Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-04-04
Our Selected Story.
JUMPING on A TRAIN.

| ''CatchinS train in England is very
different affair from catching it in this
country. for there it signifies that the indi-
vidual has sufficient time to enter the rail-
way carriages before the guard closes the
doors and gives the signal to start. After
! that, no matter who arrives, he is too
! late.
In America, however. if by dint of a
smart run the belated passenger is enabled
to reach the hand-rail of the last car of the
rapidly receding train, as it Is leaving sta
tor, and is hauled Of board. minus his hat
or part of coat, perhaps helped by bag
ga"e-masters to '.catch the train" he is
congratulated by the conductor on '.jest
savin' it, instead of being fined and repri-
mandeh for risking his life. Indeed, the
average American SO thoroughly believes
in taking the responsibility, that he resents
the erection Of gates separating the track
from the waiting rooms. or any ititei fer-
ence with his getting On or off a train in
motion, with the idea. perhaps; that no
person iii this land Of liberty has any right
to restrain him even from putting his life
in jeopardy if he himself elects SO to do.
The laws against getting on or off mov-
ing trains in England are very strict, and
also in guarding the tracks at the stations
and vicinity, and are not to be infi'inged
upon or brokcd with impthity, as an
! American friend recently found to his sor-
row.
He Glanced to be on train going to
| London, and had written to have his lug
gage sent from certain point to meet him
to be put OH board the train ut an interme-
diate station. where also his wife and son
| were TO get on:
Arrived at the latter place. where the
train stopped few moments. he left the
railway carriage. put his family on board,
and sought for his luggage to place on the
train: but in vain. Meanwhile the time
for sts rtiDg arrived, yet still he tarried,
thinking to jump or at the last fii6ihent,
American fashion. and started to do so.
but was restrained by an official.
'.But must go on this train; my wife's
aboard said the anxious American.
Cant help it. sir; traif's in motion ;
against regulations"
..But yott are going" said the traveller,
as he marked the long train gradually
moving. car after car. past them, and the
official preparing to take his place.
| .!Certainly; I'm the guard-last man on.
| take the van. Stand backc'
| So saying the guard, or as we call him,
the conductor. pushed back the American
and leaped to his place on the step OF
the guards VAN. or last carriage on the
train. '.
Quick as he was. the American was
equal to him, for with two or three
bounds, despite the cries and rush of the
porters, he leaped after the guard, clung
to him on the steps of the carriage, and
both were Whirled out of the station in
that manner. after which they tumbled
into the compartment Of the guard to-
gether. The conductor was white with
rage. So
II told you that you could not get upon
the ,rain when it was in notion
"Ah! but You see | did"
.DO you know that we both narrowly
missed being hit by that crane as the train
went out OF the station!'
"A miss, my good fellow, is as good as
a mile."
"And you have broken the regulations,
and made me and yourself liable to prose-
cutiOns.'' 80 fsarr
80, fudge The company won't take
the trouble to prosecute, guess, said the
Yankee. But this time his national guess
was inco rect.
The train was an express. and he rode
in the guards van more than fifty miles
before another stop enabled him to rejoin
his party in the other carriage and contin-
ue his e1rney TO London. during which
the matter passed from his mind.
Arrived at the station in London, our
american friend secured a four-wheefer