Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-06-06
A NIGHT OF MISERY.
RIDING IN A LOCKED BOX CAR WITH
TWO SCARED MULES.


ton of u Sunday school Picnic.
"WeIl, said the Footprint 20 Slug
Seven as he settled down on his stool
and began to throw in a handful of
type, eff didn't have time of it get
ting down here out of those noun
tains''
Been up in the minesf" inquired
Slug Seven.
yep, replied the Footprint. Gust
came out. Footed it from Angels to
Milton yesterday and rode into Stock
ton on side door sleeper last night. a
side door sleeper continued the Foot
print, sis not the most comfortable
mode of travelling. Personally prefer
to ride on n red cushion, but the heart
less and exorbitant demand of the rail-
road trust for spot cash compelled me
to walk or come as freight l came as
freight.
"Sure," said Slug Seven.
"'The unpleasant feature of the trip,
continued the Footprint, "was the base
betrayal of confidence on the part of
the brakeman with whom 1 negotiated
fer an undisturbed passage. For a cash
liquor he verbally contracted TO waybill
me from Milton TO the division end at
Stockton. We went up street to take
the drink and-well, you know how one
word brings on another. By train time
the 81 l had sunk in my jeans had been
fished to the surface and sent across the
bar for red liquor.
1.-The brakeman was full when he
started fer the yards. So was 1 when L
started after him. The brakeman con-
fided TO me on the way through the
yards that he owned the whole train
and l could ride anywhere and any way
I wanted to. l told him that l was sur
rounding at least Il quart of Milton
whisky and If it was all the same to
him and he had nice. dry, empty box
car l would be shipped as an unbroken
original package. He agreed, and we
went over where the train was stand
ing made up to find that empty. The
brakeman ran door open, gave me
hurried boost in and ran the door shut
and locked it. After a bit l struck Il
match to look about and what do you
suppose that cuss had done?'
''Give it mp said Slug Seven.
"BilIsd me as live stock, by gum!
FactI There l was locked in a box with
two mules, both loose, and all of us
good to keep company to the division
end. What was that Sherman said
about war? Said it was hades, didn
her Well, it amt. It's only an imita
ton. The real, orthodox, rose colored
hades is to spend night in a locked
box car with two mountain ranch mules.
at isn't long run from Milton in.
and 1 concluded, after the train had
bumped along about three miles and
those scared mules had begun to charge
around and kick a rat-a-tat-t at-tat on
the sides of the car, that the only plan
of campaign left to me was a flank
movement and sudden mounting of
one of the animals. 1t wouldn't be a
dream of pleasure on that mules back,
but it would be safer than lodging four
rapid fire hind heels unlimbered for ac
ton. l got on the mule all right, and
after a little bucking he steadied down
tolerably we'll. The animal was evil
IDENTIFY scared to death and seemed to
take comfort in being straddled by q
rider.
"Well, was just chuckling TO my
self over the state of affairs IN the live
stock department of the Espee railway
and figuring that another hour would
see us in the division yards. where my
friend the brakeman would open the
door. when the train stopped, evidently !
at a siding. as l knew we weren't near
a station. We bumped about bit and !
i took double wrap in the mules ears |
then we stood still while some other !
cars were bumped about and then |
ri Iar Of &Ia xxhi sri 10
a rumble that gradually grew fainter. |
side tracked.
1--WE staid there till morning, too, |
and l rode that son of jackass, with a |
backbone like the ridge Of a church !,
roof. up and down and around that car |
every wearESninute of all that weary !
night To Yuit riding meant to go to !
sleep, fall eff and have the liver and /
high lights and half tones trampled |
and kicked out of me by two scared |
mountain mules.
II estimate that 1 rode that mule 1876 !
miles and three furlongs in that car,
and the car travelled II miles before be-
ing side tracked. The remaining three
miles of the 30 between Milton and
stockton made on foot. thus complet
ing journey of 156 miles 3 fur
longs in a straight line between two
given points that are but 30 miles
apart, mathematically impossible feat,
by one jackass with the
lid of two relatives on the male side Of
he house 4"
The Footprint sighed as he paused to
1ite off a chew of tobacco. and Slug
seven took advantage of the opening TO
'emaIk that a man who had travelled so
ar under such circumstances must be ;,
Inter Ocean.
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