Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17
SPEED CREATED ADHESIVE FORCE
Train Made Such Headway That the
Wind Held Hobo Against Car.
(ChlcagO RecOrd)


Mr. Griflitts OF the Burlington, has a
little piece OF recent history. which he
relates with considerable feeling. The
burlington reinstated the swift Worlds
Fair flyer. No. ], few days ago.
after long discontinuance, and the
question of the speed she would be able
to maintain was uppermost I'm the minds
OF the railroad people. by the scneouic
No. 1 had to be fleet Of motion, leaving
Chicago at 10 O'Clock In the mornlns,
reaching Omaha at ii 20 that night anu
running into Denver ut 1870 the afternoon
OF the next day.
A man who was aware Of the keen In
terest Mr.. Grifiltts had taken In the mi
tal trip met the railroad parsonage n
few DAYS after the resumption. We'll,
he said I'm greeting, did she go fastf
Keep up TO her card timer
Keep up?" witherngly. II should say
So Why, she-say. what's the use OF
mentioning figures? Comparisons ara
what count. Circumstances, you KNOW.
Incidents Those give you the best IDEA.
I'll Just mention one thing that happenel
i'm connection with the run. You KNOW
there's a stretch OF about twenty miles
from Plattsmouth into Omaha after We
cross the bridge into Nebraska2 Well
and understand this Is an ofi1cial report
from the yardmaster at Omana-thefe
was a tramp waiting at the end OF the
bridge on the Nebraska side. hoping 10
ride from there into Omaha Oh the piat
form of the baggage-car. But he made
"A miscalculation. There are no plat
forms on those baggage-cars. Iney come
out flush like a box-car. In the darkness
the tramp didn't notice this. lie swung
on board the tank OF the locomotive,
worked his way over the coal 10 the rear,
and Jumped down. expecting 10 hsht III
the platform which wasn't there. ie
had taken him a few minutes cautiously
10 reach the edge OF the tank. and by the
time he had got TO the jumplng-on place
the train was going at It's regular gait
or shade faster. 49,,
the first run OF the train, and desiring 10
make a graceful finish and good record,
had pulled her out just a ht.le' ons soe
TO going and going good. she was dolns
her incest and gracefulest when the tramp
Now. what do you think happenedy
That the hobo was mixed up for five miles
along the roadbed2 No, sir. Not OH.
Wasn't hurt at all. You've seen an anna
teur magician put a dollar coin on tne
fiat palm of his hand, and move the open
hand so swiftly through the ar tnas ~
coin didn't drop off. haven't you, and tno
magician pretended that Il wasn't tnero
inst because Il didn't drop? Wen, SIT, tnal
ywas what happened to that tramp. He
was Ike the coin again the fiat pam.
lie rested against the blank front emo
OF that baggage-car like NY on VIII
dow pane. There wasn't anything Deiow
for him 10 hang 10. lie was just neiu
there. as / say, by that force when came
from the fast forward motion OF the tram.
BELOW him there was space ana ear
wheels. 1t was a pretty ticklish position
I want 10 tell you. No wonder the fel-
low roarded and shouted, and said az
MANY NOUS things as he knew how, ana
said them very loud. OF course he un-
derstood that when the train began 20
slow up for the Omaha yard that iorce
would diminish, and he would drop down
and be macerated -. 80
well. he was a lucky tramp, JUST ~
they were. passing Bellevue, Tout nniss
ont OF Omaha, the fireman heard MIN ana
hurried back and saw him. lie was
ouick- witted fireman, and yelled 10 tne
engineer not TO shut of just yet, ana
reaching one of his long pokers over, ne
caught A into the clothes OF the hofo
and tried 10 pull him of and into the safe
tv OF the tank. But he couldn't bulge
him. Then ne got TO reasoning, ana ne
saw they'd have to shut on and ease
down before the adhesive force or the
eDeed would let the man be pried on.
The engineer slapped on the air and threw
her over. and after two miles or easin4l
they got her 10 O pace that admit'co OF
loosening the fellow.
at was very interesting. We nave
full report OF II in the Office. written py
the head OF the mechanical department.
AZ Omaha. He explains it technlcany.
or course, 1 can only give you the oaid
facts"