Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-05
BATHS FREE OF CHARGE,
Tramps May Get Them on the Railways Il
cidentally to q Ride.

Tramps May Get Them on the Railways In
cidentally to a Ride.
esnID YOU EVER SEE A TRAMP TAKE
La bath?' said the baggage master on the
Congressional Limited" a short distance be-
yond Trenton.
Il never did" replied The STAR reporter
who was smoking on box.
Would you like to witness such a spectacle?''
at might be interesting, should imagine.
But the tramp must be caught first"
1--WE got one now"
"Where?"
SIN trap"
The newspaper man looked around for some
thing like a mouse trap on large scale with a
tramp in it; but there was nothing to be seen
but boxes and trunks.
II don't see him, ~ he said
"He is on this carr declared the baggage
master. AT this very moment lie is riding
outside. 10, you can't see him, because he is
lying across the platform. caught sight OF
him just after we left Trenton. Helooked very
comfortable, and he doesn't know that anybody
is on TO him. But have to keep a sharp look
ont. 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 Phila-
delphia. but he will have nice bath before he
gets there"
How do you meant"
"l'l show YOU presently. You see we are
just behind the tender Of the locomotive. have
given a private signal to the engineer and he
knows what is expected of him. Only about a
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 along
for a 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 spray began flying out of the top of the
great iron tank on the tender the lid of it
tapping 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. In
stead of that, however, he permitted the tank
to overflow in a cataract, which was flung back
ward like a miniature Niagara against the for
ward end OF the baggage car.
Just look at that" cried the baggage master,
delightedly. "Ain't he getting il. though
In truth, the unfortunate tramp must have
been getting it with a vengeance. for the tre-
mendous flood of water spouting from the top
of the tank continued to fling itself against the
face of the baggage car for fully three-quarters
of a minute, which must have been nearly suffi-
Gent 20 drown any human being on the front
platform. So copious was it that the water
flowed in beneath the door and threatened to
inundate the freight.
If that fellow is still alive" said the bag
gage master when the cataract had finally sus-
pended its activity. The has had enough to give
him distaste for water for the rest of his life
There isn't anything that will brighten man
like dose Of that sort. according to our expe-
rience. Coming on him unawares il scares him
most to death. besides half drowning him.
He don't know when ii is going to stop and he
has to choose between standing it and jumping
off the train
But suppose he should jump off and be
killed.
What would it natter" replied the baggage
master philosop hically.
When the train slowed up an hour later near
Philadelphia the newspaper man saw figure
that looked more like a 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 at the expense Of the railway.