Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-08-08
Curious 2a.lroad Adventure.

A correspondent Of the Pttsfcld Sun re-
lates the following singular story of a" hap
py' gentleman who attempted TO use the
Hous2tonc railroad track as a highway:
When the night train from New York
was within three quarters Ola mile Of the
Falls village depot, Canaan, Coun., an OBJ
struction was felt by Mr. Bridgeman, con-
ductor, who, upon on n,Jioning the engineer
found that he had discovered an object on
the track, but was to close upon it, and I'M
der such Roadway as to be unable toescap9
it. On examining The catcher, on the arrl-
val at the depot. the intersticcs We're found
filled with the fragments of a wagon body
presenting the appearance of a crows nest.
With much anxiety the conductor, with at"
PENDANTS and lights passed b1c!. over the
track. Some eighty rods from the depot,
broken jug was found, which sustained
the observation of one Of the temperance
hands Immediately previous, that there
was rum somewhere" Some dozen reds
further, discovered a shirt, without o3ner
and without blood. Soon the broken spokes
and hubs, and tires wrenched aud broken.
brought them to the scene Of the disaster.
In deep excavation adjacent, was found
a valuable horse, lying upon his back, stiff,
and with faint signs of life In the mean
time no human form was discovered, until
the loud call of the conductor was heard
wheH the unsteady voice Of an equally III
steady man was beard in the thicket, near
at hand, who soon cambered down the
bank, as directly as circumstances would
admiL lie was accompanied by two inter
estlng little boys, one four and tn other
six or eight years of age. To the question
OF Mr.. Bridgeman, "What are you dong
on the track Of the railroad p the answer
was returned III the memorable style oftbe
army of Flanders Of which Uncle Toby
spoke some time ago. 1t seemed the poor
man had no conception that Ike had been
rode down by the iron horse or that he was
on any other than a sh cking bad public
road, Of which fact alone he seemed to be
fully sensible, fnr the smallest boy remark
ed that papa said az they were coming along
that he should not ride over the road again
until they had repaired it.
The upshot of the matter is this The
man was engaged in looking up farm for
rarchase. A gentlemarm in ncighboring
town had left him valuable family horse,
with which he had made Journey TO his
former residence. lie was ON his return.
He drank something stronger tllan water,
which go confused either his eyeslght or his
judgement, that when the public road eros
sed the railroad, instead passing drec y
on, he turned upon the track, the ties OF
which a rood portion Of the way, protrndcd
from 4 to inches above level, and passed
no less than five " cattle grounds one or
4wo Of which were double width. The horse
with the buggy and Jugs, sc, safely Ieoped
them all, unaccountable as 1t may seem'-
he noise of his own conveyance was such
RS to conceal the approach OF 'he Ioccm1-
five in his rear, which demolished the bug.
,py. threw the horse into the ditch, and safe
Nv deposited the interesting stranger and
alis fine little boys upon a high bank some
IA feet in ascent.
What is remarkable is ths--the man af-
frmed that the horse had run away and
smashed the buggy The horse was turned
over and helped to rise, and not bone or
even the skin was found broken. The per-
sons of the man and two boys were unmu-
tilated, no other marks were received than
"a fine coat stripped in the back from waist
TO collar, and Il somewhat comical express
ion given to the rear ofhis hat. A pretty
good commentarythis upon temperate drink
ing. We ought to add further, Tint anoth-
er Jug was found in the road, safe, e. sound,
and full, which was duly smashed by those
in attendance, to the no small chagrin of
its owner.