The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-11-03
A TERRIBLE RIDE.
Shocking Experience Of Young
Printer While Stealing His
Way Over the Northern
Pacific.

LIN ~ l. ASsAaS Nv SA~~$ ~~Ay Va <S~0"
ern tramps have turned their atten-
ton to that thoroughfare over which
to make their pilgrimages from, the
land OF the rising to that Of the set
ting sun. Being a new road, they
can make longer distances before be-
ing discovered than they can Oh the
pioneer route, where they are often
roughly handled by the train
men. Several days ago there started
from st. Paul two tramps, DIX an old
veteran, whose only clothing was
n few old rags which barely chung to
his body by shreds. His physiognO.
my indicated that his beverage was
stronger than water. His partner
on this western pilgrimage was a
young man of fine physique and ap-
pearance, save a certain blase appear
ance, gained only by dissipation.
The ride west, until Lake Pen
d'Oreille was reached, was made
without any particular sensati"n-as
far as the trans were concerned. At
times they rode on top Of the passen-
ger coaches, while at other times they
rode on top of the brake beams. This
latter mode, to a novice in the bnsi-
ness, would furnish q more thrilling
narrative than b~argained for. The
ride Is effected on the break beam, a
timber about four inches wide, and
when the breaks are off the beam,
which is huns on linked iron rods,
vacilates with every movement of
the coach. Equilibrium is MAIN
tanned by placing the feet against the
truss-rods aud grasping the cross
rod with the hands. In this manner
the two tramrs travelled. BY some
means or other they managed to
keep a supply Of bad whisky on
hand, a liberal quantity Of which
they consumed, remaining in a
semi-drunken condition.
AT Hope station a short stop was
made, giving the traraps a chance to
stretch their cramped limbs. This
was on Thursday at 7:24 a. m. As
the cars rolled out from the station
the tramps resumed their perilous po-
sitions. Sand Point was reached,
and when a short distance from the
station the young tramp lost his bal
ance, but muddled as his brain was,
he realized that if he let go his hold
he would be crushed to pieces, AS the
train was then going at the rate
Of thirty miles per hour. With his
rect dragging on the ties he main
tanned his hold on the cross-bar, and
held that position until Cocolala was
reached. When conductor Downing
made his usual route inspecting the
ears, the tramps were discovered in
their place of hiding, and when Or
dered to come out the elder Of the
two gladly obeyed the summons,
while the young mar let go his hold
and fell on the track. The moment
the cond uctor threw up his lantern
a horrible sight met his eyes. There
lay the man with both his feet and
legs clear up to the knees worn to
the bone. The instep bones were
worn nearly through, while the
flesh on the calves of his legs were
hanging in shrcds. His knee-juints
were crushed. Gravel and dirt had
worked into the little flesh remain
ing, and when the unfortunate man
was carried into the car and the legs
Strengthened out the bones creaked
like a door on rusty hinges.
Conductor Downing and Brake
Ilidu Jcdu CuOIl ulduc INC SUklcTcI rs |
comfortable as possible, and when he
recovered consciousness he gave his
name as Tom. Dallam, aged 20 years,
and said that he was q brother of
Frank Dailam, the editor and pro-
prietor of the Spokane Review.
Although suffering untold nliseries, !
young Dallam said that if it had not
been for whisky the accident would :,
not have happened. He said his ride
of fifteen miles seemed to him like
As his dangling legs
the ties he said hours seemed
to intervene, yet. unconsciously. he
held on, suffering every agony pos
sible for a human being to suffer.
DallaE's partner seemed to take the
natter lightly, simply saying, Part
ler, if you had as much experience
a brake-beam riding as ] have, you
would not have tumbled off," Dali
am was taken to Spoka Q Falls and
urned owe to the care of his brother,
rho has not seen him for several
ears, and was not expecting him. [
possible to relieve the
offerings of the injured man was | {