The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-02
GUN CURE FOR FRESHNESS.
R4TLROAD MAN'S MEETING WITH THE
ORIGINAL FISHERMAN.
Thought II Fun to Chuck Coal Mt Him
Then the Original Fisherman HID Fun
shooting Mt the Brnkrman--A story with
Moral suggested by u Lads Warfare.

Then the Original Fisherman Had Fun
shooting ut the Brnkeman--A story with
Moral suggested by n Lads Warfare.
1t was midday, and the two railroad men
sat on the dirt bank near n trestc overlook
ing u Jersey City street Th" street was
typical Of the outlying swamp district ofJersey
City. bounded hy pools u dark water and
filled with rubbish and small boys. who hop
ped aud eIuahb!cd like So many sparrows.
Presently one Of the uirhins left the crowd,
picked M basket which he had left by the
roadside. and walked up the road toward the
railroad bridge. As the boy passed below the
younger 1t the two men on tho dirt bank
dropped a clinker with such accuracy that it
struck on the paper covering the boys basket
and burst through it. 'rh" hov looked up and
saw the men laughing.
An. wan" he said rcsentfully wat yer
dom. yer big stiff "
Shut up you mud shrimp. or I'll land the
next one on your head" retortcd th" offender.
In a moment the boy looked lonEingly back
al de gang. as ifmedtating call upon thom
for aid in rctaliatorv measures: but he gay"
this pan IN and pick ing up his basket trudgcd
on snifilngIy. threatening to get hunk" with
his assailant some time.
Guess he amt hurt any" said that young
man to his companion on the bank. Pretty
good shot made. wasn't IT."
Pretty fresh trick" said the older man.
"Oh. you make me tired" exclaimed the
other You ought to start nursery. What's
the diT-oh. ow!"
The interruption was caused by the arrival
Of Il somewhat drcrepit. but large and heavy
potato. which caught the speaker well behind
the ear with great force. Before he recovered
himself the small boy. who had crcpt up the
opposite bank for the assault and taken his
foe in the rear WAS down the street nVni in
running for dear life.
mo use trying TO catch him now" advised
the older man. ns the recipient OF the testi
monial jumped to his feet. e He's too far
away
III | ever do GET him I'll murder him."
growled the other, rubbing large lump where
the missile had landed.
Not II I'm around to prevent. What's the
use of kicking You only got what you de-
served and you got it where once got 1t. right
in the neck. That cured me otthrowing things
at people
What was yours. n rock
NO. When | said | got it in the neck. didn't
mean literally. or | wouldn't be here now.
maybe"
"Sa-a-a-y How'd YOU like dat yer big
stiff - came voice from affair. whore the small
hoy. beyond peril's limit. capered gecsomcly in
the road.
GO on aud spiel your piece" said the
younger of the two railroad men. ruefully rub
hing tn" lump again. I'm in good shape for
the tent now
This thing happened some years back when
| was hrakinE on the h. J.. 4 w." began the
other. 81 was on -. a combination coal and
freight train. and ON our Town trip W" used to
get into Binghamtun along toward the end OF
the afternoon. \ couple Of miles outside II the
city there's long bridge where the road crosses
the Suseuuchanna River. and Just below the
bridge is Il spot where the black bass lie. for
I've seen more than few Of them pulled ont
there. Well. one warm summer afternoon Twas
sitting on the edge OF n coal ear feeling pretty
russed mean about everything. Tor things had
been going against me. and when We came 10
the bridge. going SLOW. Tool ed down aud saw
an old chap in a Hat bOttomrd Sctw. with his line
I'd seen him there lots uf timts before. and. IN
fact. he was there somuch that the fellows used
to call him the Original + fisherman. Just ont Of
freshness picked una chunk ofcoa and tossed
il az him, It landed IN the water near his boat
ywthasrliash thatm fave SPOILED his fishing
other chung that landed in the boat right near
his feet. II thar I'D party didn't russ blue
conld ten Nv the way h. ramr"d around and
shook ms lists ~ the air and waved his arms
ma" ri, i" wa' 1n,hTnmplhmS sm,e for Language
great sport; and grinntd and made faces ut
hun over the, side OF, the car Ike the fresh
was on -; aud when we pulled ont on 10 the
srfGS lnoFEh H. Of the TrS"aI Fsh h
again, This tim" was on freight car. SO !
stretched o,'i 2ndiIookrd oyer The edge. and
under he bridge. began to feel in my peck
cts for something to toss down at him Ny way
Of attracting his notice
stern OF Ms scow piung on tho train, and as
soon as h." saw III" looking down at him h.
mad" quick pass. and the n"Nt knew there
was squirt OF flame and smoke from out OF
revolver hat looked 70 have u mnIZIe like
bullet whistl" past within half an inch OF my
head heat Talk about a quick retreat, ! lid oyer
"tHer SIDE. and after the train Was on N
ground again took Il look back. and there was
the Original Els herman still covering me with
him. | guess. Naturally didn't know how
good shot he was and didn't feel Just
that he'd more than got even with me-. He
didn't seem tothnk so. for next time No. 81
somrthing else. the ancient party gotta couple
OF flying shots az me that sent me TO cover in
sae IT w csu Esff 10 e ay P oW er.e
The cars ana nothing happened. Then ! tried
his iisherIcts with flag o. truce in tn. shape
tive old devil. he was
Alter thar made III, my mind that Id
kind OF 4 shot or lie low | took to lying low
on ~" further side Of coal car where he
comfortaJc and it was little On the III" "raw ,ft
order. hut il krpt me- ont Of danger until one
day AS We were crossing hat bridge slow some
thing Went wrong and got the signal for
brak"s Maybe ] didn't pray that the enemy
was taking dav of from fishing thut after
noon But lie wasn't. As soon as nv head
cam" IN sight he opened fire, and swear
sw"atcd IL" water for III" next few seconds
Skipping around tn" top OF Il freight
train with man below using you for
don't get paid for II he winged me knew
ia roll on into the river below and be bait for
his ii-h But | did my work aud III" train
stopped and the old g"czer filled up his gun
with fresh load Of cartridges and prepared
for some more target practice when il came
time for me to throw of brakes don't ever
expect 70 tackle another lob as unpleasant as
that one wa~ but got il done. and the last
saw Of the Original Fisherman he was waving
his hors" pistol and dancing around like
cricket; Just having the laugh Of his life.
THAT was too good for mo. lay or at Bing-
hnnItOn. sent TO tn" police and got n warrant
for the old hoy. and the next day they got him
in his boat with the revolver in his pocket. |
appeared against him aud told my troubles
Then h" told how Id fired coal at him. The
Judge said that didn. excuse his trying to Kill