New-York tribune., 1896-01-31
MERCER CROSSED TIE TRACK.
IT'S AGAINST THE JAPANESE LAW. AND so Hn
MISSED THE TRAIN
From The Washington Post.

From The washington fo-l.
Omaha caught the train at Toxic Japan. last
summer has never been told 1t was IKE tns: n,,ns,
In the first pace Their IS a law IN Japan aSains.
crossing a railway track. II ihe train You wan, any
to take Is on the Stner s ss V yo ' on another pat.
form next 10 your train. To cross the tracA; d "a
American Is no, qny uT,@s Tn se man swing himself
upon a moving train stamps him with 'ehue"0s '"
Mercer had been delayed in making change 70
pay fare for himself and party to me mex, ths
vaiucr and taken their seats Just as me
Nebraskan came running out OF the wal;ing.room
always move faster when they start ;han when
they under full headway 70 tie femS,'uus urnsr
made a dash for IT, right across the intervening
track ani an4sd . on the bSuIPi Piaor OF ire departing
In IN moment panic and panden oniun were ram
pant among the crowd Ct S9iS 81 ana apsn as well
as a regiment OF sharpshooters we're caLei oun -.
s' events the EXCITEMENT gne pr0nuIfSa y the Ghnese had
thrown company Of trseqs into ,r the 1qS ySeot Ot
SIGNALLING With a red flag from the engine CAP ana
arls wering signals with red flags by the sw'ehman s
He was vaguely conscious that all The confusion
and excitement was about him. but bisstuliy lsnos
ar5srei an5 Sr Ihe He had never studied the Revised
Statutes OF Japan and the municipal Jaws o. rai
city and the gravity Of his Offence never occurtss req
ground he was Immediately enc!r,ed by GORDON
OF soldiers police ami train otcias an & scI1as. ~ nSo
testation II looked blue for Mercer. HIS frienos
saw he told them in English that he was a mem
ber OF the LIVth Congress OF the tnted STATES
and his person was sacred. lie denies this But
fortunately at this critical juncture an American
elbowed his way through. and called out 20 MN;
stranger you're all right. Keep sun upper
"What the devil is II all about7" asked Mercer.
You crossed the railroad track ana tnars
against the law" said the American .,
''Oh IS that the cause of all this excitement
SAL Mercer: II thought had committed leze-na-
jesty or was suspected Of wanting to hold up the
train" 49,.
The Japs kept crowing around and Mercer began
10 edge ip agans: a coach to protect his back;
Don't IL; em touch You" shouted the American.
they have no law for that
'Ill lay the first man that puts nnger on
me- II / get sho, FOR it," said Mercer by me
great horn spoon. there goes the train. and my
That's an old trick OF theirs" said the other but
you can telegraph her to wait for you AT the next
station" -, ,,. ,,.,
Mercer saw the train disappear and after shor!
delay the American brought in an interpreter ana
I'm live minutes the difficulty was IN course or ad.
,ustment The Japs by this time had recovered
th,lr noi,eness ana were making bows on every
side TO show they were sorry for what happened.
ard in a short time the station agent. or "hseVer
the mans position was. brought ont tea ana cake
10 the offended Congressman TO show that tney
harborad no III feeling. Mercer telegraphei MS
wife nj the next station 10 walt for him and TOOK
the next train TO meet her. She there, but me
telegram had not reached her However the oper.
ator had received IL. He pulled 1t out OF his vest
pocket and handed TX 10 the congressman with u
THAT'S all right" said Mercer: "Just the way We
do IL I'm the United States. You people rapidly
becoming Americanized