Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-11-06
APRlNrER's TERRIBLE RIDE.
Hanging 60 Brake Beam from
~. Paul 90 C0cOlaln.
yalla Wall. ,ore.O un,op.

yalla wallA C0re.l Union.
Since the completion Of the North~
ern Pacific the great body OF Eastern
tramps have turned their attention to
that thoroughfAre over which to make
their regular pilgrimHges from the
land Of the rising to that Of the setting
sun. Being a new road, they can
make greater distances before being
discovered than they can on the pio'
neer route, where they are often
roughly handled by the train meu.
Several days ago there started from
st. Paul two tramps, one an old vet-
eran whose only clothing was a few
old rags which barely hung to his body
by shreds. His physiognomy indica-
ted that his beverage was stronger
than water. His partner in the west
ern pilgrimage was a young man Of
fine physique and appearance, save a
certain blase appearance, gained only
by dissipation.
The ride west, until Lake Pend
dOreille was reached, was made with
out any particular .sensation--as far
as the tramps we're concerned. At
times they rode on top OF the passenger
coaches, while at other times they
rode on the brake beams. This latter
mode to novice in the business, would
furnish more thrilling narrative than
bargained for. The ride is effected by
sitting on the break beam, a timber
about four inches wide, and when the
brakes are of, the beam, which is
hung on linked iron rods, vacilliatcs
with every movement OF the coach
Equilibrium is maintained by placing
the feet against the truss rods and
grasping a cross rod with the hands
In this manner the two tTamps trav
eled. BY some means or other they
managed to keep q 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 tramps q chance to
stretch their cramped limbs. This
was on Thursday at 7:24 pm. As the
cars rolled out from the station, the
tramps resumed their perilous posi-
tons. Sand Point was reached, and
when short distance from the sta
ton the younger Of the tramps lost his
balance; but, muddled as his brain
was, he realized that if he let 60 his
hold he would be crushed to pieces, as
the train was then running at the rate
Of 30 miles per hour. With his feet
dragging on the ties he maintained
his grip on the cross bar and held
that position until Cocolala was
reached. When Conductor Downing
made his usual round inspecting the
cars, 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 man let 60 his hold
and fell on the track. The
moment the conductor threw
up his lantern a horrible sight met his
eyes. There lay the man with both Of
his feet and legs clear up to his knees
worn to the bone. The instep bone
was worn nearly through, while the
flesh on the calves Of his legs were
hanging in shreds. His knee-jOints
were crushed. Gravel and dirt had
worked into what little flesh remain
ed.
Conductor Downing and Brakeman
Jean Short made the sufferer as com
Portable as possible, and when be res
covered consciousness he gave his
name as Tom Dallam, aged twenty
years, and said that he was brother
Of Frank Dallam, the editor and pro.
prietor Of the Spokane Review. Al
though suffering untold miseries
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 as centuries. As his
dangling legs struck the ties he said
hours seemed to intervene, yet uncon-
sciously he held on, suffering every
agony possible for a human being to
suffer. Dallam's partner seemed to
take the matter lightly, simply re-
marking. Partner, if you had as
much experience in brake beam riding
as / have you'd not tumbled of,
Dallam was taken to Spokane Falls
and turned over to the care OF his
brother, who had not seen him for
several years and was not expecting
him. Everything possible to relieve
the sufferings of the injured man was
done. The surgeons say that, in all
probability, at the very best, young
Dallam will lose both legs. 1t is more
than probable that he will die.
If Success be the true test Of merit,
it is a settled fact that Browns Bronchial
Troches' have no equal for the prompt