The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-29
ACROSS COUNTRY IN A BOX.
Scheme of a Man and His Wife
to Beat the Railroads.
BILLED TO A PIANO COMPANY.
Freight agent Alien. of the Northern
Nearly PnraIyxes Him With Aston
ishmeat-wr. and Mrs Tyler Orig
fnutor. OF a plan That an Accident
EaIsed--Not at All Disconnected.


a pretty little woman and rough-look-
ing man we're found in an upright piano
box yesterday afternoon az the Northern
Pacific freight depot. They were stow
Always. and Intended riding 10 Boston at
the expense OF The railroads. According
10 the marriage certificate held by the
man ;heir names are Mr.. and Mrs. A F.
Tyler Mrs. Tyler says that this unfor-
tunate Incident viii not prevent them
from reaching Boston
wednesday afternoon at SIS o'clock an
expressmaa drove up TO the Northern Pa
cihe freight depot and unloaded an ordin-
airy wooden box such as Is used In the
shipping OF upright pianos. II was ad-
dressed as follows: ''Ivers Pond Piano
Company. Boston. Mass" The train by
which ii was desired to ship the box left
at 10 o'clock D. m. but il Is rule that
goods must be delivered before O'Clock
IN order 10 have them billed and loaded.
The expressman was informed that the
freight could not go until Thursday even
ing. Under these circumstances the mat
ter OF adjusting the freight receipt was
allowed 10 go over until yesterday morn
ing The box was placed in the freight
room and left until wanted for shipment.
Yesterday morning the expressman ar
rived at the depot and had the box billed
to the Ivers Pond Piano Company.
The receipt'read as follows. One piano,
boxed. shipped by L. Clark"
The Discovery.
At o'clock yesterday afternoon the box
4 r.ia rrlIn n -
rolled into a ear. To the surprise Of Check
Clerk Meckstroth. water commenced trick
ling out from the bottom or the box.
Meckstroth looked at the innocent box in
amazement. a few men gathered around
and looked very wise. Meckstroth went 10
Freight Agent Allen and told him that
there was a mystery out in the freight
shed
What Is it, said MT Alien. immediate
~ becoming interested.
Did you ever hear Of a piano leaking ?"
replied Mr. Meckstroth-
Mr. Allen scratched his head in a
thoughtful manner. and after reviewing
the different tricks played upon transpor-
tation companies, and other strange piano
phenomena he had encountered during his
life replied that IL was new one on him.
II should like TO see it," said Mr. Allen as
he arose from his chair and accompanied
Mr.. Meckstroth out into the shed, where
the box stood. There was no possible way
Of escaping the conviction that the box
was leaking. The testimony OF Mr. Allen
was gladly received by those who had seen
the beginning OF the case. because it re-
lieved them OF any doubt as 10 the faith
ful working OF their own faculties.
II am going 10 see what is in the box"
said Mr.. Allen. Then a hammer was
brought and the top boards removed. Sun
there was nothing TO arouse suspicion OF
n hf.fr7
ter Of ceremonies. took a peep into the
box. He discovered that canvas cloth OBJ
stracted his view of the Interior. He lifted
Up the cloth when. TO his amazement, a
sweet voice from directly below him SAID:
Hello
M. Allen did not know what had struck
him. He could hardly believe his senses.
and when he looked down into the box
and discovered that the salutation came
from the lips or little woman. clad only
in her night gown. he felt like calling for
help. Sgil somewhat shaky from The
first shock Mr., Allen mustered up cour-
age and looked into the other corner.
Then indeed. ne felt Ike calling for a
doctor lie passed hts hand over his
eyes He looked around % be certain
that he was not in dreamland. Every
thing treasured him, and once more he
Eazed down into the box that was more
wonderful than anything Hermann ever
Thought o. There was man. raj
man, clad IN abbreviated costume sitting
coateutsdIy .u The other end Ok tire aoA.
chewing the cud Of reflection.
Thefr Food supply.
Between the man and woman was pile
Of food consisting Of box Of apples hig
bag OF crackers. a sack Of ngs several
Ioayes % bread and a pile OF onions
Near che food was a big can o. water with
a wooden plug In g 20 keen = from leak
ing Carefully folded NJ were pair OF
blankets and a few articles Of wearing
apparel
HAVING carefully taken a mental photo
graph ~ the sight NJ. Alien. according
20 reports said 70 himself wei I'll be
-" To the scantily-clad occupants %
tte box he remarked g. 3 very cold bust
ness-l.ke tone. Come out 0f there"
'You VIII give ire time % dress won't
yau7'' said the little woman with few
clothes and tire sweet voice.
Now MI Allen IS always gallant 70 The
ladies and what could ne DO under the
Circumstance hut grant time. TIE man
c1lThcd oar 90 the box. gave himself a
shake and attempted 20 straishsen out .he
kinks IN hgs WI skers- He was a young
fellow. apparently about "a years OH
and from his makeup one would be n
clued 20 think hiw capable 90 taking care
- himself anywhere. His clothes we're
of tae cemmonest material and gave svi-
dsn-fS af rough usage RE was rot en-
harrass@d ia the least by the pred. ,a ~nant
in Nhlrh he found himself ard took things
EASY while his vie was clothing herself.
F'Te.sht Agent Ancr with an eve % bust
ness. haa tGa warehouse examined so see
g anything bad been appropriated. Rv
fae time II was ascertalaed that every
tHlag was aI rlghs the LITTLE woman vss
osc - ths box ar1 had become an irter.
ss'ed spectator. she WAS ln good hurnar
despite the upsett'aE her plans had ra-
cs.vc3 ard tod NJ Allcn thar fhey wou.c
500 olt - SsattIe xet
Mr Alsn was iaterestes - know so-7e-
tainc a50Gt the rFeple wh7 bad gone II
tha trouble to rlau trta across tas rossn-
trt fa aeN. az rae expense - the trans
27gsa-.-D companies Iil sssk the nsr
ssste a04 questioned him concerning ms
t1teo tt1s- The man sald tazf bis nam.
vas Iy.sr and trsE tae woman was his
49, To grove this De prod cs<s a rnsr-
r2Ee aca,a. Thea ne wf1t on 10 t.H
hcW be- s15 his Wtte cane "a Seattle in
ISL eat.1s t-l--e saf journey across tas
eoa@.-y srom Exeter y ii 3a "a waxan.
sasf recently FOUND themselves az fha f5da