The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-06-24
STOPPED THE TRAIN.

The Day Accommodation on the
Snow shoe Branch Detained.
The day accommodation south bound
on the Snow Shoe branch OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad ran into Tyrone,
Pa, 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
suddenly gave 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 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 colored 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 i'm"
"a coon! Great Scot! Hey, SAM"
the engineer cried to the fireman,
bring the axe out of the tool box.
They've got coon freed up here"
With 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 Southern accent led
in the profanity in the smoker.
What kind of 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 big coon freed up
there" the baggagemaster replied
doubtfully.
"a coon! You don't mean it," the
fat man cried in delight. "Wheah are
they? Great Scott, man, wouldn't
miss it for dollah! Used to catch
coons myself wheen was little
shavah down in Kentuck."
Led by the fat man, the passengers
deserted the train in body and has
tened to the scene Of the attack on the
| hn NV 81 q
arrived on the scene the coon appear
ed to be decidedly master of the situa-
ton. Perched on the extreme end Of
branch, he grinned at the futile eff
forts Of the conductor to shake him of
his perch.
THAT amt no sort of way to catch q
COON" the fat man said to the man uI
the tree as soon as he got his breath
Crawl out on the limb above him ani
cut the branch with an axe"
"'Tain't no fool job to crawl up 8
tree with an axe" remarked the con.
ductor from his elevated perch, "bu
perhaps" he added with sarcasm, "yor
can do it."
Blunt him of with a club" suggest
ed a man with an Indiana accent
That's the only sure way with {
COON"
Shows what you know" said thir
man with a frock coat You've got t.
loop EN-; that's what you've got tt
do"
Up to this time the baggagemastel
had steadfastly refused to participat,
in the chase, but the temptation f1nall!
became too much. After watching tn
futile efforts of the conductor for SOM
time he finally abandoned the trail
and joined the hunters.
You're lot of bloomin' idiots" h
! remarked as he came up Gimme tn
axe an I'll cut the tree down"
Hi, there! you fool" yelled the con
ductor, as the first stroke of the ak
sounded. Dye want to kill me? Wal
till / get down"
Forgot all about you, Jim," said tn
baggagemaster with grin. "A fellow