The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1850-04-25
HInls IN 7FllnlAl m D
"A VERY HARD CASE.
BY JOHN or roaK.

i
thu herculean task cotemporaneously with J
w. Hale, Of procuring a reduction of tn
rates Of postage, they were Immediately sub
jected to the most trying annoyances by th'
officers of the government, All who wer
suspected of having any connection witt
them. were lodged by these shadows :
every day arrests were made, and the activ,
members Of the company, Messers. Fisher
Roe & Case, were compelled 10 furnish larg,
securiiieslfor their appearance to answer tht
charge Of breaking the law, a. judicial tri
bunal. But they were all quick, talented
and shrewd men, and often did Uncle Sam,
well paid emissanes have to submit to 4
hearty laugh at their, own expense. Case
in particular, was ever on the ~ rue for q
".chance to,selp' a government officer. He
would pay his passage from Philadelphia tt
New York, and pass over the road in the
same car with the officer, whilesome unsus
pected passengers trunk contained the con-
iraband mail. r's s.rf ga st.
. On one occasion, Case was subject te
search of his person, while in the cars be.
tween Camden, and Burlington, and the ex'
asperaied officers, finding no letters on him
but satisfied that theie was mail along, un-
der bis control, demanded OF the conductor
his objection from the cars.-Case APPEALED
to the travellers, and number sided with him
Immediately. The consequence was pret.
iy exciting war of words, which at ono time
bid fairto involve all in the ear In a fight
When matters had arrived at rather alarm.
ing pitch, the train left the track and stop.
ped. A heavy rain was falling at the time,
and those who got out TO lift the cars back on
the road, were soor wet to the. skin. Case
took advantage of the accident to put in an
oar for cheap postage, and mounting loose
pile of rails, addressed the passengers fol
nearly half an hour, every sentence being
greeted with cheers. The officers, finding
that there was nothing to be made out of the
independent mail man, stopped at Trenton
and gave up The chase. 10
On one occasion, Case was in a very bad
fix, and how to get out of it was a brother
Fisher and Roe had both been arrested
that afternoon; they were then at the recor.
der's office, and was witched by three gov.
eminent officers. The mail had to 20
through at any ate, but hows Case sent a
note to an editorial friend, and asked him te
go over to New York-explaining the bust
ness. The party accepted the proposition
the buntiieof ieuers were passed pat of Q
back cellar window, and deposited in small
trunk, and the latter was sent 10 the steam.
boat with other baggage, and of course un.
Five minutes before the hour for starting
the owner of the mail-truuk walked quietly
down TO the wharf TO go on board and re-
ceived his ticket from the porter Case wa.
standing on the pavement, gazing up the
street., ilh look of vexed anxiety. He
didn 4 see the man that hadthe letters Nc
indeed though he probably saw every bo
dy else on the wharf. Acab came thunder
ing down the street, and Immediately Case
was at the door, and when the ast passen
ger stepped out, turned away with an ali
of disappointment Allthe while the off
GERS were watching him closely, following
him wherever he went, and suspecting ev
cry one he even recognized. g71 cr.i 's-
The bell was ringing for the last time, ant
the Government men were satisfied that the
independent mail was not on board yet
Case saw this, and concluded to have lit
tie fun with Them Approaching one o
them, he asked in low voice, il he has
seen a man come down, with noustach'
and heavy black beard, and cloak ans
carpet bag. The officers exchanged CLAN
ces, but they din't happen to know that Cas-
had that moment set his eyes upon a maj
who was running for dear life 10 reach tn
boat before it left 80
- ''That's him now |" excl aimed Case, start
ing away from the officers. -i
"There's the mail" said one of the off
GERS. "Why this is good-7that fellow didn'
know who he was talking to-" a3
Case, during this time, was standing OIL
the curbston., bcckonipg to the man VIII
was coming down the street, apparently high
ly excited, and alternately looking from hin
10 the boat, and vice versa The officer
were sure that they had the mail man 70
once, and quietly awaited his approach
Down came the blowing traveller, on a run
and as he passed Case, the latter whispered
"M right" l,6 ~
The man looked around, but not recogni
ziny any one, pushed towards the boat. Tn
officers and Case did the same. "a 81; le4a
awe want you, sir" said one of the off
GERS, tapping the stranger on the .houlder.
Pr ssvant me, sira For what you want mea'
\ "Push on--you'll miss the boat! There
is going now % exclaimed Case, in what h
affected to consider a Whisper F99 UYad
o1aNo, but he don't though Mister Case
Perhaps you thought we did'utknow you y
4 stWhai on airth are You drivin' att You'v
4 go, hold Of the wrong customer, I'll lay m
4 life, p said Case, with greatsiucerity. f5 Il
J. y"cusiomair p exclaimed the, excite
I Frenchman; "eustomar ! am no customai
Sacre de dam | owe nothing To- no ma
, lby gaire !Ldam! Let me 90. sZe boat sha
leave me.p no ysa. ea' bssssibsa ssassN
r att won't do,,- sir" said the officer, wi
great dignity. "You can't fool ~ in Ith
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