Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-01-30
9pira Of sadfffe son.
Gbarlestown, w. Va, January 20 70.
Locked in q Freight Car.

Locked IN a Freight Car.
/ Strange and Psri,ous Adventure of a Boy. of
Eleren Years. - ,.sss..s4
- tcorrespondenoe Of the Ncv York Time..1
/ BINeHAMToN, N V. Wednesday. Janus
sary 10, lS72.-An eleven -year-old boy of this
city. named Clarence Shanks, was made the
involuntary hero. of a most remarkable adven-
( tnre a day or two since. lie lives with his
parents here, and was sent on an errand on,
Friday last with instructions to return home
Immediately Being good and obedient boy,
his parents naturally became alarmed when
evening drew near. and he had not yet res
turned. Messengers were dispatched in every
direction, streams we're dragged, aud every
means taken to obtain trace of the missing
boy-alt to no purpose The search was kept
up all night. aud then given up in despair by
the relatives and friends The mother of the
I boy was almost crazed at his disappearance,
and her situation was becoming alarming,
when about o'clock Saturday evening the
boy made his appearance, in an almost ex>
hausted condition, aud exhibiting uumstaka
BILE evidence of having endured great hard>
ship during his two days absence. AS soon
as he was able, he told his story, which is SUBJ
stan.aly as follows:
+ When he went down town on his errand he
saw through the open door of a freight-car
which was in a train at the Erie depot
quantity of corn lying about the floor He
thought here would be good chance to OBJ
tain nice meal for some pet chickens of his
at home, and he climbed into the car aud com.
menced filling his pockets. While thus en-.
gagged The door Of the car was suddenly closed
and fastened The boy at ouce began to cry
aud shout to make his situation known, but
N n nnr ha
He says he first thought of the effect his
Disappearance would have on his parents, and
then began to conjecture how far he would
probably be carried before he coud make his
presence i'll the Cur known. It was pitch
dark in his moving prison, and he was bumped
around on the floor like a ball at every Jerk
and lurch OF the train, there being nothing to
hold to. AT times, he says, he would be
thrown with considerable force agaist the sides
of the car, and he has great bruises on his
shoulders and hips as the consequence.
Scratches on different .rts Of his person. and
the presence Of ugly looking splnters, also
testify to the character Of his experience on
this part of his journey. The train, he says,
stopped once before it made the stop when he
was discovered, aud he did all in his power to
attract the attention of some one about the
station. He shouted, pounded on the sides
but without the desired effect, and he was
soon once more rolling and humping about
the car. on his way he knew MT where The
train finally stopped again. and the young
prisoner ascertained from the movements
about the station that some cars we're to be
switched out 9i the train, and he says he
prayed that his car might be one of them.-
His car WAS one of them, and when it was
placed on the switch he succeeded, after lying
there about an honr, in attracting the atten-
tlon OF man who was passing the car. He
opened the door, and upon seeing the poor
boy covered with dust, in which the tears had
cut deep traces down the boy S cheeks. brutally
demanded, ''What the HI you doin' hereY"
Choking with sobs, the little fellow told HE
story, only to be informed that s'hc'd better
dig out, d-n quick ~ He then we.t to the
depot building aud asked boy wha. place he
was in, and how far it Wa. from Binghamtou.
The boy eyed him suspiciously a moment,
aud then told him he was in Barton, about
thirty-t miles from Bnghalnton. 1t was
after dark, and the unfortunate Clarence was
IN an entirely strange place, without cent to
purchase m"rsel to eat OF pay his way back
home. Moreover, the cruel rebuff of the
trackman had disheartened him, and he could
not summon courage to ask assistance of any
one. tie obtained information of the boy
who had told him where he was as to a road
which went in the direction of Binshamtop.
and, at time OF night when he would have
been quietly sleeping in hed If home, he
started ON hls way to the city. where his ago.
nized parents were searching in all directions
for him. He had no dinner or supper, and
the pangs Of hunger began to assaii him.
These he satisfied well as he could by
eating of the corn which he put in his peck
cts in the morning, which act had placed him
IN his present nnenviable situation Alter
walking about two hours, aud passing MANY
houses where he could see the cheerv lights
and children playing within, bringing the
burning tears afresh to his eyes, his strength
began to fail him, and he knew he must lie
down somewhere and sleep Itwas very cold,
and he was almost numb with exposure.-
Coming to a house where it seemed kind peo-
pie must live, he made up his mind to 90 in
aud beg supper and bed for the aieht -
His hand was on the gate-latch, When fierce
watch>dog came bounding at him and fright.
ened him away. About mile further on he
came to farm house, near tu which, along
the road, was a small enclosure, in which was
a haystack, and about it cattle feedine. The
almost frozen boy crawled into the hay, and.
although suffering from hunger, he soon fell
asleep. He was awakened once ur twice by
mice running across his face. and by cattle
rubbing and pushing against the hay-s,ack.
He awoke early on Saturday morning, and
upon crawling to the ground he found that
his feet were frozen, and he was SO stiffened
that he could scarcely walk. No one was
stirring about the farm>house. He break.
tasted on raw corn. He met wagons ON the
road, but was overtaken by but two, and these
were heavily loaded aud their drivers walking,
SO be did not ask for ride He passed
through many villages, but although almost
faintinting with hunger, was not courageous
enough to ask for lnouthful to eat. All day
he iourne yei along, suffering intense nh rsical