Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-09-09
MIDNIGHT RIDE ON A cow
CATCHER.

A writer in the Oneida Circular de-
scribes singular adventure:
"The train was to start at ll:45, and it
wanted but few minutes of the time
AS I stood there in the darkness within a
few feet of the Kissing monster, my heart
began to fail me, and almost resolved to
abandon my hazardous undertaking.
What if I should lose my hold and be
thrown off in front of that crushing mass
of machinery? Such thoughts kept
whirling through my mind, and / hesita-
ted. Suddenly the bell rang. Hardly
realizing what did, / hastily left the
dark recess and stepped on the heavy
framework in front of the engine. BY
means of stout leather strap [ bound
myself on by passing it round my body
and under one of the strong bars of the
cow-catcher While was thus engaged
the train had left the depot and with
rapidly increasing speed was passing
throughsthe city. had some fears lest
some of the hag-men at the street crossing
should discover me and signal the engi-
neer; for well knew that if n, should
become aware Of my perilous situation he
would stop the train and take me off My
fears were groundless, The strong glare of
the headlight directly over me made my
position, by contrast, almost invisible to
any one in front.
Passing the last crossing with rush
and roar, we sp-d on through the SUBJ
urbs, and into the open country. The
city lights disappeared one by one in the
distance and we were fairly on our way.
It was a wild night. The light of the
moon struggled with difficulty through
the dark clouds which were driven before
strong wind from the southwest. Now
and then an opening would illumine the
landscape with sudden burst of silvery
light, to be Immediately followed by al.
most total darkness as the heavy cumul
rolled up in masses of inky blackness
The cone of light from the dazzling lens
above me would then cut the darkness in
its onward rush with startling clearness
| Now flashing up the rocky sides of some
mountain gorge, Illuminating rock, tres
and shrub with almost daylight distinct
ness anon lOSllIS ltSolA All UhO OoAA OeAAAoA'
darkness as we emerged into the countr..
beyond; then shooting along the rail
ahead. making them look like glistenins
silver until they disappeared in the dark
ness beyond.
tsMiie after mile we sped along. [ ha
become somwhat used to my strange pc
sition, but it required constant attentio
to prevent my feet from slipping from tn
lower bar of the frame on which | wa
standing: At best I had but partial foo
hold, and the constant jar of the engin
on the short curves would almost thro'
me off. In passing through the S. mout
tains the road was very rough and crooked
The ponderous engine bounded along wit
now and then a sudden lurch il its seen
ingly mad effort to plunge into the blac
chasms which yawned on every side. |
one of these sudden movements the buck
; Of my strap broke, and | was only save
from instant death by wedging my hant
4; between the bars of the COW catcher ar
( clasping them underneath. 1 must no
on now for dear life Once opened n
e mouth to scream, in the hope that
e would hear ne. A second thought co
vinced me Of the uselessnes Of attemptll