Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-07-27
Freight Cre,0
Captures Huge
wild Monster"

Monday Tom F.. Downtain, brake
man on the Chicago Great Western
south bound freight. hoped off the
train near Gladbrook to open a switch.
He had just thrown over the lever
when he saw something that looked
both like beast and reptile crouching
in the weeds close to the switch. 1t
was pale green and spotted and that
portion of it's body that showed thru
the weeds was fearful and almost
hideous.
Just about that, time another menu
Der of the train crew saw the object.
Thoughts of big snakes a carnival had
been showing at Gladbrook prompted
him to yell.
the carnival
The suggestion was all Downtain
needed. He beat on Decline for the
caboose. taking the right ofway in
three big jumps.
A parley in the caboose ended in a
hunting party being organized for cap
ture. When they returned to the train
they had bound with heavy ropes and
We're dragging the monster after them.
A short sharp struggle" and it was
safely roped in the way car.
People at the station in the city and
at others between here and Des
Moines Wednesday stood aghast at
what they saw on top the caboose OF
local freight Nos. 50 and SO when it
rolled into town.
Roped so it was immovable there
was dragon like creature, in a
crouching position. it's head as big as
a bucket and as high as a mans above
the cab roof It's body was green,
suggestive of slime. Ears as large as
Il palm leaf fan tapped back of fiery
eyes It's huge jaws capped red, drip
ping with froth a pointed tail iashed
wrathfully the hot roof.
The day was hot ,doubly so on the
caboose roof. For the dual purpose of
edification Of lockers on and to relieve
the captured monsters thirst a
brave" brakeman of the crew would
carry water in a large pail to it and
dash it down it's throat: At such
times it's huge under jaw would open
and close, it's eyes would roll and its
tail would lash. Stout ropes made "s~
cape impossible. IT. was while one
of these demonstrations Of the brake
mans bravery was being enacted for
some curious people Mt "A small station
south Of this city the passenger
train to which was attached General
Manager Gordon's carawent by.
From their car the roads officers
looked on the strange sight Of brake
man and roped monster" 1t is not
known whether this coincdent ended
the trip Of the captive or not In any
event, it was unloadcd here Wednesday
night and placed in captivity. B.,
1T is said General Manager Gordon
made certain very pointed inquiries
over the telephone of the conductor of
the freight train this morning regard
ing whether that particular freight
was maintaining a"menagcrie or was
haulirg just freight!
The "captive"as is gnoyv roped in the
room of, nfkSouth Third avenue hUs;-
ness man, awaiting his return, whicl
is expected tonight. What may hap
pen 'when he opens his room door and
bumps into the brute in the dark can
only be imagined. 81
AS to the monster oh. well, it
was just papier mache dragon that
had fallen off a CARROT the carnival that
showed. at Gladbrook. 1t was built SO
| that it's under jaw would open and
close, its eyes 'rosIoand by pulling a
| string it's tail will lash back and forth
!;s-L q Il ?!
Mrs. Brynqlcson's Funeral.