The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-11-27

4 TERRIBLE RIDE-TwESTY MILES BE-
MEATH LOCOMOTIVE ON a NIGHT EXPREss.-
The Kansas City Times says: Mans daring
often assumes n phase Of foolhardincss al
most incredulous to believe, and it appears
ut times rs though the present generation is
either becoming more brave or less lntelll-
gent every day. One Of the most singular
incidents OF foolhardiness known to this Sec
ton of country transpired upon the Kan
s;ls Pacific railroad OH last Sunday night. 4
young lnan named Josiah L. Haight, a native
of and Il recent arrival in this city, from
Wooster, Ohio, after "fghting the tiger" in
one of our sporting rooms on saturday
night, found himself ''hroken,' 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 cndeavorng TO reach
Topeka, Kansas, by stealing ride
upon the Kansas Pacific night express. With
this intention he Wrtook Of Il hearty supper
at his hotel, near the Union depot, wrapped
himself up as warmly Us possible, and started
out to walk to Armstrong station, two miles
west of Kansas City. There, while the train
was stopped, he crawlcd upon the pilot OF
the icy locomotive and crouched down upon
the trucks beneath the smoke-boX. The
train moved on alta rapid rate; the cold, bit
ter winters winds swept keenly and pierc-
ing through Haight's clothing, chilling him
to the marrow. He soon discovered that lie
must inevitably freeze to death in his pres
ent uncomfortable condition, but there was
no escape. The train rushed on through the
kaw bottoms, never hating, never stopping.
Haight found himself gradually sinking,
benumbed and without feeling, down
into the c;oSs-Aars Of the truck-f:ame.
Gradually he dropped down until lie
found himself damned between the warm
smokc-boX and the aHles. The noise and
CHATTER of the machinery became deafenng,
the keen prairie winds whistled and shrleked
around the rushing locomotive. Elaight
knew he must die if left in his perilous posi-
ton little longer. But there was no escape
until the train halted. He thought of drop
ping down upon the ties which glided be-
meath him with lightning rapidity. This he
knew would be instant and certain death.
He would have done so, hut he found him
self unable to yet through the network OF
iron bars, so lie gave himself up to
his fate. One by one the stations
glided past him in the bright, frosty
moonlight. Edwardsville, Lenape, were
passed, when the train suddenly
''sluckcd up and glidcd slowly to the
water-tank at Strangers creek. Here Haight
aroused himself with desperate energy and
made determined effort to eXtricate himself
from his perilouS condition. Cramped, be-
numbed, and half dead, he craWled out from
the trucks and out to the side of the track
The train moved on, and young Haight at
tempted to Use, but suffered such acute
agony from cramp that lie was obliged tC
call for assistance. He was sent back to this
city on freight train on Monday. His feel
and hands are badly frozen. He has com
muniated with his friends, who reside al
Emporia, and will leave to-day for thai
place. He will hereafter have a mortal aver
sion for faro and free rides III winter.