George Francis Train, a millionaire entrepreneur and self-proclaimed 'Psycho,' was a pioneering figure in social media influence, promoting Tacoma as a major trade city through grandiose claims and a record-breaking world tour. His eccentric personality and relentless ambition made him a unique character in American history, though his legacy has faded over time.
George Francis Train was a millionaire entrepreneur who ran for president on a populist platform. He refused to acknowledge his losses and even announced his intention to become America's dictator. Train believed he was the smartest man alive, and his prolific flow of ideas and verbiage enthralled crowds as he traveled the country. When he embraced a cause, he would not let it go. He called himself "The Psycho," and one of the causes he championed was the booming town on Puget Sound that he was determined to make world famous.
Train was an American success story, having made a fortune in shipping during the era of clipper ships. With the advent of steam, he shifted his focus to railroads, becoming a major supporter of the Union Pacific. His efforts helped secure new methods of building and financing new lines, which in turn made Omaha a significant city and further enriched Train through real estate investments.
His extensive travels around the world were initially for business, but they soon became a personal quest to prove a point. Train was obsessed with speed and global connectivity, famously claiming to have inspired Jules Verne's bestseller, "Around the World in 80 Days." When the intrepid female reporter Nellie Bly circumnavigated the globe in just 72 days, Train's competitive spirit was ignited, and he vowed to beat her record.
In addition to his travels, Train was a prolific writer, producing endless tracts, poems, and epigrams aimed at improving the world and advancing his eclectic agenda. He was a one-man social media storm, an eccentric influencer whose issues included women's suffrage and Irish independence. He believed that his genius connected him with the universe, famously stating, "I am possessed of great psychic force."
Train's fascination with Tacoma, which he dubbed "The City of Destiny," was fueled by its designation as the Western terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad. He sought to promote Tacoma as a major trade city on the Pacific Coast, and the local editor of the "Tacoma Ledger," R.F. Radebaugh, became a supporter of Train's musings and rants.
Train proposed a bold plan to outdo Bly by rounding the world in 60 days, promising that his reports would be published in 40,000 newspapers, reaching an audience of 100 million people. He believed this trip would showcase Tacoma's emerging status in Pacific trade. Train demanded that Tacoma welcome him with funds and a forum, threatening to take his stunt to the Canadian Pacific if they did not comply. The city responded enthusiastically, sending Train $1,500 and embracing him as a conquering hero even before he set sail.
His pre-departure lecture raised over $4,000 for the trip, with box seats selling for as much as $500. The excitement in Tacoma was palpable, and the city was ready to support Train's ambitious endeavor.
Accompanied by a reporter from the Tacoma Ledger, Train embarked on his journey, quickly circling the globe by ship and rail. Press reports tracked their progress, generating significant publicity for Tacoma. Train completed the round trip in 67 days, beating Bly's record, but he was furious upon arriving in Portland, Oregon, to find no special train waiting to take him home. His temper flared, and he threatened to switch his allegiance to Astoria.
Despite his outbursts, Train was greeted by a jubilant crowd upon his return to Tacoma. However, he felt cheated of his 60-day goal, and his success was not fully appreciated. Critics from rival cities mocked him, with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer labeling him a "Demented Traveler" and the Portland Telegram questioning his sanity. Even Tacoma's own Daily News suggested that Train's trip was unnecessary for promoting the city, stating that Tacoma's virtues were already well-known.
After his brief stay in Tacoma, Train moved on to another round-the-world trip for Bellingham, another Puget Sound city seeking to bask in his glory. However, Train's influence began to wane, and he eventually fell into obscurity. More than a century later, Tacoma is still known as the City of Destiny, but Seattle has not yet experienced the death rattle Train predicted.
In retrospect, George Francis Train was a unique figure in American history, embodying the spirit of an eccentric influencer long before the age of social media. His grandiosity and relentless ambition left a mark on the cities he sought to promote, even if his legacy has faded over time.
