Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-12-27


the following humorous description
Of asrailroad s'smash-up:" We were
moving along at ordinary express
rate from Portland to Boston via a
certain line, which has since ac-
quired a rather sanguinary reputa-
ton. The car was not little
crowded. l distinctly remember
having the seat next the stove at the
extreme forward end. Fortunately
there was no fire-this being in
Junc--otherwise our narrative might
never have been written, or, at least
come down good deal singed.
Well, every traveller Of any con-
siderable experience land that we
all claim to beg knows how it comes.
A truck had broken, it was said.
The narrator's head made very
respectable dent in the zinc sheath
ing past the stove. At the same
time his heels were nearly cut off by
the back Of the seat whirling over
and striking down on tie backs Of
his ankles. All the passengers
seemed to have business at the for
ward end of the car just then. l
was not alone; on the contrary, one
fellow seemed to have taken it into
his head to ride me much as Cap.
tain Waterton is said to have ridden
the cayman.
He came over on the back Of the
seat, and had bcstridcd me in a
twinkling, sitting down with no
great gentleness on the "small" of
my back. ! could also, by a side
long glance, discern another youngs-
ter in between the stovc-plDe and
the side OF the cara position he
seemed to dislike exceedingly, judg-
ing from the tbrashing about he
made, his boot-hcel occasionally
coming down beside my cheek.
Though little giddy from my at
tempt ut dinting ;he zinc, still felt
tolcrably certain that l had not been
killed; but judged it best to keep
quiet, especially since could not do
much else. There was a great up
roar and shouting overhead. Some
blockhcad was battcring at the car
door on the outside with an AK.
Every stroke sent the glass from
the broken window rafting ABOUT
our ears. Presently the young Rarey
who had mounted me souirmed a
little, and then gave me punch
with lis knuckles.
"Say! you dead?" he demanded.
"I-believc-rot."
"Then presume you would like
to have me get off.
suppose that I replied to the
effect that, if it were convenient for
him, it would be very gratifying to
me.
"Just so. III see what can be
done. Wash,'' addressing some
body, "for heavens sake, do quit
kicking me in the ribs"
cam l, thought" cried the chap
behind the stovepipe. "Beg your
forgiveness; but what's fellow to
do? Here Pm wcdged in"
"Can't you use the other foot?"
suggested my rider.
"No, no! doa't use that" I cx-
claimed. "Your boot-heeps right
in my ear, now."
Just then the man with the ak
knocked in the door, which few
back, mashing up a whole caucus
of hats, and spa,ting one old man
fiat in the face. The conductor
crowded in side foremost, and see
ing "Wash" first OF anybody, l
suppose, pulled him crt from be-
hind the stove. "Rarey" crawled
up off my back, and we all three got
ont at the door. The car had left
the rails, turned half round, and
headed down the bank. Nobody
was killed outright. One man had
a broken leg, and swore he would
have handsome damages for the
same.
There were several limpers.
One lady had the whole skirt of
her dress torn off, and was CARRYING
this in one had, and big dumpling-
colored chignon in the other. There
were also several others carrying
chignons of various colors.
Everybody, save the broken
legged man, pleasantly concurred
in the opinion that it was "quitc .
little bump!'-one Of those small
iolts to which life is unavoidably
heir, and which are to be borne as
good-humoredly rs possible.
Concressioaal Ovsls.