The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-09-30
RODE THE TRUCKS.
A Daring Youth Beats His Way from
Chicago to Atlanta.

Clinring to the trucks of FIRE. ght cars. he
grimed with dust and riding IN the lace
of a binding storm of dust and gravel lt-
tie johnny an ex-bellbOy of the Auditorium,
reached Atlanta yesterday and dropped IN
at The Constitution office to report his safe
arrival
From distant Chicago the boy has beaten
his way across the country in ORDER to visit
the exposition. The same feat he accom-
pEshed when the worlds fair was held. and
he rode from the west to the Wtndy city IN
the same manner.
Little Johnny left Chicago September
18th and arrived in Atlanta yesterday. af-
ter being seven days on the way. He tired
to board the blind end of a mail car as the
train was leaving Chicago, but was driven
away by the police. He escaped arrest,
but was so closely followed by the officers
that he was compelled to leave the c.ty On
foot Forty miles out from the city ne
was forced to walk in order to escape de-
lection.
The first outgoing freight that passed
ne caught hold of the trucks and began ms
long and uncomfortable ride to the soUth.
At nearly every station he was detected
and forced to run from the train while
regular fus;llade of coal and pieces OF bal
last were thrown at him. Every tram mat
passed he would board and possibly be put
off at the first station reached. sometimes
he would ride on top Of the cars lheh ~
meath, hanging just above the ponderoas
wheels and his feet almost dragging on the
slippery rails. At times ne would roe III
between the ears and then again perched IN
the corner of green liner he would spehd
the night while the old car rocked ana
reeled on sts southern journey. hanging
TO the trucks Of a freight car ne reached
the city yesterday. lie was covered WIN
axle grease and dust and looked a Ferllabie
chimney sweep when he slipped out from
the car and for the first time IN ms lie
stepped upon southern soil
II left Chicago just one week ago sara
Uttle Johnny. land the whole TRIP mas
been made on the bumpers. On the trucks
or in the freight ears. have been llrcd OIL
many times and sometimes thrown of Whie
the ears were in motion. ! beat my way IN
| the same manner to the worlds Ia-r' anu
have been bell boy at the Auditorium
since the fair was over. When heafa
| about the Atlanta exposition | determined
| to come to the city and see the sights OF
the show j tried to catch train right N
the city but the police got so close AFTER
| me that | had to leave town on foot. Every
train that came along l tried 10 boiFrd' ou1
| the men were watching me and had
| hard time of It. After / once got on the
trucks l was all right untl the train stop
| ned. for while it was in motion of course
| no one bothered me- But when the Tran
would stop / would have TO run for my llte'
| for they would throw coal and rocks at me
| like they wanted to XII me.
| After l got on the southern ROADS L
! found no trouble in riding. bat the north
| ern trains are hard to ride on for the crew
! watches a fellow close and he is in danger
! of being mobbed before he can get away
I'm going to stay IN Atlanta unti the
/ show is over and probably longer 1T 1
/ want to return / VIII climb up on the trucks
| and ride back as | came. 1t is great sport
| to ride the trucks. and kinder Ike IT.
-. 'J.--rel5 s..,,- has sJIsnolv seen mucA OF
| straightforward manner. He VIII probably
| get position of some kind in the city and
VIII work during his stay here.