Evening star., 1896-12-09
SHOOTING FROM THE cow CATCHER
N"iiroad Men Make IL Pleasant for nm
Enthusinstic Gunner.

Gunner.
From the Lewiston Evening Journal
speaking of accommodating officials on
the different railroads. il would seem that
those running on the mixed train of the
Fhiiiips and Rangeley railroad should ne
presented with the blue ribbon" for the
careful attention they pay to its passen
gers, and when one asks for a favor ~ :,
is In the power of trainmen fl viii ha
granted "
Inc other day a party of jolly drummers
were coming up the line and the .n,,.y,
party were well supplied with ammunition
They were mixing a little snort i'm WITH
their business calling. Among the num5,a-
was William l.. Gerrish of Portland Tha
tialhmen were telling about seeing part
rloses nearly every trip ard this rather
enthused the party and started in -,
ing blood in Mr.. Gerrish's veins 10 f,ow
more nercely, and, after il had made se,,
eral tiips through his anatomy the gentle
man was prepared to face almost any Oh
stacle in order TO get even a sbot n, H. al
most numberless birds that inhabited tba
woods on either side of the railroad track
But all this time his mind had been busy
thinking up some scheme whereby he could
ger cnance 10 f1re at one two.
have it" said he to himself and q
moment later his actions were causing a.
much comment among his fellow passep
gers as would flash of lightning from :,
cloudless sky. All the while he was nutfinr
ms thoughts into action. He arose. took
ms suh from the case, inserted a coupie of
cartridges, and started for the door of the
caboose. S
Where going. Gerrish?" asked one
Holng TO shoot a partridge" replied the
drummer sportsman.
They thought he had become suddenly in
sane and was going to jump from the train
But this idea was soon cispelled from tb.;,
minds, Tor moment later all that could he
seen of this erratic sportsman was his
patent feathers dangling from the top of
the freight car. and a moment later he had
entirely disappeared from view His COM
panfons quailed with fear. Had he fallen
from MS lofty seat on the freight car, or
had he seen bird and made a wild plunge
in midair for his much cherished eamcp
They went to the door and peeped out, IA.
had vanished They looked back Moth
ing could be seen but the imaginary form
OF what was but a moment ago one of a
jolly party and a brother in the "Order OF
Satchels and Trunks
But the man. 'Oh, where was he?"
Safe and sound and by the time his
friends had given up the hunt a train hand
came In. and seeing the anxious look upon
the faces of his passengers assured them
that the missing member was safe and
warming his back against the boiler on the
cow catcher. He had gone from the ca
boose, over the cars through the engine
and seated himself in this conspicuous
place watching for the enemy" He had
not long to wait, for right ahead he spied a
Deautl1ul blrd. he put his gun to his
shoulder and blazed away. The bird f,ut-
tered moment, keeled over and was no
more. He signaled to the engineer to stop,
ana as soon possible the train was
brought to a standstill
Running back, he procured his prize and
on being told to hurry up and get aboard
he started at once. But he stubbed his toe
purposely his friends say. and fell in a
shapeless mass upon the roadbed
The train started on. The man arose.
brushed the sand fro.. out of his ewes and
started for the woods to find the dead
birds mate. But II was growing dark and
he was several miles from Rangeiey He
set his wits to work About time for the
night train, he thought No time to lose
He Immediately made torch and signaled
the train. II stopped, he got aboard. and
on his arrival was greeted with hearty
handshake by his many friends. who were
anXiously waiting, at the Oquossoc, the ar
rival of their friend, the cow-ca tcher
hunter