The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-29
RODE WITH A TRAMP.
Alfred Vanderbilt's Experience While
Crossing the Continent.
St. Louis Post Dispatch.

st. Louis Post Dispatch
Young Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt hurried
in q special train from San Francisco to
New York ten days ago, that the will of his
father, the late Cornelius Vanderbilt, might
be read and the world know how the estate
is to be divided. On the way, from kearney
Neb.. to Chicago, he had for his guest
tramp. In fact, the tramp was on the train
all the way, but young Vanderbilt didn't
trucks in q small hammock and got along
nicely until Kearney was reached. There he
was found smoking pipe. The trainmen
saw the smoke, thought 1t was hot box
Young Vanderbilt thought 1t was a great
joke.
tions. The tramp tells it this way:
derbilt.
Sam Marks" said It amt, though, for
my name Is Bill Henderson.
Ms SAM what MS Is your s1,b busres s9o,
Frisco is rather chilly. especially to stran-
gers
Then the young man laughed as he took
quick look at me and again examined my
Who may. you be-" I asked. as closed
in on 1,,i him; May ask why you examine
"Oh. meant no offense,' he said, wav-
ing of the train boys, who began to reach
for for me- "Im Alfred Vanderbilt: I'm a tray
yourself. May ask you why you ride there
when you might be in the carp
L nearly fell dead and them railroaders
looked as though they were against it. Then
got myself together and said: Il reckon
I'd had devil of a time breaking into that
.'Oh. don't know about that" he said
with a funny grin on his face. But we
won't discuss that This is my car and
we nave an extra room or two. Won't you
join us for the rest of your trip? / would
enjoy hearing ear some of your experiences"
/ bra fh1ttI
comfortable here. You see I'm perfectly
safe, and d-n it, mani 1 blurted, I'VE
sides, would not be at all comfortable in
there. will take off my rigging and wish
you good luck
Not at all, Mr.. Marks" said the young
fellow. Conductor, this man is my guest
for the rest of his journey. See that he is
not dis disturbed; l am sorry you will not join
Then he bowed to me, got aboard and
stood there like a fool. The brakeman
came along and told me roughly to tumble
In and not delay the train. dove in un-
der the car and sung out "All right and
off we went. We got to Omaha before
got my right senses back. To tell the truth,
across the big Missouri Then / received a
message by the porter to come in and take
dinner, but my nerves had gone back on
me. / was wondering what next, when l
heard this:
''Mr. Vanderbilt done sent these to you
all. but what fur 1 declare to gracious
don't know"
/ peered out and there stood the porter
with roast fowl some nice biscuit, a pie
which l think was bought at the station
and a big red-topped bottle. / can face a
porter all right, so 1 reached out and got
the things. Then looked the colored man
over carefully and said:
ITO eat and drink, my boy. My compli-
ments to your master and say Mr.. Marks
hopes he will enjoy his dinner and a pleas
ant rest tonight"
Well, 1 wish you could have seen that
darby. 1t was the best thing Of the whole
trip.
Once In while, when we made a stop
the conductor or some brakeman would call
on me and ask after my health. They
wanted TO know IL they hadn't better bring
thought they were joshing, and about 10
o'clock at night / told the conductor would
be grateful for a pillow. / hope I may be
struck dead IL that coon did not bring me
one with the cnm nliments of bis hnss