Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-20
MERGERS OEFENSE.
He Crossed n Railroad Track In Japan
and Great Was the Commotion.

|
and Great Was the Commotion.
The true story of how Congressman
Mercer of Omaha caught the train at
Tokyo last summer has never been told.
1t Is this;
In the first place. there is a law in Japan
against crossing a railway track. If the
train you want to take is on the other side
Of the platform, you cross viaduct, which
lands you on another platform ncxt to
your train. To cross the track, Ia
American, Is not only unlawful, but sac
rilege, in the eyes of tho Japanese. To
SEQ q man swing himself upon a moving
train stamps him with tendency to par
esis.
Mercer had boon delayed in making
change to pay fare for himself and party
to the next station so miles distant, and
tho ladies had crossed the viaduct and tax :
en- their seats just as tho Nebrnskan
came running out of tho waiting room the
train was pulling out In Japan tho trains
always move faster when they start than
when they are under full Roadway. To
the religious dismay of the crowd Of Japs
on the platform Mercer made dash for It,
right across the intervening track and
landed on the platform Of the departing
train with graceful bound.
In moment panic and psndemonium
were rampant among the crowd of officials
and onlookors, and some say tho imperial
guard of Japan, as we'll rs q regiment OF
sharpshooters, was called out. At all
events tho excitement produced by Mer-
GERS daring feat was as great as II tho
Chinese Ind thrown a company of trail
| leurs into tho flank of the spectators. Mcr-
Ger saw that there was violent signaling
with rod flag from tho engine cab and
answering signals with red flags by the
switchmen ahead. And then tho train
slowly came to O stop. He was vaguely
conscious that oil the confusion and OK
element wero about him, but blissfully
| ignorant of the cause of tho great sensa-
ton he had produced. Hc had never stud
| led tho revised statutes of Japan and tho
municipal laws of the city, and the gravity
Of his offense never occurred to him. AS
soon rs he stepped down on tho ground he
was Immediately encirclod by Gordon of
/ soldiers, police and train officials, all gcs-
ticulating and jibbering in one grand sym
phony Of protestation. 1t looked blue for
| Mercer. His friends say ho told them in
English that he was member of tho
Fifty-fourth congress Of the United States
and his person was sacred. He denies this.
But fortunately ut this critical junoture
an American ebowed his way through
and called out to him
stranger, you'r6 all right. Keep stiff
upper lip"
What tho devil is 1t about?" asked Mer-
Ger.
"You crossed the railroad track, and
that s against the law, said the American.
"Oh, is that the cause of all this excite
mentP" said Mercer. II thought 1 had
committed loze majesty or was suspected
of wanting to hold up the train"
Tho Japs kept crowding around, ard
Mercer began to edge up against coach
to protect his back.
Don't let 'em touch you" shouted the
American. "They have no law for that. "
"Ill lay out the first man that puts n
finger on mo II / get shot for 1t, said
Mercer. "By tho great horn spoon, there
goes the train, and my wlfe's aboard"
That's an old trick of theirs" said the
other, "but you can telegraph her to wait
for you at the noxt station"
Mercer saw the train disappear, and
after u short delay the American brought
in an interpreter, and in five minutes the
difficulty was In course of adjustment.
Tho Japs by this time had recovered their
politeness and were making bows on cv-
cry side to show they were sorry for what
happened, and in q short time the station
agent, or whatever the mans position
was, brought out tea and cake to tho Of
Tended congressman to show that they
harbored no Ill feeling Mercer telcgraphed
his vito at tho next station to wait for
him and took the next train to meet her.
She was there, but the telegram had not
reached ner. However, the operator had
received it. He pulled it out Of his vest
pocket and handed it to the congressman
with n broad grin.
That's all right" said Mercer. "Just
the way we do it in the United States.
You people are rapidly becoming Ameri.
oanizcd Washington Post.