatelene spot lanterns 202 00:10:28.600 --> 00:10:31.120 at either side of the coach, directed in such fashion 203 00:10:31.159 --> 00:10:33.360 as to light up the roadbed and embankment along both 204 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:36.279 sides of the track, and then we pupped slowly out 205 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.600 onto the main line and headed towards Barton Moss, eight 206 00:10:39.679 --> 00:10:43.519 miles away. The first mile of those eight dropped behind 207 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:47.159 us and brought no significant discovery, and we moved. 208 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.159 On through the second mile. 209 00:10:49.240 --> 00:10:51.759 Save for the flood of light from our lanterns and 210 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.000 the dull red glow from the fire box of the. 211 00:10:53.919 --> 00:10:57.039 Engine, the night was as black as pitch. 212 00:10:57.799 --> 00:11:00.679 Now and again the ugly shape of a loading bin 213 00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:03.399 for one of the narrow gauge feeder lines would loom 214 00:11:03.440 --> 00:11:06.360 out of the darkness ahead of us and float past 215 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:09.720 ghost slip for a moment in our lights, and then 216 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.960 desirable way behind us into the blackness. 217 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:15.759 But on the roadbed, the. 218 00:11:15.799 --> 00:11:22.639 Rails themselves remained unmarred, undisturbed, and offered not the slightest 219 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.799 clue to explain a disappearance that grew more mysterious by 220 00:11:25.840 --> 00:11:29.120 the minute. We completed the second while and moved on, 221 00:11:29.919 --> 00:11:33.879 and then suddenly, what is it, inspector, what do you see? 222 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:35.639 I stop the engine at once, mister hood. 223 00:11:35.519 --> 00:11:39.600 Aes, sir, what is it, inspector? 224 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:40.600 I think I've seen something. 225 00:11:43.720 --> 00:11:45.000 I don't see a thing. 226 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:46.240 Let's just stop them. Thanks. 227 00:11:46.360 --> 00:11:48.279 There in the edge of the bushes. We'll need a 228 00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:48.639 hand light. 229 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:51.000 Hey, are so good? All right? Come on now, let's 230 00:11:51.000 --> 00:11:51.240 have a. 231 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:57.960 Look by heaven there there is something, right enough, say. 232 00:11:58.440 --> 00:12:00.600 Well, it looks like a man. I'm there. 233 00:12:00.679 --> 00:12:02.399 Oh, it's more likely the body of a man from 234 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:07.399 the position he's in. Well, now, then let's turn you 235 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:08.919 over and have a glimpse of your face. 236 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:14.200 H what, inspector, why this is John Slater? H? 237 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:15.600 And who is John Slater? 238 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:19.080 He was the engineer on the special Well. 239 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:23.000 He's dead the next broken indeed, I'll venture a quick 240 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:24.720 guess it was caused by a fall from the cab 241 00:12:24.720 --> 00:12:27.399 of his engine traveling rather fast at the time. I'd say, 242 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:29.039 you can see where he rolled through the bushes for 243 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:31.759 some little distance there. But then what happened to the 244 00:12:31.799 --> 00:12:33.879 locomotive inspector afterward? 245 00:12:33.919 --> 00:12:34.120 On me? 246 00:12:34.279 --> 00:12:36.320 That still remains to be seen, mister Hood. It can 247 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:38.759 be fairly certain of one thing, though a special must 248 00:12:38.799 --> 00:12:40.360 have come at least this far out of the junction. 249 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:42.919 Otherwise it's pretty difficult to account for the engineer's body 250 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:43.399 being here. 251 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:45.799 No more difficult, surely than it is to account for 252 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:49.840 any of this. This whole thing is incredible impossible. 253 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:53.559 Well, we still have our improbabilities, mister Bland. Those three 254 00:12:53.679 --> 00:12:56.519 connected spur lines are ahead of us yet, and the 255 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:59.080 chances are one of them is going to supply some 256 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:06.759 kind of an answer. By midnight I had completed a 257 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:09.279 thorough check of the three lines. The first one, to 258 00:13:09.360 --> 00:13:11.480 the big Ben Colliery, ran a mile and a half 259 00:13:11.519 --> 00:13:13.480 back into the hills and ended against the face of 260 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.720 a huge pile of coal, not large enough, however, to 261 00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:18.279 cover a locomotive and two coaches. 262 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:19.519 I made certain of that. 263 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:22.639 The line of the Perseverance Colliery was hardly more than 264 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:25.080 a half mile long. It had been blocked all day, 265 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:27.399 and it was still blocked by a string of loaded orchys, 266 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:29.279 and ended beyond them against the. 267 00:13:29.639 --> 00:13:31.240 Open rock face of a quarry. 268 00:13:32.200 --> 00:13:34.799 The last line, running to the Carnstock Iron works, was 269 00:13:34.840 --> 00:13:38.000 a double track and had been left open all day. However, 270 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:41.000 a sleepy superintendent informed me that over two hundred repair 271 00:13:41.039 --> 00:13:42.720 men had been busy on the road bed until well 272 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:44.720 after dusk, and it was impossible to imagine a non 273 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:47.519 scheduled train passing through such a horror of witnesses unnoticed. 274 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:52.840 Oh shortly after midnight, dog tired, we walked into Barton 275 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:56.639 must station, still without the slightest explanation of the mystery. 276 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:03.759 I want to send a wire through the sk upland yard. Yes, sir, yeah, 277 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:11.399 I am prepared to postpone further investigation mistignation until daylight. 278 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:15.039 Yes, sir, sign it Collins. They can to get that 279 00:14:15.080 --> 00:14:16.600 up right away, right away, So. 280 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.799 Peaceful English countryside in a dead engine. 281 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:24.720 Driving you're speaking of me, sir. 282 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:30.480 Yeah, no, no, it is strange, though strange, sir. In 283 00:14:30.600 --> 00:14:34.600 broad daylight, a forty ton locomotive with two carriages and 284 00:14:34.679 --> 00:14:37.679 four passengers has vanished from the face of the earth. 285 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.559 In just a moment, we will return to escape. But first, 286 00:14:47.399 --> 00:14:50.440 ten great shows come to you every Sunday night on CBS, 287 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:52.759 and right and bright in the middle is America's number 288 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:56.120 one comedy, The Jack Benny Show. Tomorrow night, Jack will 289 00:14:56.120 --> 00:14:58.519 take his place on CBS All Star Night with the 290 00:14:58.559 --> 00:15:00.240 cast that's made the Jack Bennie Show. You are a 291 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:04.559 welcome visitor in millions of American homes. Yes, Jack, Benny 292 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:07.080 Amos and Andy, Helen Hayes, E Varden and all the 293 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.120 other great stars come to you over most of these 294 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:13.320 same stations in CBS's Ten Great Shows on Sunday Nights. 295 00:15:15.360 --> 00:15:17.919 And now with our star Ben Wright, we returned to 296 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:21.559 the second act of Escape and the Lost Special. 297 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:32.440 By the next morning, of course, the story was out 298 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:34.519 and the daily papers went to work on it. But 299 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.519 fortunately for Scotland Yard, the main attention of the press 300 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.480 was directed at the moment toward the international scandal which 301 00:15:40.480 --> 00:15:42.200 had been brewing for a week or two among high 302 00:15:42.200 --> 00:15:45.759 financial circles in France. As it was, however, letters to 303 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:48.039 the editor in the morning postscape has quite a rough 304 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.879 god Oh, with all manner of crat scenes. 305 00:15:51.320 --> 00:15:54.159 To believe that the worthy operators of Scotland Yard have 306 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:58.480 overlooked the one obvious explanations to the whereabout the missing train? 307 00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:01.840 May I ad as them that some two miles from 308 00:16:01.840 --> 00:16:07.200 Barton Moss, the railroad line crosses the West Branch Canal. Unquestionably, 309 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:10.559 the special leapt from the bridge and lies now in 310 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:11.000 the muddy. 311 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:15.320 This her affair is obviously the work of some subversive organization, 312 00:16:15.639 --> 00:16:19.039 and until the culprits are brought in to face their 313 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:23.279 just desserts, no man, woman or child in England can 314 00:16:23.360 --> 00:16:24.360 be considered safe. 315 00:16:24.679 --> 00:16:26.200 Now why advance. 316 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:30.120 Sing the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. The forces of evil 317 00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:34.000 grow boulder and begin now to invade the earth openly. 318 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:37.360 There is no doubt but what that strange man carat 319 00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:41.000 all was rarely the devil in disguise, And it. 320 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:44.879 Is quite as action this morning is to gaze quickly 321 00:16:44.919 --> 00:16:49.559 across the city toward Westminster Abbey. Considering the recently demonstrated 322 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:53.080 inefficiency of Scotland Yard and the Manchester Liverpool railway affair, 323 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:56.919 it's quite possible the abbey may be spirited away some night. 324 00:16:57.039 --> 00:17:01.279 Soon a week passed, and then two weeks we scoured 325 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:04.759 the whole western countryside, following up a relief, tracking down 326 00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.160 each rumor, and we got nowhere. 327 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.599 Three weeks four. 328 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:12.599 And then the press began to ignore the matter. Two 329 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:16.920 months went by, nothing new. Three months and the activity 330 00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:19.039 of Scotland Yard in the matter had come to a standstille. 331 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:22.720 The reason was simple enough, we had no idea what 332 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:27.000 else to do, so the records were finally taken from 333 00:17:27.000 --> 00:17:31.839 the active file and barked. Case still open and unsolved. 334 00:17:40.079 --> 00:17:42.599 Even though I worked on other assignments, my mind kept 335 00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:45.599 turning continually back to the case of the lost special 336 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:49.480 I tried to think of some avenue left untried, some 337 00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:53.599 path overlooked, and I could think of nothing. I reviewed 338 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:57.240 all of the improbabilities I tested and disproved, and I 339 00:17:57.319 --> 00:18:03.200 tried to improper abilities. Suddenly a fallacy in my own 340 00:18:03.200 --> 00:18:06.720 logic began to dawn on me. Arbitrarily, I had called 341 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.759 certain explanations impossible, and touched them only lightly in my investigation. 342 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.559 And yet what could really be classed as impossible in 343 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:23.000 a case which itself was utterly impossible? Back down to 344 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:26.599 Barton Muss again, and then ten days of painstaking work. 345 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.480 At the end of those ten days, I was certain 346 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.960 that I'd found at least the essentials of the answer, 347 00:18:32.920 --> 00:18:35.920 and I was equally certain that I could never prove it. 348 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:42.319 I could see only one bare chance, a desperate chance 349 00:18:42.359 --> 00:18:45.519 against long odds. I laid my plan before the Chief Inspector, 350 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:51.079 and then Scotland Yard went into action. The London Times 351 00:18:51.119 --> 00:18:54.480 twenty one November eighteen ninety. Rumors are circulating that a 352 00:18:54.519 --> 00:18:57.000 man named Dalton, arriving in Liverpool and the steam of 353 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.960 Vistulo tomorrow, may hold the key to the long Star 354 00:19:00.400 --> 00:19:04.880 Manchester Railway mystery. According to reliable sources, mister Dalton possesses 355 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:08.319 recently discovered copies of the documents which were carried in 356 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:11.440 the briefcase of the ill fated mister Caratol. It is 357 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:14.279 further stated that Scotland Yard is arranging to meet mister 358 00:19:14.359 --> 00:19:17.839 Dalton at the Liverpool pier and rush him forthwith. 359 00:19:17.400 --> 00:19:18.400 To London. 360 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:23.440 The next afternoon. Accompanied by mister Dalton, I walked into 361 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:26.240 the office of mister James Bland station Master at Liverpool 362 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:28.160 and charted a special train for London. 363 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:31.240 We shall have the train ready for Osle even ten minutes, 364 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.079 Inspector Collins. 365 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:34.519 Oh good, I'm as anxious to get mister Dalton at 366 00:19:34.519 --> 00:19:36.359 his briefcase to London as quickly as possible. 367 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:39.680 Yes, I saw the squib in yesterday's paper and I 368 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:42.119 was afraid then you'd be wanting a special train arranged. 369 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:44.440 I'm still worried about it. As a matter of fact. 370 00:19:44.519 --> 00:19:46.559 Oh, I hardly think there's any need to be. You've 371 00:19:46.599 --> 00:19:48.519 run a good many specials up to Manchester since that 372 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:51.279 affair six months ago, and you've never lost another one, now, 373 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:51.680 have you? 374 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:51.839 No? 375 00:19:52.240 --> 00:19:54.680 But I'll confess I've shaken in my boots every time 376 00:19:54.680 --> 00:19:56.240 I've watched one of them pull out of here. 377 00:19:56.400 --> 00:19:59.000 I say, now you're going to have me jumping in 378 00:19:59.079 --> 00:19:59.799 my own shadow. 379 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:02.400 Don't worry, mister Dalton. I'll have you in London before 380 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:04.079 you know it and done the worst for the trip. 381 00:20:04.200 --> 00:20:07.160 Nevertheless, Inspector, you'll have to admit the situation today is 382 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.920 very much like the one six months ago. 383 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:10.279 Oh yes, in some ways. 384 00:20:10.359 --> 00:20:13.799 The mysterious stranger arriving by steamer from South America and 385 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:17.279 in urgent haste to reach London. The carefully watched briefcase, 386 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:19.839 which according to rumor, contains the very same sort of 387 00:20:19.880 --> 00:20:21.559 material mister Caratal was carrying. 388 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:24.519 But there is one difference. Mister Dalton is being accompanied 389 00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:25.559 by an agent from Scotland. 390 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:25.880 Yard. 391 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:29.680 Yes, but mister Carroll also had a guard that Chap Gomez, 392 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:32.359 and both of them disappeared. 393 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:36.039 Oh come now, surely you don't think that anything so 394 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.519 fantastic could possible. 395 00:20:37.640 --> 00:20:40.039 No, he's right, mister Dalton, it did happen once, and 396 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:43.200 a number of the elements are similar. Well, mister Blant, 397 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:45.359 I'll wire you as soon as we reached Manchester, how. 398 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:49.720 The necessary, Inspector, I think I shall go along with you. 399 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.759 What good? 400 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:53.519 But if you're looking forward to excitement, I can't promise 401 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.000