Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-05-31
His First Railway Journey.


cident of this Southern trip writes a
correspondent had almost a tragic
termination. The train was just
starting, without ringing a bell or
blowing a whistle, as is the unique
Southern custom, when a cloud OF
dust was observed travelling down the
road TO the station, and from the
midst Of which proceeded prolonged
yells The train was promptly stopped,
and an ancient and rickety chaise
drove up, and there climbed down
from il an old man in long yellow
coat and a william goat beard. He
wore. besides these, a pair of abbre-
waited green trousers, which seemed
to shun his boots and rise 10 a higher
plane, and beaver hat of the vim
tdge of 1912. He took from out of
the chaise band-box tied with n
string, a large carpet bag, paper
bag containing an assorted lunch,
two live chickens tied together by the
legs. and crock OF butter, over the
top Of which piece of muslin was
tightly fastened. With these and an
ancient umbrella he boarded the train
with some difficulty and sat down in
a seat few feet from the door. The
train rolled away, leaving his com
panion in the chaise sitting, open
mouthed, paralyzed with wonder.
The ancient one, with the wind
tossed beard, gripped the arm OF his
seat as soon as he felt the trains mo-
tion, and let out a startled yell that
caused the passengers TO turn pale
with fear that we had madman on
board. When the conductor ran 10
him he shouted: The hull durn
thing is sinking
The amiable conductor assured him
that he was perfectly safe, and. going
into his pocket, pulled out his punch.
The old man held up his hands in an
instant, and cried; Don't shoot,
mister, don't shoot; | give in ~
Il amt goin' to shoot, | only want
your ticketH
What ticket?'
Your railroad ticket"
"Ain't got none. We'uns up our way
don't have no railroads nor nothin'."
well, then, pay your money TO me.
Where do you want TO goy'
I'm gwine to Staunton, to my
grandson's, Pete Rawlins. Know
him?n
NO"
Know any of his folks down in
StauntonT
Just then the whistle blew and the
old man jumped up and tried to get
past the conductor, who held him
down by main strength. The white
hair OF the old man cracker fairly
stood on end, and il was several min
utes before he calmed down enough
to count his change.
At the next station, when the train
stopped, he gathered up his belong
ings and made for the door. but he
was stopped before he could get of.
This attempt he made at every sta
ton, and finally the conductor went
to him, saying: Look here, old
man, you jist set still and don't move
till you hear the brakeman holler
Staunton, and then you get of'
Seer
He sat there Il while, and then be-
gan to question the rest OF the pas
sengers as to their acquaintance with
Staunton and its people.
Thinking could derive some en-
tertainment from him, changed my
seat TO the one in front OF his, and,
turning around addressed him with
an amiable and seductive smile.
He looked at me a moment and
soIemnly took his musty leather wal
let from his side pocket and thrust II
deep down into his boot, saying:
Now, then, young man, what you
want to know, chr
This action set the entire car full Of
people roaring with laughter and al
most brought a blush to my cheek,
which sensation had scarcely gone
when the brakeman opened the door
and yelled "Staunton y
We were at the moment crossing a
trestle about fifty feet in height upon
the slanting, heavily wooded side Of a
mountain. We could look down the
hillside over the tree tops and see
silvery stream threading its winding
way through a black and dark swamp.
The settler rose quickly at the sound
OF the brakeInan's voice. picked up his
belongings, and, going TO the plat
form, stepped right of
As we passed we got one glimpse OF
him sailing down. Somebody pulled
the beIl-rope, stopping the train at
once, and relief party was organ
lied. which went down the mountain
until we came TO the spot where he
struck FIRST, tall hemIock. Itlooked
like gigantic Christmas tree.
Pendent from its branches were col
lars, socks, handkerchiefs, chewing
tobacco, chickens, rolls Of butter. fan
cy goods, ham sandwiches boots and
shoes, notions, suspenders, shoe laces,
bandboxes, hardware, samples Of
cloth and gents furnishing goods.
Further down the hillside we found
some patent medicine bottles, the old
umbrella, the butetr crock, and the
plug hat Then we reached the old
man. who was up to his waist in black
mud, busily engaged in washing the
same mud from a whiskey flask which
he had somehow managed TO retain