The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-04-16

The Proprietor of ShaHty Temporarily
ParaIyyes the Northwestern Rail-
read system. =. ,t.

tr ltfi p IT, - Ifiiii ~ ls titttlt
g heard sgood story of the Northwest
ern the other day." said a railroad man
yesterday. Downin the Fourteenth wari
thereis man named Burns, whose house
stands so close to the track that it is hard
to see how train can get by it. few
weeks ago fat-ear loaded with heavy beams
helped to make up train which was pass,
ing the Burns shanty. One of the beams
projected about four feet, and when it reach
ed the corner there wns a collision. The
whole end Of the house was knocked of and
every bit of plGsiering inside shared SINH
lar fate. Next morning, bright and early,
Burns pranced into General Manager Hugh
tits office and demanded damages. After a
somewhat excited interview he was gently
bounced from the building by Chief Clerk
Wynians and given instructions to sue the
company il he had suffered at their hands.
Baffied in this direction, Burns went
home and, after thinking the matter over,
struck mn idea. He concluded to paint his
house. Notifying his son of this intention,
the two procured the necessary utensils and
proceeded to business. Fastening ropes
around the chimneys, they lowered hori-
zontal ladder directly over the track, ut
about the hight of headlight, and arming
themselves with shotguns, paint pots and
brushes, they mounted the ladder and were
soon singing paint to all points of the com.
pass. Presently a passenger train came
along, and the engineer saw that he must
either stop or have disastrous accident
Reversing the lever, he brought the train to
standstill, and began vigorously blowing
the whistle. Mr.. Burns, however, was too
busy to look around, and continued his ar
tistic employment, indifferent to everything
eise The conductor rushed up under the
ladder and shouted. Here. pull that
thing up and let us pass by
- Pull it up yersef, was lhe answer.
Oh have no pulleys'
Thoroughly angered, e con iuctor ST..
nailed the engineer to go ahead. but at the
hrst revolution of the wheels the Bnrns
family presented full broadsds of shot.
guns, ut the cab, and shouted Come of
now come of, or We'll blow the stutfin'
ont of yez.'
The train was stopped again and mes
sage sent to headquarters for assistance.
The superintendent and road master were
soon on the ground. By the time they got
there seven trains were awaiting Mr.. Burns
pleasure, and taking in the situation at n
glance, they readily proposed compro.
mise.
Take away that ladder, they yelled,
and we will pay any reasonable claim YOU
may make.
Cash down asked Buras.
- Yes. Come down to my office ano
you'll get the money, but you must take
down your ladder first
- Not train gifts by until | gifts my
cash."
- But, great Scott, man, you're stoppin.
she whole Northwestern SYSTEM
:" Wis, an FL stop ii till next Christmas
~ ye don't .paN un.'
official went after the cash while the other
arranged the terms Burns gave it to then.
strong for Hath aud plaster, shingles and
paint, charging exorbiiant prices for every,
thing. II they mildly protested, he wonld
simply say All right. oi giss oill paint
some more And they had 10 give in. When
he had thought of all the damages the most
fertile imagination could coniure up, lie told
the officials he might want to ride over their
road some time, and they gave him an an
nuai pass so quick 1t mnde his head swim.
He was sorry afterward that he didn't ask
the company for a palace car to ride in.
Hostilities suspended, the trains were soor
running again as usual CHic0go Times