Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-11
MRS. BOAM'S TRIP.
An Old English Lady's Re-
markable Story.
Alone in an Emigrant Car with
Drunken Miners.
Threatened with Red-Hot. Poker
and Razor.
She Tells of Terrible Struggle at
Truckee-she Appeals Vainly for
Help to a aBrakeman-Her
Statement.

Mrs. Ann Boam, mother-in-law of
Thomas J. Rask, the well-known civil
engineer, arrived at the home of her
daughter, 21S South Hayes street. East
Los Angeles, few days ago, and has a
most remarkable tale to tell of her ex-
perience while on her way here. Mrs.
Boam is woman over go years of age,
partially deaf and came to Los Angeles
from Manchester, England, having
never before left the vicinity of that
city. Mr.. Rask had made arrange
ments for her transportation across the
continent by preparing here through
ticket over the route selected, but the
New York agent, however. seither made
tnistake or made change intention
ally, sending the old lady over the New
York Central and the Union and Cen
tral Pacific roads. Mrs. Boam travelled
in tourist sleeping car, and though she
suffered considerably on the cold davs
in the Rockies and the Sierras, got
along well enough until this slope was
reached.
She was almost alone in car until
reaching Truckee, where gang
of rough miners came on board
with several women. The men were all
Palf-drunk when they boarded the
train, and deteriorated in their condi-
ton as the journey proceeded. The in
nocent old Englishwoman seemed to
them fit object for their attack, and
they began series of insinuating con-
versations with her as subject. The
talk grew more and more personal and
indecent, and eventually couple Of the
ruffians began making mock-love to Mrs.
Boam. The latter strenuously objected
to such treatment, and the rowdies at
once adopted another form Of annoy
ance. They said no woman had ever
baked their designs, and while one of
them heated poker to red heat in the
stove, and another started to whet a
razor on a strop tied to Mrs. Boam s
berth, the rest made bloodthirsty re-
marks about the manner in which they
would punish her for not yielding to
their advances.
Eventually the poor old lady, who was
convinced that her life was really in
danger, made her escape from the car
and got into another one. She appealed
to brakeman for protection, but he de-
clared that probably the men were "only
fooling." In the meantime the train
had reached Sacramento, and Mrs.
Boam was now 80 frightened and nerv-
GUS that she picked up her luggage and
started to leave the train. She was so
excited that she missed her footing on
the step and fell to the platform, bruis.
ing herself badly. She applied to the
station officers for help, and they tried
to quiet her and cause her to return to
the train. She refused to 60 back to
where she was sure she would be killed,
and one of the depot-masters took her
to hotel, where she remained over
night. This was on December 30th.
The next day she boarded the over
land, only to find out that the limit oil
her ticket had expired. She had to pay
train rates from Sacramento to this city,
and on account Of the shock she had
experienced. arrived here in anything
but a normal condition. Mr.. Rask has
already instituted proceedings to recover
damages from the road, as well as to
have those employees punished who re-
fused to protect the old lady.