Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-11-20
From ne 81. Louis RepeiHs.
A YANKEE IN A COAL SCREEN.

A YANKEE IN A COAL SCREEN.
BT joe NiLLKE, ~.
In order 10 load the coal boats on the I.ehieh
canal, shou bui aecp inclined plane Of about
one hundred end 6iiy feet in lengtmis made at
he chute which runs from a station house on Ihe
SIDE vf'he mountains, 10 large circular revolv-
ing screen. To the loaded car is attached rope
which draws up an empty car, and, arrived at
the screen, the lower end Of the car is suddenly
unbolied, and the coal is shot with great velocity
into hopper; this conveys il directly into tho
screen which has three large chambers, through
which coal OF as many sizes is riddled out, and
shot BY scuPPers, into just as many boats, waiting
for different descriptions Of the article.
few months since a Yankee Of the genuine
breed, quite inquisitiye, but more verdant than
Yankee should be, gained the station house. and
gazed with wonder al the coniriyances. He De.
cuiarly admired the swiftness with which ibs
loaded car descended and emptied its load and
the velocity with which il returned 10 give place
10 another.
Shortly his attention was attracted by seeing a
labOrer mount one Of tho full cars about 10 make
the descent.
"Gong 10 slidcl" inquired he.
"ies going to chute; won't you goi"
"Wal, guess I'll stop bit and see you do
it,"
The car swiftly descended. and ere it reached
the hopper. the passenger jumped Off safely.
do you DO thai oitenl" inquired he of one of
the laborers in the station house.
"Oh. yes continually" was the waggish an.
swer, ''yOu know most all the boatmen are single
men, and as they often have orders for family
coal, We always send down married man with
a car ofIhat kind, to let 'em know"
"Wal now. du tell, !" uttered the eastern man.
The more the Yankee looked al the apparatus,
the more did he become convinced that il would
be great thing to 60 down the steep in that way
something that he could tell "to hum"
Plucking up courage, he approached the super.
intendent.
"Tha, beats sleddin down hill, don't it1'
"l 'spose il does"
"lou couldn't let fsller go down. could
you!"
"Why, do you think you could jump off in
ooh, Yes, I'm reckoned considerable or o
jumPcr-jumpin does me good; | once iumped
off hay NOW thirty feet high, and it made me
so supple that I'm give in TO be the bes, dancer
in the hull township
F
Suddenly the car moved off, and our friend
found the speed so fearful and the declivity so
great, that hewas forced to stoop down and grasp
the sides of his vehicle for support. The place
where the laborer had leaped off was reached.
but the Yankee was not in the position to utnp; he
had 10 hold on, and running down descenttbree
times as steep as that which he had come, a sud.
den click shot the bolt and with a violent force
out went the contents, Yankee included: into tbo
hopper.
/ Murder! get me out! stop the consarn!" shout.
ed our hero, as he felt himself sliding down the
( hopper 10 the cylinder. "Murder! stop the con.
sarn-Il be kille1l'' But the motive power Of
'the consarn" was water, which had no sympa-
thy with those who pursue knowledge under dif.
/ hcultieS, and those who saw were too distant and
too much convulsed with laughter to Weld assis.
tance. Into the screen he slid, landing on the
| top, aud as he felt himself revolving with the
coal, he grasped the wires in desperation. to Dre.
vent himself from being rolled to the bottom
around the wheel he Went, and our friends sensi.
biliues were touched up by plentiful shower Of
fine coal dust riddled through from all the cham.
berS. lie managed 10 get one eye open and saw
with delight that the cylinder was only about ff-
teen feet in length and he forced his wav for.
ward to the opening with desperation, but it was
not altogether successful; another revolution of
/ the wheel had yet to be borne, and the next time
! he reached the bottom he was shot out of the
scuppers into the boat beneath. To the screams
| of laughter with which his advent was hailed,
our hero said not a word, but getting out an old
/ handkerchief, rubbed the dust out of his eyes,
and surveying his torn apparel and bruised, bat.
tered, scratched and cut limbs, it raised his vein.
10 know TO what quality of anthracite he had
been delivered-when smashing his remnant of
a hat over his eyes, he stumped off, muttering,
"brOken and screened, by thunder"
Philadelphia Sept. 1916.