The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-05-30
STOPPED THE TRAIN. 81
Fhs Day Accommodation on the
enow Shoe Branch Detained.

m "a
va sAs 49," s
syiVan's hsilroao ran in'' iTono'
"a, several hours !ate tne otner oay'
and Dig rat coon, securely poxea In
the baggage car, was the cause. The
train left Snow Shoe on time. but Just
after passing GAP Station the conductor
suddenly gave a frantic pull at the sig
nal cord and stopped the train.
"There's a big coon on that beech
tree up there" he yelled to the brake
man as he Jumped off and ran up the
bank toward the woods. The ardor Of
the chase sprang up in the breast Of
the brakeman, and few seconds later
he 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 that he could
see was the eolored porter, who was
Just disappearing over the bank.
"Hey, BILL" the engineer cried.
whats the matter? Where's the con-
ductor?"
Got big coon freed up heah," yell
ed the porter" Come up and help
cotch im."
"A coon! Great Scot! Hey, Sam!"
the engineer cried to the fireman,
bring the axe out of the tool box.
They've got q coon freed up here"
With a whoop of delight the fireman
grabbed the axe and Joined the chase.
Meanwhile the passengers were begin
ming to become impatient. A fat
drummer with a Southern accent led
in the profanity in the smoker.
What kind of a road is this heah?"
he asked of the baggagemaster as he
got off to look around. Seems to me
there amt no sort of system among
the employees"
"They have got a big coon freed I'D
there" the baggagemaster replied
doubtfully.
"A coon! You don't mean it?" the
fat man cried in delight. "Wheah are
they? Great Scott. man, l wouldn't
miss 1t for a dollah! Used to catch
coons myself wbeen 7 was a little
shayah down in Kentuck,"
Led by the fat man, the passengers
deserted the train in a body and has
tened IN tho scene Of the attack on the
coon. When the party, fifty strong,
arrived ON the scene the coon appear-
ed to be decidedly master of the situa-
ton. Perched on the extreme end of
a branch. he grinued at, the futile ef-
forts of the conductor to shake him off
his perch,
"Tbat ain,t no sort NJ wav to catch a.
coon " thu lat man said IN the man I'm
+ba traa az soop az no pot bis breath
Crawl ont IN the limb above him and
cut the branch with an axe"
",Tain't no fool iob to crawl I'm a
tree with an axe" remarked the con.
ductor from his elevated perch. "but
nerhans " he added with sarcasm "vou
can do IT."
"Runt him off with n c,ub c,ooos+-
ed a man with an Indiana accent.
"That's the only sure way with a
coon."
"shows what Won know" said a thin
man with a frock coat. "You'ye got tn
,oon 'em. that's what vou'va got IN
do" =.
Tn to this time the baggagemaster
had steadfastly refused to participate
in the chase hit the termination finally
became too much After watching tho
futile efforts of the conductor for some
, time, he finally abandoned the train
and Joined the hunters
"You're a Lot NJ bloomin, idiots" be
remarked as he came up. Gimme the
axe an III cut the tree down."
"Hi, there! you fool" yelled the con-
ductor, as the first stroke of the axe
sounded. "D'ye want to kill me? Wait
till l get down"
Forgot all about you, jim" said the
baggagemaster with a grin, "A fellow
loses his head when he gets after a
COON"
Hold on, gentlemen" put in the fat
man. "How are you going to catch
him when the tree is cut DOWN."
Nobody had thought of this: so the
bageagemaster let I'D on his attack ON
the tree while a council of war was
held.
II got a scheme, fellows" the fire.
man said finally. LET Ed go ahead and
cut the tree down and the rest of us
will get clubs and stand around to hit
him when he drons. Well make two
circles, one outside the other, and if
he gets through both he'll he a. good
thing"
The f,reman,s suggestion was admit
ed There was some scurrv,ng for
climbs and meanwhile nd resnmod hi.
attack on the tree Rv tho tine tho
beech was swavine from tho assan1t ~
tho ovo Tho double oordnr I'D 49,,
formed and excitement was Of b;gh
mitch with a resound,no crash VI.
tree finally fol, IN tho oartb ond +bon
shouts oatbs wa;,e of diotross md
eAoese' oNshsj "etiio VI oioIioooy anu