Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-10-26
A Free Ride.

Editors Republican: Some days ago it
became necessary for us to go to Laporte,
and as we had business engagements at
Plymouth it became necessary to return
the same evening, and were duly" and
truly advised that we could do SO at
nine o'clock, P. NJ.
Fully assured that we could return, we
started on the P. NJ tram for the city
rendered famous on account of the Holly
Water Works, which we had the good
fortune to reach at precisely 2 o'clock, P.
NJ. At work we went, and concluded our
business about dark, and then, after hav-
ing partoOk of the hospitalities Of the
Rev. Mr.. Nebeker, who has recently been
assigned to the Laporte District of the
NJ. +. Church, we repaired to the depot to
get aboard for Plymouth, when to our
great astonIshment and chagrin no coach
would leave for Plymouth that night
But to Plymouth we must go, and, as we
had been told we could and as we had a
ticket, we felt that we had right to ride
on any car, and we felt like insisting on
our rights. But how were we to go2
About this time freight train drove UP,
and very fine looking but imperious
gentleman (and, by the way, CHS brought
to mind that great many men about
small statians often assume high posi-
tions) after being interrogated whether
we could go to Plymouth, finally answered
+" No" As luck would have it, however,
several parties had chartered box car,
loaded with green lumber, to seats in
which they told us we were welcome, if
we were willing to run our own risk, and
were also Informed that no life insurance
company was willing to issue a policy
to those who rode in it.
In the front part of this car was small
opening, large enough for a man to crawl
through. In the forward part of the car.
inside, the lumber did not quite reach the
top of the Car. So without waiting to
count cost or consider comfort, the deter
mined and self-willed party, after the
manner of the grounding going into his
terrestrial habitation, crawled in and
took their position, heads thrown forward
to give room for the top of the car. As
the cars began to move off, some person
outside, in a deep sepulchral voice, said.
Gentlemen, if you 60, it must be at your
own riskp' Just at this moment one of
the party attempted to get out, but our
lumber car was moving at such rapid
rate that there was no chance to reach
terra 1i7nao without being struck in the
face. 1t was then and there decided that
the party should all go together A spe-
cies of terror now seized the party, and
but little else but wrecked trains, shat
tered remains, bursted boilers and dead
passengers, were talked of Aud that
something might be left when the shat
tered limbs and mangled flesh was gath
cred up, to show whose bodies they were,
it was concluded to register the names,
the leaf containing which we carefully
preserved. Here is copy of the register ::
| W. w. Anderson and L. A. Rees, La
porte E. w. Davis, Galena; VIM. Stur-
geon, Rochester; D. w Reeee, North
Liberty; j. W. Park and L. Mill. After
entering the names above, our situation
naturally enough suggested hair-b breadth
escapes, and hence the topic of converse
ton turned upon dangerous exploits and
deeds of heroism. Very soon we found
that one of our number had once been
aboard a ship in the Atlantic ocean while
the ill-fated vessel burned q the waters
edge; another had been wrecked in the
Pacific; one of the number had been
through the Kansas War and the Great
Rebellion; and perhaps the most danger
GUS position that any had ever occupied
was a seat in the Kansas Legislature.
Surrounded by such men, our fearful and
unpleasant situation gave place to mirth-
fulness and case. Amid shouts of JOY
and bursts of laughter, two hours fed,
and we were at Plymouth The conduc.
tor not having come around, with our
ticket in our pocket, we repaired to our
own home-rejoicing in our free ride.
/ a TRAVELLER