The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-10-09
A SPLENDID SENSATION.
Story Of a Trunk Mystery and
What Came OF It.
The Owner OF the Ghastly Box Neatly
Nabbed and Compelled to Reveal
Its Contents-ft Was the
Sheriff.. Treat.

number of years ago, when rail
roads were but few in this country,
travelling was n very slow and tedious
undertaking; fifteen or twenty miles
an hour was considered n rapid and by
some people a dangerous speed.
AT an early day in his eventful his
tory, and when he had but commenced
his professional career, the popular
Ethiopian comedian, Eph Horn, was
travelling with band of minstrcls in
the western part of Ohio. In those
days six performers were considered
an adequate number to form n first
class troupe, which nowadays com
prises at least forty
The band being small, their expenses
were very light, which enabled them
to stop at all the small towns and viii
lagos, as well as at the large cities
Their usual mode of travel was by
wagon, and they had very little trouble
in securing from the different farmers
n vehicle large enough to accommodate
the manager. performers, and an ad-
vertising agent, As we'll as trunks,
wardrobe baskets, fiddle-boxes, wash
pals, and numerous other articles, the
inevitable concomitants of travelling
troupe.
Horn and his companions were now
about to make a trip by rail over one
of the three roads which were all that
had been built at this time in the
Buckeye state
When they arrived ut the platform,
whish was elevated about three feet
from the ground by the side of the
track, and used for a depot, a wagon
drnv.. hri = lr nfai nj tha h,r
gage of the company. The men who
had charge of the luggage quickly
hustled il into the baggage car. while
the minstrel boys sprang into the one
appropriated to passengers. and took
possession of the best seats they could
find
The steam whistle now gave forth a
loud and startling sound, and with
jerk which temporarily frightened the
passengers, the train commenced to
move with an ox-like speed over the
fiat rails of the road
Eph could not long remain quiet: fun
was the elixir of life to him, and he
was soon ut his tricks Many wonder
full and soul-stirring stories were told
by him TO his companions, which were
simply intended for the ears of the in
experienced country people, who were
gathered around, gaping and listening
with intense interest to every word that
fell from his lips
The stories were so romantic and ter
rible that the auditors were entirely at
n loss to conjecture what sort of COM
pany they had unexpectedly fallen
among They had not seen any of the in
struments or baggage, and had not the
slightest idea that the garrulous mar
rator of wonderful events was none
ether than the celebrated negro min
strel, Eph Horn
Finally there appeared to be some
thing of a mysterious nature going on
among those who had been listening as
one by one they cast look of glaring
wildness upon Horn and his companion,
and stealthily left the car.
For once the great jester was taken
by surprise
Whats up? What in thunder is the
matter with those gillies?" he asked,
as. with look of wonder and amaze
ment, he gazed around among the de-
serted seats
Il can't say" replied one of his COM
panions- "All 1 know is / saw a man
enter that door with the conductor,
point toward US with his cane, then
whisper something in the others ear.
The conductor SHOOK his head and dis
appeared, and very soon after the
passengers got up and left the car.
casting their eyes over toward our
party, and looking very much fright
ened."
At this point the train came to a sud
den stop, and a moment after, to the
surprise and CONSERVATION of the fest
i've Eph and his jolly comrades, sher-
iff, wearing a rosette upon his hat. and
followed by two of the town consta-
bles, the engineer, the conductor, the
passengers, and all the attaches en-
gagged upon the train, entered the car
in which they were. and with express
sions OF the widest excitement upon
their pale faces, entirely surrounded
the mysterious six"
The sheriff laid hold of Eph's arm,
while the other officers and trainmen
secured the persons of the remainder
Of the band
Leading the way in an excited man
ner. and still holding Horn by the arm,
the all important and officious sheriff,
followed by the motley crowd, soon