The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-18
COON HUNT STOPPED THE TRAIN.
Incident That Detained the Day Ac-
cOmmodntion on the SNOW Shoe
Branch.


Altoona, Pa, April 16.--The day accom-
mediation south bound on the Snow Shoe
branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad ran
into Tyrone several hours late the other
day and big fat coon. securely boxed in
the baggage car, was the cause The train
left Snow Shoe on time, but just after
passing Gap station the conductor sud
denly gave a frantic pull at the signal cord
and stopped the train
There's a big coon ON that beech tree
up there" he yelled to the brakeman as
he jumped off and ran up the bank to-
ward the woods. The ardor Of the chase
sprang up in the breat of the brakeman,
and few seconds later lie was following
the conductor. The engineer waited a
reasonable length of time for a signal to
start, and, failing to get it. walked back
along the train to see what was wrong
The only member OF the train crew he
could see was the colored porter who was
Just disappearing over the bank.
"Eey, Billl' the engineer cried. Whats
the matter? Where's the CONDUCTOR"
Got a big coon freed up heah," yelled
the porter Come up an help coteh i'm. -
"A coonl Great Scott Hey, Samw the
engineer cried 10 the fireman. bring the
ak out Of the tool box. They've got a coon
freed up here"
With a whoop of delight the fireman
grabbed the AK and joined the chase
Meanwhile the passengers were beginning
10 become impatient. A fat drummer
with a Southern accent led In the profan-
ity in the smoker.
What kind OF road Is this heah?' he
asked of the baggagemaster as he got off
10 look around. Seems to me there Amt
no sort Of system among the employees"
They have got big coon freed up
there" the baggagemaster replied, doubt
fully.
"A coon! You don't mean it?" the fat
man cried in delight. "Wheah are they?
Great Scott. man, wouldn't miss il for a
dollahl Used TO catch coons myself wheen
4 was q little shavah down In Kentuck"
Led by the fat man, the passengers de-
serted the train In a body and FASTENED to
the scene of the attack on the coon. When
the party, fifty strong arrived on the
scene the coon appeared 10 be decidedly
master of the situation. Perched on the ex-
trome end of a branch he grnned at the
futile efforts of the conductor to shake
him off his perch.
That amt no sort. of way to catch a
COON" the fat man said to the man up the
tree as soon as he got his breath. Crawl
OUT on the limb above him and cut the
branch with an axe"
"'Tain't no fool Job to crawl up tree
with an axe" remarked the conductor
from his slevated perch. but perhaps" he
added with Sarcasm. you can do IT,"
Blunt him off with club" suggested a
man with, an Indiana accent. That's the
only sure way with COON"
Shows what you know said a thin
man with a frock coat You've got to
loop EN-; that's what you've got TO do ="
Up to this time. the baggagemaster had
steadfastly refused to participate in the
chase, but the temptation finally became
too much. After watching the futile ef-
forts OF the conductor for some time, he
finally abandoned the train and joined the
hunters.
you're lot of bloomin' idiots" he re-
marked as he came up Gimme the ak
and III cut the tree down"
"Hi, therel you foolr' yelled the conduc-
tor, as the first stroke Of the ak sounded.