Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-15
WHY THE TRAIN WAS LATE.
Thrilling Adventure Quickly Sober
q HiIariOus H0sion Rank COLLECTOR


81 Hilarious Boston Bank Collector.
From the Boston Herald
A young man who started on his vacation
for Nashua. N H., on Friday, had quite a
thrilling experience.
He is a collector for a Boston bank and
left on the j o'clock train to go to the
mountains on fishing trip. Some IF his
friends went to the depot to see him off
AS consequence, one of the brakeman on
the train had to look after him. The Young
man had several bundles with him besides
his fishing tackle and among his effects
were two boxes of seductive Strawberries
Notwithstanding the brakeman's efforts
the young man persisted in telling the
tralnload of passengers all about himself
ana MS proposed trip, and he also offered
strawberry to every pretty girl i'm the
car. He amused himself by walking back
and forth between the coaches
FINALLY, the friendly brakeman got dis
couraged He had his regular train work
to do, and the effort of also looking after
him. "
So he had an earliest conversation with
the eNuberant youth. and told him that IL
ne was not careful he would fall off The
train and all that would be left to take
rome TO his friends would be a grease
spot and piece of cloth stained with straw,
berries.
The young man was affected. and said he
would remain quiet. As conseouen % OF
ms promise, the.brakeman left him alone
Tor lew minutes in one of the seats Of
the coach. He promised to remain tbera
untll the brakeman again appeared He, ana
not do so. He got up after the train passcd
lhroush Wilmington and started 70 go 10
one of the forward cars. He had bis Gsb ~
ing tackle and Strawberries with him The
tram was going at the rate of about forty
iileS an hour. one of the passengers saw
MN hahs 10 the railing inmate and then
disappear. '''ii
The train. was stopped. A searching
party went back nearly half a mile No
trace was found of the mutilated .arn.i,,S
collector of
certain that he fell. There was no Doubt
about that. Finally some one found his
nat There was hole in the mid lie of
the crown. Then another passenger dis
covered the remains of the basket of straw
berries. Eventually, stroller saw tho
watch charm which the proud young man
had eXhlbited 10 the admiring gaze of se,-
eral of the passengers Stiu 1otbfn.r -
seen OF the bank collector ~
lhe friendly brakeman had been sent tn
: 1lle rear OF the train to notify any follow
ing train that there was a DELAY He MS
seen to wildly wave flag and a ,,u.nha,.
OF the passengers who were searching All
ABOUT the place where ii was supposed The
track after him. WI 'ie
III was not known what the brakeman,
was cha' ng, but number kept after him
illehy curve was passed, and before
them the interested passengers saw Tho
young man wildly running down tbe ,ranI-
toward Boston. '' 'Nh
The brakeman ran as fast as he couId
.'h'Ntilts an tile llfne. The bank collector
neard him, and stopped short When Tho
brakeman reached him he said excite.lly.
am trying to catch the train" Tie
brakeman explained that he was eoi;,r, The
wrong way, and that the train was WAITING
for him toward Lowell
The young man was somewhat sot,-r.,7
He mad forgotten about the friends that
came down to the depot to see him on He
laughingly told the brakeman that he had
made quite a jump.
He mad run so great a distance that The
train backed down TO meet him. All the
passengers crowded the platforms to watch
the exercises OF taking a manEled form into
the train. Not unnaturally, there was some
surprise to see the body walk unassistcd
into the car. The bank collector was all
right and, fortunately, he was sohered.
There was not a scratch on him, but his
clothing and face was covered with dirt
He was subdued. but he wanted his fishing
tackle and was unhappy.
AS the train started off, he stood in front
of the seat to which he had been conduct
ed, and calmly way inG his hands, he an
nounced to the assembled passengers:
Ladies and gentlemen, / am all right
l want TO beg the pardon of each and every
one for delaying the train
This is the true story of the lateness of
the l o'clock train. 1t was due i'm Nashua
at 2:10 o'clock. 1t did not get there until
4:15.
The young man was not, however, suffi-
GENTLY intoxicated to give his name and
address to the conductor.