Connecticut western news., 1876-09-29
A TRAMP'S STORY.
Jumping the Railroad Trains and Stealing
 a Rtde---ThrOuGh KRnsns on Foot.

ht0G-s@InTOu8A Ou IF OOts
 A tramp who was doing Kansas on foot concluded to try the cars, and re- lates his experience as follows: l ran in between two cars and examined them as we'll as could in the faint moonlight. I found that there was 0 small projecting ledge at the end of each car, upon which could place foot, and that could hold on securely to the slats that formed the framework ot the car. l accordingly jumped up and placed myself in position the train. The whistle sounded, the bell rung and off we went-myself like circus performer, riding two fiery, un- tanned cars full of Texan steers.
 In about quarter of an hour, how ever, and before had time to accustom myself to my strange situation, head appeared from the roof of the car above me, and voice exclaimed: "Hello what are you doing therea"
 "Getting free ride," said |. "Well, don't stop there in that dan gerous place; climb up the steps to the roof here."
 I obeyed, and soon found myself lying on the roof near my new interlocu- tor, young brakeman. He questioned me very closely as to where had been, why was taking free rides, and so on; to all of which, regret to say, l was obliged to answer somehow. Finally, taking liking to me, he told me he would give me free ride to Kansas City if he could; but that the conductor was terribly smart man, and that he did not think I could escape his eye. He was right; the conductor spied me at Abilene, the first station, and was turned off the cars after brief, inglori- ous ride of fifteen miles. The experi- ence was mortifying, and I said to my self: Humping the railroads is not what it is cracked up to be-" It was glorious, delicious night, and threw myself down on the verandah of the depot and went to sleep.
 An hour or so after, was awakened by the dull laundering of another east ward train, as it came rolling into the station. It was another immensely long cattle train, with passenger car at the end, for the accommodation of the drovers. Try again" said the inward monitor. I ran forward, and seated myself on the steps at the end of the last car, and in few minutes was again flying over the rails. l was discovered about quarter of an hour before get ting to Junction City Twenty-Five miles,. The conductor, short, fat, good natured man, told me to come into the car and take seat.
 "You know" said he, "you ought not to be doing this sort of thing. You are man of intelligence, I can see, and you know you are doing wrong."
 "Well," said I, "I know it is wrong, but necessity sometimes compels us to do things we don't like"
 " Haven't you any money9" said he.
 "Not @ cent" replied, which was the truth.
 We'll, now mind, you'll have to get off at Junction City," said he.
 "Au right" said I.
 At Junction City, however, when he came and shook me (not ill naturedly), and asked me why had not got of, l promised I would disappear without fail at the next station. I kept my word. But felt sore about giving up this capi- ; tai chance for a free ride. So thought
 that without casuistry I might be justi-
 fled in getting between the cattle cars again. So chose as convenient pair ! of cars as could find; laid myself as flat to the front car as could, to es- , cape observation, and awaited the next move. Several of the guards and brake |
 terms; but not one observed me. The whistle sounded, and off we went. l The experience that l had in this l novel and exciting position lasted for 3 upward of three hours, so that had } plenty of time to take note of all that l was interesting. It was not nearly sc l dangerous as might be imagined. The l iron couplers prevented the cars from - coming together so as to crush me. - had fair footing about three inches n wide for each foot. All I had to dt
 was to keep a firm hold of the slats ,- The highest speed of the train wa t about fifteen miles per hour.
 The car in front of me contained abou # twenty head of cattle, all immens' l. Texan steers, with horns of prodigiou
 proportions. The car in the rear con k tained, suppose, the same number o ,t cattle. They had not been watered, 8 s afterward learned, for two days, an' ,f consequently were in feverish, restles d state.
 v- Close to me was white bull, rathe
 smaller than the average, but a creatur D. of very resolute disposition. When s first began to notice my fellow passer II gers, this bull had ot his horns fixed i -e the lower tier of slats, and was makin
 
 t. he was presently successful. He the pr took it into his head that he should ik r. to see the country, as presented on th q. other side of the car; and after squee' 1e ing himself and his companions unmel
 cifully, and crushing one of my finger n. with his horns, he got round to the d. of sired position, and for few minute e. seemed we'll content. But a storm ( 6. lightning and thunder was raging all th re while; the flashes set him up again
 his tantrums, and the last saw of hil at at that time he was blowing his way he the other end of the car.
 H. The three brutes that were now nea nd est to me, in kind of bovine tangl of were evidently suffering terribly fro
 thirst; and every time we came ne, CT water would fight and thrust at eac le- other with their horns in despera es manner.
 he When, however, they had subside
 into something like quiet, the pol
 brutes would seem docile enough, al
 would rub their great rough nos
 against my hand. But then got sever re- violent blows from their horns, whit rs, rather overbalanced this display of syl at pathy.
 lg D, The lightning and thunder, in u @. mean time, were tremendous. The ng was no rain, but aftorward learned th ,u- there was terrific rainstorm at Tope ed and the surrounding country. Ill. At length was inexpressibly reliev lce to see streak of dawn; some COG he crew on the neighboring farms; al Ids soon the east was blaze of rosy sple
 dor.
 We had just finished one of these
 terminable waitings at station, whi
 seems to be the fate of transportati om trains, when one of the brakemen spi ay. me, and called the conductor.