Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-20
NO. Al.
An Exciting Ride.

An EIcittnes htue.
"My home, said a tramp, in Chicago,
is a few mites west of Philadelphia, Pa,
and my father, a farmer there, is COM
fortably situated in 4 financial point OF
view. Last February on my return from
school, conceived the idea OF going
west TO California could not bear the
idea of settling down to a farmers
drudging life, as my father and grand
father had done, and so, against my IA
theirs wishes, l packed my trunk and
started for San Francisco, with $500 and
a through ticket in my pocket. L in
tended to engage in some mercantile
pursuit upon my arrival there, which
took place in due time. Within three
weeks had run through with my little
sum of money and then east abOut for
something to DO. | at first tried TO OBJ
tain clerkship, but could find no va
cancies, and finally left the city through
fear OF being run in by the authorities
as vagrant. 1 went up near Sscrs-
mento and engaged with II farmer ac 3
few dollars month, but as | was total
ly unfit for farming, having done but
little OF it my employer, who worked
some sixty hands, discharged me at the
end of the first month. | tramped then
until harvest set in, but l was utterly
worthless as pitcher OF grain on one
OF the large wheat wagons ami took to
;ramping again. beat my way To
Virginia City and from there 10 Salt
Lake, thence up TO Ogden and took Il
job of section work on the Central Pa
breaking open a car of silks one night
Gid not steal any-stOle 4 ride tO-Che-
yenne. There the cars were inspected,
| was detected and fired out. Then L
wandered down TO Denver, doing odd
jobs, just making q living, nothing
more, and there the first of the present
month found me. l was growing more
vagabondish every day, and concluding
that the west was no place for Chris
Brown-your humble Servant-set
about deyising plan 10 get back east
In my wanderings around the Kansas
Pacific depot and yards, | had observed
that there was quite space underneath
the body of the coaches and the brake
beams and platform supports, and one
day secured short, strong piece Of
plank and investigated the matter per-
sOnally. The plank worked nicely, SO,
providing myself with some cords and
few soda crackers, | went down to the
depot to await the departure OF the
night passenger train east-bOund. AS
soon as it was made up, l crept under
the next 10 the rear ear, unObserved,
and adjusting my board. making it fast
with the cords 1 had provided for that
express purpose, anxlOusly awaited the
signal that would send me OF my jour-
ney. 1t came in due season, and was
presently one of the grandest surprises
of nv life. AS the train gathered mo-
mentum it gathered dust also, and with
/ in a very few moments 1 was blinded.
I That was undoubtedly the most terrible
night l ever experienced, and anx-
/ iously awaited the coming of the dawn.
Such a horrible din and claiter came up
! from the track, and how rough 1t all
was. Every moment l expected 10 be
dashed in pieces, for the train ran at
great rate of speed, and l felt as if it
was bound to leave the track and crush
me like an egg-shelL 1t passed through
the night-as il always does, aud
morning brought little comfort with
/ 10, aud l ate my crackers with the
knowledge that l vas travelling home
ward IS no man had done before me.
All that day rode, all the next night
and until We had entered eastern Kan
sas, and | was discovered by the wheel
inspectors, and taken out nearer dead
than alive. One of the inspectors was
man with a white heart, and he took me
home and let me stay there until 1 had
recovered from the shock and eaten
/ several meals, and then he got me a
pass some way or other, and l came on
/ 20 ST. Louis. | have made a few cents
since my arrival, but not having dime
to- -night-that Is what it takes to lodge
! at the Bethel came up here to the
| station"
"What do you intend 70 do in the
future; tramp always:" Inquired the
! reporter.
"No, sir" was the answer, ''I have a
cousin In Seymour, Indiana, and II 1
can only beat my way TO that point 1
will borrow a few dollars and 60
hOmeD