The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-27
Surprising a Tramp.

''Did you ever see q tramp take 9 bsth9' said
the baggagemaster on the Congressional Lin
tied" short distance beyond Trenton, to q
Washington Star man.
Il never did," replied a reporter. who was
smoking on q box.
,'WOuli you like to witness such spectacle'"
1t might be interesting, l should imagine
But the tramp must be caught first"
I've got one now"
where
"In a trap"
The newspaper man looked around for some.
thing like mouse trap on a large scale with q
tramp in IL; but there was nothing TO be seen
but boxes and trunks.
Il don't see him." he said.
He is on the car" declared the baggage
master. AT this very moment he is riding
out side No. you can't see him, because he ia
lying across the platform. / caught sight of
comfortable and he doesn't know that anybody
is on to him. But have to keep q sharp look
out, for the reason that l frequently carry
money and other valuables"
why don't you put him off :"
Because We don't stop until We get to Phils-
delphia, but he will have nice bath before he
gets there"
How do YOU mean ~
I'm show you presently. You see. we are
Just behind the tender of the locomotive l
have given private signal to the engineer and
ne knows what Is expected of him Only about
mile ahead now there is a water trough. where
the locomotive takes up water while going at
full speed. 1t is a sort of ditch that runs for
considerable distance between the rails filed
with water The locomotive takes up the water
with a kind OF scoop. Just watch -
moment later the water trough was struck
and the spray began flying out of the top Of
the great iron tank on the tender. the lid OF it
mapping up and down while the reservoir filed
itself from below. This did not occupy more
than half q minute, at the end OF which the en-
gineer should have pulled up the scoop.
Instead of that. however, he permitted the
tank to overflow in a cataract, which was flung
backward like miniature Niagara against
the forward end of the baggage car.
Just look at that, cried the beggagemaster.
deliRhtediy. Amt he getting it, thought"
In truth the unfortunate tramp must have
been getting it with vengeance for the ire
mendous food Of water spouting from the top
of the tank continued to fling itself against the
race OF the baggage car for fully tire quarters
OF minute, which must have been sufficient to
drown any human being on the front platform.
SO copious was it that the water flowed 10 be-
meath the door and threatened to inundate the
freight
IF the fellow is still alive" said the baggage
master when the cataract had finally suspended
its activity, he has had enough to give him a
distaste for water for the rest of his life There
isn't anything that will brighten them like
dose of that sort, according to our experience.
Coming on him unawares it scares him
most to death, besides half drowning him. He
don't know when it is going to stop, and he has
to choose between standing it and jumping off
the train
But suppose he should jump of and be
killedf"
"What would 1t matter?" replied the baggage
master, philosophicaly.
When the tran slowed up an hour later near
Philadelphia the newspaper man saw a figure
that looked more like q drowned rat than
like a human being crawl off the front platform
OF the baggage car and steal sorrowfully away
1t was the tramp who had had a bath as well
as ride &C the expense of the railway.