New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-08

RIDING on 4 Cow CATCHER.-A gentleman OF
Richmond, who recently accompanied Mr.. n. p Willis
ard others On an excursion the Baltimore aud
Ohio Railroad gives the following account OF ride
on a COW catcher:
We bad reached Martinsburg, on our return-rs-
tracing 10 hours tue four days route of exploration
and ~ course, travelling at uIl railroad spe5d-when
our kind official enteitaIer, Prescott Smith, pointing
TO the front of the engine asked if would like to ride
there. The thought delighted De, Of course, and
took my seat ct once on the sort OF gdiron wedge in
front OF the locomotive, built for throwing to the right
eft any number Of stray cattle the track. With
the intensely bright, and the thermO meter all day
st "a deg my black iron seat not the coolest eod
the CLOWNS admiration Of the Martinsburg boys who
ga hered around in the few nil utes that sat alone
the catcher, in front Of the sury station house,
made its promise, at first 10 be too warn eXpe-
repoe. Presently, however ] was joined by another
Of our charming party, 10 whom my example had
prove tempting and, with Prescott Smith ON one side
of me- ard Thompson (of The Southern Literary, on
tie other. felt little more recoDced 10 the risky
possibiity--that Of being wiped of with my two
brother authors by any con that should cumJer the
TRACK, Or IN other words served up 70 fste in literary
esrdWich with "forced c0rcHn,bers."
Weli-the iron steed gave his accustomed snort
which il takes pretty good drums to ell Joy you
cit directly uIder his explosive dlaphragm), aud off
began TO rattle the foref0Ot We bestrided. Behind
g,ided the streets and people Of Matinsburg and the
hot sir along with them-for, 20 exquisite delight
il grew cold enough in the second or third minute.
Smoke cipders and second hand atmosphere, we're all
famed to the rear With the accelerated speed the
ruth of air strife of caresses myriad of
soft fingers strokrg back the hair upon oues temples
and pulling gently az the corners Of ones beard like
shan pooDg by the daughters of Eolus-(s little mag
IL alive, perhaps, but remeu Der there three
tloIs the COW catcher while the handkerchief
with which | endeavCred 10 blow my nose was so
forced up my nos.rls a. to make me sneeze. The
sleepers braces the rsil.track, ut first
separate ana distinct confused into solid plank. Cow
after COW came in sight and the next instant had
narrow escape of rather. be. excused bosous-pig
after pig idcH idtm iocks Of sheep, grazing horses,
drui ken ana Irish children. What gauntlet Of
ACCIDENTS runs 4 common cow-catcher 10 be sure
But. 10 be thus telegrapbedn ones hat aud boots
Strangely removes some Of ores early pre- juices The
way jumped CD ssms snd Skinned ponds-popped
acIo-s and cleft open hls-rhO. into csverns
End under mountains, sno spun away on the other side
az il nothing had unprecedented precp.ces aud
rounded blufis-sl at The pace, and with mar
neT Of recognition Of mortal mans hnGrauce
and obstacle. Why It amounted To q Hight Offancy I"
II was thought tTaye-ghost fitting angels errsnd.
goirg 'cr rather Adams Express before the falU-s
realisation. in fac. If two Of myown once imaginative
questions IN ar early poem:
Are ye ,ho14 AZ rsPidl Can ye Hy as far,
A. a thought
To which ems rdeT on the cowcatcher Of the Bati-
HOIe and Ohio would COW answer - Yes stree"