San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-04
ghe Daily Eight.
~~~~o~-oO~-~oo~~-~o~-~
WEDNESDAY, ARPiL, a, 1888.
UNDER THE CAR.
From Boston to New York For Big Sum
on the Trucks.

"A fine night, ma friend, but as cold as
a western blizzard" said Frank Thorn
ton, in a New York central station. "Just
such night as experienced in 1854 be-
meath the bottom of Boston express
train. l never seat myself in comfort
able parlor car but that adventure is re-
called forcibly to my mind.
at would take too long for the facts
of the case, but, perhaps, can give an
idea of it before the train gets here. 1t
was in December of ga that was strap
ped, as it were, in Boston. suppose
should have been at the front with the
rest of the brave boys, but rheumatism
hab been playing me false and couldn't
get there. l was out of employment ut
the time, and my ambition was to get to
New York, where l had friends who
would do the right thing by NE. But
having no money ! couldn't accomplish
it. Well, to cut long story short, as l
as was sitting in my room one cold
night gentleman called on me and ask
ed me to take some important documents
to New York for him. He was in the
same fix as myself, being without friends
in Boston, or money. Tho papers he
said, were worth $1,000 to him if they
were delivered to proper parties in New
York, and he said he had come to see il
I would undertake the job of getting
them there for him.
"But my dear sir, I have no money 70
defray travelling expenses
"That is the exact fix that am in
myself, but if you can manage to deliver
these papers for me l will give you
$1,000 he said.
81 accepted the offer, although I had
not the slightest idea as to how was to
get to New York. lay awake all that
night thinking about. At last lucky
thought struck me. The trucks had
heard OF such thing being done, but at
the thought OF doing so myself my blood
turned cold. But on further thought
determined to risk my life for $1,000. 1t
was then Tuesday, and was to deliver
the papers on Saturday. at once set
about making preparations.
"In the morning l produced some
boards and made myself a sort OF shell,
as it were. My plans were these:
"On Friday night would 60 to the
to the platform and await my oppOrtun-
OF the last coach. 1t was dangerous ex-
"When the time came | was ready. ]
obtained coil OF small rope and with
my home made shelf repaired to the de-
pot. l slipped the gateman and walked
down the platform to the locomotive,
then up the track, then turning, l came
back on the outside OF the train. 1t was
as dark as pitch and as cold as Green
land. Five minutes before the train
started l crawled in under the last car,
and arranging my shelf, l fastened my
self to the truck by the rope l had
brought with me. 1t seems an age be-
fore the train started, but it did at last.
What sensation! AS the train struck
in at a 40-mile gait, it seemed as if my
last moment had come. was benumbed
with cold, and the oil from the wheels,
which were revolving at terrible rap
ldty within two inches of my head, al
most blinded me. | seemed to lose con-
troll of my limbs, and had it not been for
the rope that held me l should have
dropped under the wheels. At last the
train began to slacken in speed, and I
heard the brakeman yell Worcester.
The fear of discovery then overlook me,
and l was afraid to leave my narrow
perch, and awaited the start of the train
again. Springfield, Hartford and New
Haven were reached, and l was still
alive, although far from well. But the
run from New Haven to New York with
out stop was the worst ordeal. Sixty
miles without a stop. The train was
evidently behind time, Tor it fairly few
over the frost covered rails. The roar
was terrible. Blood rushed from my
nose and ears, but still held fast. Well,
reached New York alive, but I often
wonder how. l crawled from my mar
row perch and hid in a coalyard until
morning, when, refreshed by some good
cold water, started out on my mission.
reached my destination, delivered the
papers, received the $1,000 and started
back for Boston in gentlemanly way.
don't believe to this day 81 that sU INV B Sss
ton friend knows how got to New
VnrR