The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-21
unluekY Man.

Chicago News; See that man
over there?" repeated the passenger
on the suburban train. That's I'm
lucky Johnson. At least, that is what
he calls himself. He happens to live
out my way.
johnson says he used to be a car
penter and that once he came near
falling from the roof Of a tall build
ing. He was at work mailing on
shingles when the support gave way
and he began to slide toward the
edge.
Beneath the spot where he would
have fallen was a pile of Jagged rocks
left there by the workmen when they
built the foundation.
"While Johnson was slipping toward
the rocks and certain death the other
workmen on the building held their
breath, unable to go to his rescue.
Johnson still held in his hand the
Ratchet with which he had been driv-
ing nails and as he slid down the
roof he picked up a spike that had
been dropped.
johnson made a mighty effort to
save his life just as he was going
over the edge of the roof. Holding
the spike in his left hand he aimed a
quick blow and the spike kept
him there, dangling over the edge of
the roof. The other workmen res
cued him, but Jonson contended that
he was unlucky because the nail hurt
his hand. If he'd been given time to
put on a pair OF gloves he said, IL
would not have been so bad.
Another time johnson was visiting
a friend in the country and cyclone
came along. 1t lifted the house and
carried 1t into the next county, where
1t was distributed impartially over the
| landscape. Johnson was not even
| slightly injured, but he complained
| bitterly about 1t because he had to
walk three miles to the railroad sta
| tion.
'"That same summer he was stand.
ing under a tree when 1t was STRUCK
by lightning, but he suffered no in,
jury. / remarked that he was lucky
to have escaped with his life, but h,
scorned to look at it in that way. H,
said there was such a hard rain i'm
mediately afterward that his absolute
| Iy new suit was totally ruine1 by get
| ting wet.
Another time he was SE a railroa,
train when it went into a eitch over
turned and many of the passenger
were seriously hurt.
HE escaped without a scratch
There was suffering all about him, blu
Johnson thinks now that he was tn
unluckiest man on the train. He say
| the other passengers sued the railroad
company because of their injuries am
recovered heavy damages.
Last summer a dog stopped a
Johnson's house and after looking owe
the premises decided to remain Will
Johnson was away the dog develope,
hydrophobia and was about to bite on
of his children when neighbor sho
and killed the rabid animal. Johnsol
mourned over that dog nearly wee
and contemplated a SUIT against tn
neighbor. He wanted TO make tn
neighbor prove that phs dog had tn
hydrophobia.
can uncle OF Johnson's died severs
years ago and left him a forum.
Everybody in the neighborhood sal
that now he would admit that he ha
been lucky for once, bur of course w
said nothing about it to Johnson.
'sHowever, Johnson brought up tn
subject himself the next time sa,
him, declaring that he was the un
iuckiest man that ever lived. If hi
uncle had left him twice as muc
money, he said. instead of dividing th
rest among other relations he woul
, have been able to live in Europe ha
the time"