Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-11-27
omthe New York Mercury. -.t.
Love in a Tunnel; or Kissing in the
Dark, f,@
By OUR NED. 4

have been published, and many more told
that have not been published. But we thinl
there are few ventriloquil incidents tina
will compare with one we witnessed recent
ly on the cars of the Virginia Central Rail
road. We have read anecdotes Of Nichols
FKenworthy Love, Sutten, Harrington ant
Blitz, but think the following actual occur
renee will bear favorable mention side b,
side with either. MO- 9ste9 1s4 =
The cars left Charlottesville, Va; fol-
Staunton, at II NJ, and entered the tunne
which is very long and very dark, about
half-past one P NJ. We had hardly been
shut out from daylight when noise swas
heard in the rear end of thetlast car. The
conductor and several passengers who were
standing on the platform, entered the cal
with view to discovering the cause Of the
disturbance. But, owing to the extreme
darkness. nothing could be seen. While
patiently waiting te hear the slightest move
ment which might explain the excitement,
a boisterous noise, resembling the sound
produced by fervent kissing, and at same
moment a female voice was heard cxclaim-
ing. s t4fs7 NH sae+ 4'3H.5
"Get out you brute! Let me alone! I'll
call the conductor! Keep your hands off.
sir This is shameful =, % 2s.1 f. g 'le5fsi
Fl sWhere is he e. cried the conductor, in
an angry tone, approaching the direction
from whence the sounds proceeded. -
sHere" says the lady, "this end Of the
car. arrest him! He insulted me shame
fully. Here he is again Will you let me
alone? think it a burning shame that a
respectable lady should be treated in this
|mannern l tr- 5as SA a -l-f
sect in the ladies' car, thenr' shouted
a gruff voice. ssYou have no business
here !" sss}s sses2 "a
.tShe has right here !" replied the con-
ductor, Selling the individual he supposed
guilty Of the misdemeanor.
"You needn't grab me-" said husky
voiced old man II didn't touchher; haven't
seen a woman in the carp ila.at a&
The conductor seemed confused, and re-
traced his steps to the forward end of the
car. Again the voice was heard, apparently
in the very rear. Aiaf3 ta.
"Here be is again conductor! Go away !!
quit! let me alone this is shameful Keep
your hands to Yourself, sir I'll leave the
car You follow if you dare !"
This language was concluded by an ex-
plosion resembling the concnssion Of t,co
lips. All was now confusion. The sympa-
thizing passengers were all standing up,
hi ghly excited; but owing to the darkness
and the uncertainty that existed from whence
the sounds proceeded, nothing was DONE
A noise like the rustling Of silk was heard,
the rear door Of the car opened, and then
closed with a banging sound, which made
the extraordinary stiffness which followed
very fearful to contemplate, which fearful
ness increased to horror when the conductor
announced that the lady must have stepped
off the platform, as there was no car at
tached e @
The cars were stopped by the signal rope
and lantern procured, when the passen-
gers, headed by the conductor, CROPPED slow
y and silently back through the tunnel, ex-
pecting momentarily to discover the mutila-
ted body of the unfortunate female. But
after searching back to the mouth Of the
tunnel, nothing was found, and they sadly
retraced their steps.
Upon arriving at the train, a passenger
suggested that the cause of the excitement
be arrested; and in the cars went the party,
searching every seat, until they came to a
person leaning forward on the back Of seat
in front Of him, apparently asleep. The
conductor roughly shook the sleeper, when
he raised his head, and 10! and behold it was
Wyman, the ventriloquist!
The party very relutantly swallowed the
unmitigated sssell" The cars started, and
sped on to their destination, having been de-
tanned an hour over time. as-%g 9fe