St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-24
A PERILOUS RIDE.
A Man Travels 800 Miles on the
Trucks of a Lightning Express

Trucks of q Lightning Express
Train.
Special to the Globe.
PITTsBURG, Pa, July 23.-When the
Newport 81 Chicago limited pulled into the
union depot at 6:55 this morning young
man about IS years of age jumped off one
of the platforms and stood still for a mo-
ment, apparently enjoying the consterna.
ton which his appearance created. He was
evidently Caucasian, but SO completely
begrimed with smoke and SCOT as to be
easily mistaken for a son of Ham. AS the
passengers alighted from the train they
gathered around him, and the depot EN-
ployeS were also added to the crowd of
spectators. The cause of the young mans
lionzation was soon made known. He had
Travelled from Fort Wayne. distance of
800 miles, on the trucks of a car on train
which made only two stops between Fort
Wayne and Pittsburg, feat which no one
in this country is known to have accom-
plished before.
MY name,'' he said, when Intercepted, sis
P. a. Schel. 1 live at No. 106 State street
northeast, Washington, D. G. For eight
months l have been working at Bass foundry
at Fort Wayne as moulder. Yesterday
dispatch informed me that my mother is
seriously ill. / had no money, every cent
having gone for board. There was nothing
left but to steal q ride. l went to the depot
last evening at o'clock, and when the bell
rang for the train to start l jumped on the
front truck of the second car of the limited
and in second we were off. / sat on the
brake beam with my legs between the frame.
| kept my arms on top Of to steady myself.
and my foet was supported by the brake rod.
I Every time they shut down brakes to stop
crawled over the top of the frame into the
middle of the trucks and held on to the cross
rods. Once my feet slipped and dragged on
the ground. then thought 1 was gone, but
l held On like grim death and managed to get
my legs up again on the brake rod. At Rest
line and Alliance the train stopped to change
engines and for an inspection of the trucks.
When the inspector came to the truck where
L was rolled over against the wheel on the
opposite side and escaped detection. 1t was
hara riding tell you, but still l would rather
travel in that way than on the bumpers OF
| freight train.
When young Schell reached the Federal
street depot he thought he was in Pitts
burg, and tried to jump off, but was struck
| by one of the gates at the crossing, and
narrowly escaped destruction. He climbed
onto one of the platforms, and it was then
that the passengers learned for the first
| time that such an adventurous traveller was
on board. When young Schell had finished
was a jingling of silver, and those who had
enjoyed the distinction of travelling on the
same train with such young hero pooled
their issues to the extent of fair-SiZed
subscription. So admirable was his per-
Torrance considered, that all thought of
molesting him on account of his fragrant
breach of the rules of the railroad company
was abandoned. On the contrary, no one
could do too much for him. He was
promptly introduced to the wash room, from
which he emerged looking fresh and rosy
without a semblance of fatigue. A sub
stantial breakfast was then provided by
Mr.. Lee of the depot restaurant, to which
the young man did full justice. Steps were
then taken to provide him with the means
of completing his journey, which he will be
in a position to do this evening, sufficient
money having been raised to secure half
| fare ticket to Washington, which the COM
pany will give. Young Schell, however, is
satisfied if he finds his mother alive to never
try again the experiment of riding upon a
train with his hands clutched to piece of
woodwork, laundering along at the rate of
thirty-tive miles an hour. He says there is
no fun in it.