The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-01-15
A TRAMP'S RIDE OF TERROR.
III Clad and Forlorn lie Stole Place on .
CUwcatoher In Zero Weather.

III Clad and ForlOrn lie Stole Place on .
Cowcatcher In Zero Weather.
A poor half starved tramp stole ride on
the cowcatcher of New York and New
England railroad locomotive at Willimauti
Conn, Christmas night, and he is not
likely soon to forget his trip. As Engineer
Potter of the limited express drove bis long
train into Willimantir ON the west That
evening and halle d J. pIting engine at the
station for few minu,es preparatory TO
beginning the long run TO Boston, a slight
man, sEabblly clad in short, thin Coat
hight trousers, shoes and felt hat, came
timidly across the net work of iron rails TO
his cab and asked if he might ride on the
engine to Boston.
mo" said the engineer, "the rules of the
road expressly forbid it," Then the tramp
wanted 10 get aboard the baggage car, but
Mr.. Potter was not AT liberty TO permit i'll
TO do so He shivertd and went away.
Then the locomotive bell changed, the pass
'enGers (who had aliehted and gone into the
depot restaurant for suprerl h .rriedly got
aboard AID the train moved of, quiCkeniu q
it, speed rapidly Ii was Il sill night. vii h
the mercury almost at zero. and the moon
was very bright. The engineer let his steel
horse 20 at the rate of more than fifty mues
an hour, and, though all the cab windows
were tightly shut. SO cold was the air thar
rushed into The engine that even the engin-
Ger and fireman felt chilly.
A. Putnam was passed The fireman fan
cied he heard an unusual sound above the
roaring of flying wheels aud lie hastily
drew aside one SASH in n cab window. He
glanced along the curved side of The great
boiler aud instantly uttered u cry IT aston.
ishment. He saw the wretChed tramp who
hsd begged for II ride at WilmantiC. cling
ing like II fly To the front of the engine ANA
whose face now turned toward the fireman
was white with hoprless terror. lie was
shok king like n leaf with the trembling of
the locomotive, his clothes ilullering in the
was eident 10 The fireman at his first
glance tina the poor {, How could retain
his grip on the engine only few moments
longer
The cry OF the fireman brought Engineer
Potter also 10 the 81, of the cab in an in :
slant and even as the Two men stared al
the wretch tossing on the cowCatCher, the
latter made a desperate effort to climb
higher upon the plot to the hot engine
front. III dong so he grasped live steam
pipe. The pipe was biSterinA hot, but The
tramp dared not ler go, for he would have
fallen 10 the roadbed or b, on ground under
the great driving wheels. s i'll he uttered
no cry, though the look OF agony In his
face told what he suffered, The
train was still laundering al
fifty miles an hour and the
engineer dare not apply the brakes, for ht
knew the sudden jar and jolt that would re-
suit from that act would fling the wretch
under the wheels. There WAS only one way
in which the man could be saved, and En-
giaeer Potter saw it at once. SO he Wen
out on the locomotive, the fireman follow
ing him, crawled long its side and yelled
to the man to hold up his hand. The en-
gineer then fairly pulled the tramp, with
the aid OF the fireman, into the cab Th,
man fell OH the floor of the Cab, eomplet, "
exhausted. He received kind treatment
during the rest of the ride to Boston, il
which city he was provided with food and
lodging and medical attendance.