Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-06-21
A NIGHT OF MISERY.
RIDING IN A LOCKED BOX CAR WITH
TWO SCARED MULES.

An Experience which, According to
the Victim, Made sAerman's DeAni-
ton Of War Seem Like the DescriD-
ton Of a Sunday School Picnic.
"Well" said the Footprint TO Sing
Seven as be settled down on bis stool
and began to throw In 4 handful Of
type, ~ l didn't have a time Of 1t get-
ting down here out Of those noun
tains."
"Been up IN the minesr' inquired
Slug Seven.
yep" replied the Footprint. "Just
came out. Footed II from Angels 70
Milton yesterday and rode into Stock
ton on a side door sleeper last night A
eide door sleeper" continued tho Foot
print, ''is not the most comfortable
mode Of travelling. Personally I prefer
to ride on a red cushion, but the heart
less and exorbitant demand Of the rail-
road trust for spot cash compelled me
to walk or come az freight. I came as
freight"
"Sure, said Slug Seven.
1.-THE unpleasant feature Of the trip"
continued the Footprint. Twas the base
betrayal Of confidence on the part Of
the brakeman with whom I negotiated
for an undisturbed passage. For a cash
consideration Of six bits and q drink OF
liquor he verbally contracted to waybin
me from Milton to the division end at
Stockton. We went up street TO take
the drink and-well, you know how n
word brings on another. BY train time
the 81 I had sunk In my jeans had been
fshed to the surface and sent across the
bar for red liquor.
1.-THE brakeman was full when he
started for the yards. So was ] when I
started after him. The brakeman con-
fded to me on the way through the
yards that he owned the whole train
and / could ride anywhere and any way
l wanted to. l told him that l was sur.
rounding at least a quart Of Milton
whisky and IL 1t was all the same to
him and he had a nice, dry, empty box
car l would be shipped as an unbroken
original package. He agreed, and we
went over where tho train was stand
ing made up to find that empty. The
brakeman ran a door open. gave me a
hurried boost tn and ran the door shut
and locked It. After a bit I struck a
match to look about and what do you
suppose that uss had donef'
"Give 1t up," said Slug Seven.
"Billed me az live stock, by gum
Factl There I 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 1t wat hades. didn't
he, Well, II amt. It's only an imita.
ton. The real, orthodox, ose colored
hades is to spend a night in a locked
box CIR with two mountain ranch mules.
"It isn't a long run from Milton In,
and I concluded, after the train had
bumped along about three miles an6
those scared mules had begun to charge
around and kick a rat-a-tat-tat-tat OF
the sides of the car, that the only plar
of campaign left to me was a fanl
movement and a sudden mounting o.
one Of the animals. It wouldn't be
dream Of pleasure on that mules back
but 1t would be safer than lodging foul
rapid fire hind heels unlimbered for &C
ton. l got on the mule all right. ant
after a little bucking he steadied dow
tolerably we'll. The animal was EVIL
IDENTIFY scared to death and seemed t
take comfort In being straddled by
rider.
"Well l was Just c%huckling to my
self over the state Of affairs In the Nv'
stock department Of the Espee 1ailwa!
and figuring that another hour woult
see us in the division yards, where m.
friend the brakeman would open tn
door, when the train stopped, evidentl,
at q siding. as I knew VI weren't nea
q station. We bumped about a bit an
l took a double wrap In the mules ears
then we stood still while some othe
cars were bumped about and then
heard two short toota Of the whistle an
a rumble that gradually grew fainte,
The train had pulled out and we wei
side tracked.
1--WE staid there till morning. toe
and rode that son Of a jackass. with
backbone like the ridge Of a churc
roof. up and down and around that ca
every weary minute Of all that wear
night. To quit riding meant to go
sleep, fall off and have the liver an
high lights and half tones trample
and kicked out Of me by two scare
mountain mules.
II estimate that Irode that mule ID
miles and three furlongs In that cal
and the car travelled II miles before b
ing side tracked. The remaining thre
!, miles Of the 20 between Milton an
, Stockton l made on foot, thus comple'
ing a journey of 1853 miles 3 ful
longs in a straight line between tw
given points that are but 20 mile
apart, q fundamentally impossible fea'
= accomplished by n jackass with tn
aid Of two relatives on the male side {
{ the house."
The Footprint sighed as be paused I
bite off a chew Of tobacco, and Blu
t Seven took advantage Of the opening I
remark that u man who had Travelled {
l far under such circumstances nus
!, dry.-Chicago Inter Ocean.