San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-02-01
CANNABALISM IN THE CARS.

CANNABALISM IN THE CARS.
I visited st. Louis lately, and on my
way west, after changing cars at Terre
Haute, Indiana, mild, benevolent
looking gentleman Of forty-fve, or may
be fifty, came in at one Of the way sta
tions and sat down beside me. We
talked together pleasantly on various
subjects for an hour, perhaps, and l
found him exceedingly Intelligent and
entertaining. When he learned that !
was from Washington, he Immediately
began to ask questions about various
public men,, and about Congressional
affairs; and saw very shortly that l
was conversing with o man who was
perfectly familiar with the ins and outs
of political life at the Capital, even to
the ways and manners and customs of
procedure OF Senators and Representa-
tives in the Chambers Of the National
Legislature Presently two men halted
near us fol. single moment, and one
said to the other: '.'' ''1.,f Il.
Harris, il you'll do that for me, I'll
never forget you, my boy"
My new comrade's eyes lighted pleas
antly. The words had touched upon a
happy memory, I thought. Then his
face settled into thoughtfulness al
most into gloom. He turned to me and
said, Let me tell you a story; let me
give you secret chapter of my life-a
chapter that has never been referred to
by me since its events transpired. Lis
ten patiently, and promise that You
will not interrupt me-"
I said would not, and he related
the following strange adventure, speak
ing sometimes with animation, some
times with melancholy, but always with
feeling and earnestness. $3.50
THE STRANGERS NARRATIVE.
son the 18th of December, 1853, l
started from st. Louis, on the evening
train, with only twenty-four passengers,
all told. There, were no ladies and no
children. We were in excellent spirits,
and pleasant acquaintanceships were
soon formed. The journey babe fair to
be happy one; and no individual in
the party, I think, had even the vaguest
presentiment Of the horrors we were
soon to undergo.
"At IL p. m. it began to snow hard
Shortly after leaving the small village
of Weldon, we entered upon that ire
mendous prairie solitude that stretches
its leagues on leagues of houseless drea
riness far away towards the Jubilee Set
Elements. The winds, unobstructed by
trees or vagrant rocks, whistled fiercely
across the level desert, driving the fall
ing snow before it like spray from thu
crested waves of a stormy sea. The
snow was deepening fast; and we knew
by the diminishing speed of the train
that the engine was ploughing through
it with steadily increasing difficulty
Indeed, it almost came to u dead hal
sometimes, in the midst of great drift
that piled themselves like colossal
graves across the track. Conversation
began to flag. Checrfulness gave plac
to grave concern. The possibility o
being imprisoned in the snow, on tn
bleak prairie, fifty miles from an,
house, presented itself to every mind
and extended its depressing influenc
over every spirit. ..
At two O'Clock in the morning Wa
aroused out of an uneasy slumber b
the ceasing of all motion about mt
The appalling truth flashed upon M
instantly-we were captives in snow
drift, '.All hands 20 the rescued Ev,
nv man sprang to obey. Out into til
wild night, the pitchy darkness, the hi
Lowry snow. the driving storm, ever
soul leaped, with the consciousness this
moment lost now might bring destru,
ton to us all. Shovels, hands, board
anything, everything that could dii
place snow. was brought into instar
reuuisition. 1t was a weird pictur'
that small company Of frantic me
fighting the banking SHOWS. half in tn