Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1872-12-18
4 TERRIBLE RIDE.
Twenty Miles Beneath Locomotive ON a
Night Express.


The Kansas City Times says:
Mans daring often assumes phase
OF foolhardincss almost incredulous to
believe, and it appears at times as
though the present generation is eth
er becoming more brave or less intel.
ligont every day. One of tho most
singular incidents Of foolhardiness
known to this section of the country
transpircd upon the Kansas Pacific
Railroad on last Saturday night. A
young man named Josiah Il. Haight,
u native Of and a recent arrival in this
city, FROM Wooster, Ohio, after fight.
ing the tiger in one OF our sporting
rooms on Saturday night, found him
self "brokcn," without even so much
as sufficient to pay his hotel bill.
After wandering around the city all
day on Sunday, he conceived the idea
of endeavoring to reach Topeka, Kan
sas, by stealing a ride upon tho Kan
sas Pacific night express. With this
intention, he partook of hearty sup
per al his hotel near the Unioh depot,
wrapped himself up as warmly as
possible, and started out TO walk to
Armstrong station, two miles west OF
Kansas City. There, while the train
was stopped, he crawled upon the
pilot of the icy locomotive and crouch
ed down upon the trucks beneath the
smokebox. The train moved on at a
rapid rate, the cold, bitter winters
wind swept kcenly and piercing
through Haights clothing, chilling
him TO the marrow Ho soon dscov-
cred that he must inevitably freeze to
death in his present uncomfortable
condition, but there was no escape.
The train rushed on through the Kaw
bottoms, never hating, never stop
ping. Haight found himself gradually
sinking, benumbcd and without feel
ing, down into the cross bars of the
truck frame. Gradually he dropped
down until he found himself iammcd
between the warm smoke-bo and the
axles. The noise and clatter of the
machinery became dcafening, the keen
prairie winds whistled and shrickcd
around the rushing locomotive. Haight
knew he must die If left in his peril
Gus position a little longer. But
there was 10 escape until the train
halted. He thought of dropping down
upon the ties when glided beneath
him with lightning rapidity. This
he know would be instant and certain
death. lie would have done so, but
he found himself unable to get through
the net work of Iron bars, so he gave
himself up to his fate. One by one
the stations glidcd past him in the
bright frosty moonlight. Edwards
vile, Lcnape were passed, when the
train suddenly Stacked up and
glided slowly 10 the water-tank at
Strangers creek Here Haight arous.
ed himself with desperate energy
and made determined effort to OK
tract himself from his perilous posi-
tion. Crampcd, benumcd and half
dead, he crawled out from the trucks
and out TO the side Of the track. The
rain moved on, and young Haight
attempted to rise, but suffered such
acute agony that he was obliged TO
call for assistance. lie was sent back
to this city on freight train on
Monday. His feet and hands are
badly frozen. lie has communicated
with his friends, who reside at EN-
poria, and will leave to-day for that
place. lie will hereafter have a NOR
tol aversion for faro and free rides in
winter