The Sunday herald., 1886-11-21
THE CORPSE ON THE MAIL CAR.
GrOans Fearful and Lifelike Disturbed
the Register ClerIx's Rest.

tChicago Herald
Here is story that is told by Cash Watson, the
veteran express messenger running on the United
states Express line east from Council Bluffs:
"While on the Rock Island, betweenth Bluffs and
combination cars. 1. e., express, baggage, and mail
all In one car, and that the front end OF the train
n the nlgat referred to the train crew were George
and myself, express handler. Sims was Il man OF
fine physique and we-trled courage. Despite his
courage, however, he had an unconqnerable dread
OF corpses. well remember his expression of face
when the first corpse was brought into the car after
ne ne began rallroading It was one Of horror. He
but never quite ontgrew his dread. One evening In
March, rs, we left the Bluffs with light run, but
the mountains, where he had gone orecover health
and his remains were going East for burial. Logan
and noticed Simss discontinue when he saw the
long case. He asked how far 1t was going. 1 re-
with 1t.
1t was past 10 when We left Atlantic, and dark
night, with beating rain and howng wind, was just
the one to inspire the gloomiest thoughts. From
to Sit up and watch for stations while Logan and
Gs t4ok =, sleep. OF course he refused and then
Noon snoring. told Logan of my intent to scare his
fo>lishness out of him right there. Among the ex-
press matter was bundle of two dozen boxes of
that such bundle moved over the rough surface Of
board produced noise not unlike the groan or
val Of srp IN agony Well to this bundle
the middle OF the car. Then sat down. tipped back
my chair as II for nap between stations, and gave
as to stare myself almost. With e' head back and
eyes nearly closed, watched the effect on Sims.
he sGpsa o ms ss heavy sshn d Se sss
fixed his eyes firmly on the CONN case for full ten
was uncertain as to whether he heard the groans or
was only dreaming, and was debating whether to
nervous. By and by he dropped on and soon snored
q little. MY time to act had come. l gave the
string two quick. short Jerks, making noise like
slow pull, repeating the horrlfying groan In an In.
stant Sims rose ID bed, with hand on forehead and
had heard 1t sure. OF course looked sound asleep,
and Logan @ was quiet In his bunk. There was Sims
sonH no wtn ve &c m a. dead olr OF the night
In less than minute no dropped from hls bunk and
came steathily to me. shook me violently, and said
mans alive in there. DO something quick ~
The horror depicted on Salvlni's face rs Othell0
was as nothing to that on simss countenance. lean
never forget his look. ! urged that he had been
dreaming, but he declared that he first heard the
corpse try TO speak and then groan. Argument was
box and Inspected. Logan and showed him the
impossi6lity Of a mans heing alive who was pro-
backed y IN wo Sns hsS 70 So @
went and shock the box This aevaed his fears
Saya S ine Taen We MN ana
DRINKS Just before starting and that they might have
worked on his imagination. His nerves were
btcaulcT uoWs anu uuueT PROMISE tnat Logan anu
would stay up and awake, we got him to bed telling
him that In his condition he needed sleep. 1t must
have been O'Clock A. NJ before he did sleep. When
satisfied that he was not "payIng 'possum," we pre-
pared for the grand climax. This time ! gave the
string two vigorous pulls and the cigar boxes emit
ted two unearthly yels Sims bolted up, and seeing
the look Of alarm on our faces, his fears knew no
bounds. We tremblingy told him that he was
rght-that there was surely something wrong 10
the box, and affected fright on our part. Sims at
once grabbed part OF his clothing and made for
the forward coach. He had enough Of
| sleeping with dead men. All the money In
| Rock Island would not have Kept him In the car
| that night. The next morning he.came forward to
| look after his register pouch, sat down without Q
word, and seemed TO be thinking over the matter.
! stepped to the CONN case and moved the cigar
boxes back and forth. Then Sims saw the hoax and
begged us not to give him away, hut 1t was too
good to keep, and before weeks end every man
on the road knew OF II. Tho nights adventure cost
him month s salary, but the experiment succeeded.
After that night dead folks had no longer terrors
| for Sims. believe he would challenge ghost to
| mortal combat now. Some time after this had to
appear before the superintendent and explain why
Ii was reported that the Rock Island was CARRYING
| live people In coffins"