Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1896-02-29
MERGERS oFFENsF.
He Crossed a Railroad Track ia Japan
and Grest-zeas the commotion.

The true story of how Congressman
Mercer, of Omaha, caught the train at
Toxic, Japan, last summer has never
been told. tits this, says the Washing
ton Post.
In the first place there is a law in
Japan against crossing a railway track.
If the train you want is on the other side
of the platform you cross a viaduct
which lands you on another platform
next 70 your train. To cross the track,
la American, is not only unlawful but
sacrilege, in the eyes of the Japanese
TO see man swing himself upon NOV
ing train stamps him with a tendency to
paresis.
Mercer had been Delayed in making
change to pay fare for himself and party
to the next station, fifty miles distant
and the ladies had crossed the viaduct
and taken their seats. Just as the Ne
braskan came running out of the wait.
ing room the train was pulling out. In
Japan the trains always move faster
when they start than when they are
under full Roadway. To the religious
diSmay of the crowd of laps on the
platform Mercer made dash for 1t,
right across the intervening track, and
landed on the platform of the departing
train with a graceful bound.
In moment panic and pandemonium
were rampant among the crowd of off.
cials and onlookers, and SEINE saw the
Imperial Guard of Japan as we'll as
regiment of sharpshooters were called
out. At all events the excitement pro
duced by MERGERS daring feat was as
as if the Chinese had thrown
company of tiraleurs into the flank of
the spectators. Mercer saw that there
was violent signaling with a red flag
from the engine cab, and answering sig
nails with red flags by the switchman
ahead. And then the train slowly came
o stop. He was vaguely conscious
hat all the confusion and excitement
vas about him, but blissfully ignorant
# the cause of the great sensation he
lad produced. He had never studied
he revised statutes of Japan and the
municipal laws of the city, and the gray
ty of his offense never occurred to him
As soon as he stepped down to the
round he was Immediately encircIed BY
Gordon of soldiers, police and train.
hicials, all gesticulating and jibberine ,
one grand symphony of protestation. F.,
looked blue for Mercer. His friends
ay he told them in English that he was
member of the Fifty.third Congress !
the United States and his person was
lcred. He denies this. But fortunately
this critical juncture an American !
bowed his way through, and called out :
} him:
stranger, you're all right. Keep
if upper lip"
"What the devil is it about?" asked =
Greer.
"You crossed the railroad track, and
ats against the law" said the Ameri- =
n. 81
ooh, is that the cause of all this ex. ,,
-emcnt" said Mercer; al thought l :
d committed lese maspeste or was sus. !.
cited of wanting to hold up train
The Japs kept crowding around, and -
srcer began to edge up against coach J:
protect his back. ~
Don't let 'em touch YOU" shouted the =.
nerican; they have no law for that" =
III lay out the first man that puts r E.
ger on me, If I get shot for it," said
rcer' "By the great horn spoon! there
IS the train, and my wife's aboard" =
That's an old trick of theirs" said the ie
er, "but you can telegraph her to y,
it for you at the next station" VI
iercer saw the train disappear, and
,r a short delay the American brought