The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1913-10-10
FRIGHTFUL BUNGLERS,
THESE YANKEE POLICE.
(Roston Glohe.l

(BOStOn GlObe.)
A Leeds, England, engineer. who
has just returned home after an alb
sence of some years in Massachu-
sets, has informed the Yorkshire
Evening Post of an uncomfortable ex-
perience of his while on a recent visit
to Niagara Falls.
With a friend he was returning to
Lynn. after having witnessed the
Worlds Wonder" when he became
conscious that his friend, who was
fast asleep, was being closely scru-
tented by lynX-eyed sort of person,
who shortly afterward left the car
riage and returned with three COM
panions-all detectives.
The friend was rudely awakened,
and the two men were then put
through a searching cross-examina-
ton as to their movements for the
jpast few days their intentions for the
next day or so, their names and bust
ness, and hundred and one personal
and embarrassing questions
This at one o'clock in the morning
when the travellers were still a 400
mile railway journey from their des-
tination! And for five hours their
movements were closely watched.
Every time one went along the CORR
dor or walked to the smoking roomhe
was Swallowed, and it was with
distinct feeling of alarm that the
friends contemplated the situation.
Suddenly in the middle of the night
the train was jerked to a standstill
and the two friends supposed that
they were about to be arrested. But
the journey was resumed, and in the
early morning, much to the relief of
the suspects, the detectives disem-
barked
Finally the friends questioned the
ticket collector, from whom they
learned that they were suspected of
having been concerned in train rob-
berry, but that the detectives had sat
isfied themselves that they were on
the wrong track!
While feeling the keenest resent
ment at the rude handling to which
they had been subjected, the two men
deemed discretion the better part of
valor.
why didn't we vigorously protest?
All, you don't know the Yankee police
men like l do" was the Leeds mans
comment. con the slightest pretext
they would have been only too willing
to run us in and we had no desire
to spend the night in an American
prison.
But if they had only taken the
trouble to look at our tickets they
would have seen that we were bona
lid travellers out for sightseeing.
They're frightful bunglers, though,
these Yankee police
1t may be news to Yorkshire people
TO hear that train loots are quite
common occurrences at the present
time, even in so populated a State as
Massachusetts.
The desperadOes' modus operandi is
to put brushwood across the line in
some isolated spot. The driver fran
tlcally attempts to bring his engine to
a standstill to avoid 4 catastrophe.
and instantly he is covered by a re:
volver
Others of the gang who have been
lurking III ambush, calmly proceed 20
rifle the passengers pockets, and
couple of the "dark-visage gentle
men" at either end of the corridor
are generally able by the aid of the
peaceful persuasion of loaded six
shooters to quiet any unlooked-for OBJ
lection to part with valuables.
1t scarcely needs to be said that
the experienced Americans generally
travel with note upon a bank and
with just as much ready cash as
seems necessary.
The only hope of the engine driver
is TO see the obstruction across the
line in sufficient time to be able to
reverse his engine and speed back to
the nearest station; or if in a far
Western State like Virginia, where
train robberies are of monthly occur
renee, to the Sheriff's residence.
which is often fifty or a hundred
miles back.
Then the Sheriff and his men or
ganizes raid and short shrift is tie
fate of him who falls into their hands.