The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1878-08-22
JUMPING ON A TRAIN.

= oOML L4AW ON n 4hAAANu
Catching a train" in England is a
very different affair from catching it
IN this country, for there it signifies the
individual has sufficient time to enter
the railway carriage before the guard
closes the doors and gives the signal to
start. After that, no matter who az
rives, 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 a station, and is hauled on
board minus his hat or part Of a coat,
perhaps helped by railway baggage
masters to "catch the train, he is con
graduated by the conductor on "jest
BafIn' it" instead of being fned and
Ueprimanded for risking his life. In
deed, the average American so thor
oughly believes in taking the RESPONSE
bility, that he resents the erection Of
gates, sepW8tiDg the track from the
waiting rooms, or any interference with
his getting on OF of a train in motion,
with the idea, perhaps, that no person
in this land Of liberty has any right to
restrain him even from putting his life
in jeopardy il he himself elects so to
do.
The laws against getting on or OF
moving trains in England are very
strict, and also in guarding the tracks
at the stations and vicinity, and are
not to be infTinged upon or broken with
impunity, as an American friend re-
Gently found 10 his sorrow,
lie Chanced to be on train going to
LondC- md had written to have his
luggage sent from certain point to
meet him, to be put on board the train
at an intermediate station, where also
his wife and son Where to get on. Ar
rived at the latter place, where the train
stopped a few moments, he left the rail-
way carriage, put his family on board,
and sought for his luggage to place on
the train; but in vain, Meanwhile the
time for starting arrived, yet still he
tarTied, thinking to jump on at the last
moment, American fashion, and started
to do so, but was restrained by an OIL
cial.
"But I must go on this train; my
wifo's aboard, said the anxious Amer.
lean
Cant help it, sir; trains in motion
against regulations.
but yOu are going" said the travel
sr, as be marked the long train gradu-
ally moving, car after car, past them,
and the Official preparing to take his
place.
SCertainly; I'm the guard-last man
on. I take the van. Stand backl"
So saying the guard, or as we cali
him, the conductor, pushed back the
American and leaped tOhis place on the
step Of the guards van, or last carriage
in the train.
Quick as be was, the American was
equal to him, for with two or three
bounds, despite the cries andrush Of the
porters, he leaped after the guard, clung
to him on the step of the carriage, and
both were Whirlsd out Of the station in
that manner, after which they JumbIeo
into the compartment of the guard to-
gelher. The official was white with
rage.
II told you that you could not get
upon the train when it was in motion. :"
''Ahl but you see I 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"
'eAHd you have broken the regEIa-
tiOns, and LIade me and yourself liable
t. prosecution"
90, fUdgel The company won't take
the trouble to prosecute, I guess, said
the Yankee But this time his national
guess was incorrect.
The train was an express, and he rode
in the guards van more than fifty miles
before another stop enabled him to re-
join his party in the other carriage and
continue his journey to London, during
which the matter passed from his mind.
Arrived at the station in London, our
American secured a fOur-wheeler, Sc
leeted his luggage, had it placed on the
roof Of the vehicle bestowed wife and
party inside, and was about following,
when he was tapped on the shoulder by
a quiet, plainly-dressed individual, who
remarked
''SOTTy to detain you, really; very un-
pleasant duty; but you are wanted on a
charge of assaulting the guard in the
discharge Of his duty as the train left
bennington.
Here the official displayed a paper,
and his credentials, leaving no doubt
he was one Of those 'policemenin plain
clothes" whom Dickens and the English
stOry-tellers write about.
Hero was a dilemma. A stranger in
London, after dark, arrested What
should he do2 He at once explained.
He was an American tourist; he was
not aware Of the law. His wife and be
both strangers. Hadn't even been to