Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-31
A TRAMP'S RIDE OF TERROR.
In-Clad and FOrlorn, lie Stole Place on
Cowcstcher in Zero Weather.

A poor. half-starved tramp stole a ride
on the cowcatcher of New York and New
England railroad locomotive at Will
mantle, Conn, Christmas night, and
he is not likely soon TO forget his
trip. As Engineer Potter of the limited eX-
press drove his long long tram INTO Will,
mantle from the West that evening and
halted his painting engine at the station for
q few minutes preparatory 10 beginning
the long run to Boston slight man,
shabbily clad IN a short, thin coat, light
trOusers. shoes, and felt nat, came tlmldly
across the network of iron rails to his cab
and asked If he might ride on the engine
TO Boston.
NO" said the engineer, the rules of
the road expressly forbid It," Then the
tramp wanted 10 get aboard the baggage
ear, but Mr.. Potter was not at liberty 10
hermit him to do so. He shivered and
went away. Then the locomotlye,bell
changed. the passengers (who had alighted
and gone into depot restaurant tor
supper hurriedly got aboard and the
train moved off, Quickening It's speed rap
idly. Il was a still night, with the mercu-
~ almost at zero, and the moon was very
bright. The engineer let hls steel morse 20
at the rate Of more than nifty miles an hour
and. though all the cab windows were
tightly shut, so cold was the air that rushed
into the engine that even the engineer anu
fireman felt chilly.
As Putnam was passed the fireman
fancied he heard an unusual sound above
the roaring Of flying wheels and he hastily
drew aside one sash IN q window lie
Glanced along the curved side of the great
boiler and instantly uttered a cry OF as
torishmcnt. He saw the wretched tramp,
who had begged tor ride OF Whitman
tic clinging like q fly TO the front OF
the engine and whose face now turned
toward the fireman was white with nope
less terror. lie was shaking like leaf with
the trembling OF the locomotive, his
clothes futtering in the hurrcane-llke
rush of the engine, and it was evident TO
the fireman, at his first glance, that the
poor fellow could retain his grip on the
engine only few moments longer.
Tho cries Of the fireman brought Engi-
peer Potter also to the side OF the Gao IN
an instant, and even as the two men stared
al the wretch tossing on the cowcatcher
the latter made desperate effort TO CLIMB
higher upon the pilot TO the hot engine
front. In doing 90 he grasped a live steam
nine The pipe was blistering hot, but the
tramp dared not let go, for he would have
fallen 10 the roadbed or been ground I'M
dcr tbe Great driying-wheels. Still he ut
tered no cry, though the look of agony IN
his face told what he suffered. The tram
was still laundering on at hfty miles an
hour and the engineer dare not apply the
brakes, for be knew the sudden jar and
iolt that would result from that act would
ding the wretch under the wheels. There
was ONLY one way IN which the man could
De saved and Engineer Potter saw 1t at
once SO he went out on the TOGO,
motive. The fireman following him. crswled
along liz side. and yelled 10 the man TO
hold mn his hand. The engineer then fair
lv nailed the tramp, with the aid Of the
brennan, into the cab. The man fell on
the floor Of the cab completely exhausted;
He received kind treatment during the rest
OF the ride TO Boston, in which. city ne
was provided with food and lodging and
medical attendance.