The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-08-24
There Is a Tide In
the Affairs Of Men
BY OSCAR cox

l am not an educated man and have
no knowledge of literature, but once
heard or read the following state
ment: "There is n tide In the affairs OF
men which, taken Mt the food, leads on
to fortune" This is my literary stock
In trade. Since it applies especially
to my case 1t is quite sufficient for me.
From my boyhood I was averse to
hard work. BY hard work l mean
drudgery. think that If had been
born the president Of manufacturing
company l might have managed it ad-
mirably. l question If even lack of
experience would have downed me.
The reason / believe this is that when
fate finally boosted me into respon-
sible position l took to the duties as
a duck does to water.
My inclination, so far as I was
aware of what l wanted, led me to
adopt the profession Of n tramp.
began my career In this line at eight
cen years of age and followed 1t for
four years. There was something so
attractive for me in 1t that even now
l don't look back to 1t with the hor-
ror 1t merits. Its very discomforts
were at times attractive. Real tramp
ing--I mean on foot-did not interest
me. My favorite method Of getting out
of n district l had worked dry into
one sufficiently far from 1t that
would not be recognized as an old Of
fender was hanging on to the under
part of n railway car.
And 1t was here that the tide of my
to fortune.
One day / was riding ON the bottom
of car. I was located under the bag
gage car which was next behind the
express car. Suddenly while passing
through an open field the brakes were
applied and the train came to stop.
I expected that it would proceed in a
few moments, but 1t didn't. l heard
shot forward. This suggested to me
that the train might have been held
up. l put my head out where / could
get glimpse Of what was going on.
| couldn't see much before or behind,
but one thing l saw very plainly-a
masked man with an enormous revol-
yer In his hand hurrying past to the
rear
A short distance ahead Of me-the
express car was directly over twas a
cattle guard. 1t occurred to me that
from it could see without being seem
I made my way to 1t. dropped down
and hid behind fence beside It..
view of what was going on.
The engineer and fireman were climb
ing down from the locomotive cab, be-
ing induced to do so at the point Of
! two pistols In the hands of one man.
| He drove them back, where he was
Joined by another man. l could see
no more train robbers and believed
that the rest Of the gang were going
through the passengers for their valua-
bles. One man was hammering at the
rear door of the express car. 1t was
evidently locked, and he could not
open 1t. Another man climbed up be-
side him. and they consulted as to
means of forcing the door. Both scan
ned the ground beside the train for
some implement by which to effect
their purpose. One of them spied about
100 yards from the car log.
Both men jumped down and hurried
toward this implement
Here came the opportunity of my
life. What other robbers there were
were in or about the rear cars. The
engine and express car were unguard-
ed Like flash Of lightning an idea
entered my head. / was not ten yards
from the rear end of the express car.
Leaving my hiding place, l got under
the car, crawled to the rear end, mount
ed the platform and released the brake
This l accomplished without the men
who were going for their battering ram
seeing me, for their backs were still
toward me. .p
Jumping down on the side of the
train that put 1t between them and me
l made n dash for the locomotive
climbed into The cab and turned on the
steam. The men had reached the tic
and We're lifting 1t on to their shoul
ders. They had barely succeeded in
doing so when they saw widening
gap between the express car and the
train. Dropping their burden, they ran
for the part that moved. One of them
ran so fast that he tripped and fell
The other kept on and, catching the
handrail on the rear platform of the
express car, managed to swing him
self on.
1t seemed reasonable to suppose that
he would climb over the car and shoot
me as he came had no weapon, Sc
prepared for defense with chunk OF
coal. But did not need 1t. The mar
did not appear, The noise of the en-
gine and car prevented my hearing any
thing that might be going on in my
rear, but after having run some five ol
six miles mt sixty miles an hour the
gong In the cab sounded signal tC
stop, Not knowing who had given it
l kept on. bat presently rounding q
curve | saw the express agent on the
platform of his car. slowed down
and he came forward. He told me tha
when tho troin moved ha ypnturod tC