The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-29
HIGH ROLLER PIANO.
It Did Surprising Stunts on Board
Car Bearing Minnesotans
-.>.. to Ann Arbor.
Played Football With Several Derbys
- and Added Generally to
Trips Gaiety. *'s 49,

An acrobatic piano furnished plenty OF
excitement and no little amusement for
passengers on the private car. Mime
waska, which brought up the rear end OF
one Of the fast special trains to Ann
Arbor. The piano, which was supposed
to be city bred and gentle" and was ex-
pected to remain quietly in its corner
when. there was no demand for music,
became restless in transit and broke away
from Its mornings c. s. Bra ckett, who
was instrumental in taking the piano
along, hadn't thought to remove it's roll
ers, so that it would be sure to keep its
place. AS result he is now convinced
of the total depravity Of inanimate OBJ
jects.
The car is lighter than those usually
placed at the end of a train. and when
the train began to hit the high spots at
an ever increasing rate of speed, every.
thing on board that was not nailed down
the things not spiked down was the
piano. Having wheels. it had a decided
advantage over everything and everyone
on board 1t got a start when the train
struck the down grade beyond St. Paul.,
and kept moving from that time on until
1t was finally captured 1t became as un-
manageable as mad elephant on a ram
page or runaway horse. The only his
torical parallel that the imperilled trav-
elers could call to mind was Victor
Hugo's stirring description in Ninety
three of cannon which broke loose on
shtpboard and terrorized the prisoners
until by bit of strategy its mad career
was stopped. but not before it had de-
molished almost everything. in it's path,
and had nearly stove a hole in the side
of the boat.
Whe nthe train whizzed around a bend
the piano got an impetus which sent it
flying to the other side of the car in a
zlg-zag flight, which ultimately forced all
to take refuge in their compartments.
When some Of the more daring pas
sengers finally ventured out of their
staterocms the piano concluded to 20 the
other way, and cutting off their. retreat
drove them to the other end of the car.
where they.were forced to side step in a
lively manner to get out Of the way
Rert Strong. an old football player, who
KNOWS sCmething about rushing tactics.
finally volunteered to stay the progress
OF the plano. Before he could map out
plan OF battle the piano had crowded him
into corner, having swung broadside
upon the angle. Mr.. Bracket rushed to
the rescue and was forced in self-defense
70 climb aboard the juggernaut and stay
ne went back to his stronghold. With the
aid OF another volunteer Mr.. Strong final
~ managed to lasso the piano. After a
nara struggle they at length tied it Sc
curely down and peace reigned again
The piano developed a grim sense of
humor and sprang one joke which at least
one member OF the party did not concede
to be laughing matter. When the men
entered the car, the piano came handy as
hat rack. 1t was soon lined with silk
hats and hard hats while soft hats were
substituted for the trip.
When one Of the passengers looked for
his hat later, w. H. Levings suggested
that 1t might be behind the piano. A hard
head piece was missing, but only a
crush hat-a badly crushed hat was
found damned up against the wall of the
car.
There's you hat" said Mr.. Levings with
great glee. "Ha! ha! ha!'
mo faint, either" he added lugubri-
ously, on closer examination: BLAMED if
1t: isn't rnifle.'' <. *' :|>~r&c''. - : -
Then the laugh was on Mr.. Levines.
Another hat was nowhere to be found
Some one suggested that having pedals
the piano must have kicked it out of the
car. Mr.. Levings visited a hatter's be-
fore he saw the game. 1870 49,
Among those on board were w. H. Shull,
G. M Gillette, w. H. Levings, A. W.
Strong, c. S. Bracket "Hote'' Thomas
and Lucian Swift.
The pianos rnaneuvers only added to
the jollity, and all aboard say that they
thoroughly enjoyed the trip in spite of
Minnesota's defeat. They lived aboard
the car during the trip and after the game
went to Detroit. where they took in the
theaters Thursday evening.