The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1910-08-11
GIRLS PENNED IN CAR BATTLE WITH SHARK
TWO TOTS PRISONERS, HUNGRY
AND THIRSTY 72 HOURS.
Ride From Buffalo to Hoboken Where
Searching Railroad Officials Find
Them Unconscious-Vic-
Tins of Boys Prank.

New York.-Two small girls who
were penned in pitch dark refrigera
tor car by boys whose sense of humor
was abnormal were found lying in the
car when it reached Hoboken from
Buffalo
They were not able to walk. 1t was
some time before thye could speak
They had been seventy-two hours
without food or drink or sufficient air.
That they were alive at all was
thing to wonder at.
Mary Moni is 10 and Nelsie De For
ko is s. Both girls live at Fl Indiana
street, Buffalo The two girls used
every day to run around the Lacka-
wanna freight yards in Buffalo.
Boys of their age land older hung
around the freight yard. One morning
a couple of these boys shouted out to
the girls: Hey! There's bananas in
that car. Want some bananas? Back
in that car you'll find some. G'wan
in"
1t was an empty refrigerator car to
which the boys pointed The two
girls clambered into it and began po-
king over the floor. They heard the
heavy door bang to and found them
selves in blackness. They rushed for
the door and pounded on it. They
could hear the boys outside laughing
in derision.
The boys made no attempt to open
the car door and the girls got fright
ened. They screamed a little and
kicked with their bare feet Pretty
soon they heard the voices of the boys
and knew them to be trying to open
the door. The door never budged. A
little longer the two girls kicked and
beat upon the door Then Mary Moni
car and begin to sob.
They heard an engine putting louder
every second Bang; Mary was bump
ed to the floor. There was an inter
val of several minutes. Then the en-
CINE chugged, the car gave a jerk.
and in the darkness they knew them
selves to be moving. They were NOV
ing rapidly now. Mary coaxed Nelsie
up into a corner They sat there and
sobbed as the train sped.
After a long time thye felt hollow
and hungry. Mary and Nelsie ex-
plored the floor of the car. They found
nothing at all. The two girls found
they were to be without food or wa
ter Besides, it was so hot and
sitting they found it labor to
breathe, and moving about was ex-
hausting. They lay perfectly still,
therefore, and in time the first faint.
ness of hunger left them.
But it was intolerably hot. and
their thirst grew. 1t was night now.
The beam of light was gone. Yet
neither girl slept. The roar of the
train was loud and steady. Great tears
rolled down their cheeks.
During the first night Mary made a
useful discovery, the only relief they
hit upon the whole journey. She i'm
parted it at once to Nelsie. You take
your thumb and catch the tears on It..
Then you sip the tears. They are salt
and inadequate. but they cool the
mouth. In experimenting with this
discovery they passed the rest of the
night.
At length the beam of light ap-
pare1. red and pleasura5le. All that
day the two lay on the floor of the
car, iolted each minute and turning
from side to side Then night came
on. 1t is possible the girls slept fit
fully. though they could not recollect
having done so. The second morning
found them a little weaker. They no
longer spoke to each other in one
syllable words. Nelsie tried to repeat
a prayer. She repeated Ave Maria
10 herself several times.
Then came night and as the beam
of light faded Mary's consciousness
faded, too, and Nelsie. who could cry
no mere. lapsed into quietness.
But when the two girls didn't come
home the first night their parents had
gone anxiously to the police. Some
were found who had seen the children
in the freight yard. F. H. c. Schoeffe.
chief special agent of the Lackawan-
ma thereupon telegraphed Chief Beat
ty of the Lackawanna special police
in Hoboken to peer instantly into ev-
cry empty that reached Hoboken. For
two days not an empty car reached
Hoboken without being examined in
a hurry.
On the third when string of TWEEN
ty-five empty cars came rolling in
Yardmaster DuttOn, who happened to
be moving about the yard, bounced
on refrigerator car No. $685. and pried
open the door, He jumped inside.
There in the corner he found the two
barefooted girls black with dirt. Mel
sic was unconscious.
1t took the doctor two hours to
bring both girls TO.