Evening star., 1933-08-30
Vet Who Hoped W-Fated
Train Emerges to Resume Talk
Fall From 'First Blind'' Into Muddy
Water Delays Trip South,curd
When Pants Are Lost.

Ross Cummings. itinerant veteran OF
three wars. had just settled back COM
fortablv on the first blind" of the
Crescent Limited Thursday night when
he suddenly found himSel swimming
in cold. muddy waters of the Eastern
Branch and wondering what had hap
pened.
He has remained in seclusion since
then, part of the time because he had
no pants. but is once more equipped
for a long trek back to the sunshine of
New Mexico which was SO violently
in orrupted.
Showing up today the battered vet
eran described the wreck from a new
angle-that of the rider of the bumpers.
He had Just come to washington on
furIough from the Soldiers Home at
johnson City, Tenn. to make some
ARRANGEMENTS regarding his ccmpersa-
ton. Advised to go back to New Mexico,
where he has a residence, he had
walked up the track about mile above
the fatal culvert and. with the agility
of a practiced train jumper, despite his
So years. made perfect landing ON the
first blind"
Safest Place.
This, he explains, is the front END OF
the baggage car, just back OF the
engine. It is closed end and con-
sidered the safest place OF all by
experienced train Jumpers. Amateurs,
Cimmings saws. make the mistake of
jumping the second blind-between the
baggage car and the first passenger
coach-which is mere comfortable.
But when the train pulls into sta
ton. he explains, the lights shine, dl-
rectly into this second blind and the
rrilroad police see what is there. Ihe
first blind is usually in convenient
shadow. Besides, the rider OF the first
blind can often get chummy With the
fireman. 80
Cummings. who was equipped with a
thick envelope of letters from members
of Congress and officials Of veterans.
organizations to flash on any railroad
police who might interfere with him, no
sooner was securely ensconsed on his
first blind than a hurting body was
precipitated against him and he was
almost showed off. 1t was, he said, an
inexperienced kid who had no finesse
in train jumping and had picked out
the first blind only by fortunate accl-
dent.
Share Their Swim.
They agreed to share the blind" to-
getner, but moment ldI6T tle II Idlll
tilted suddenly to the right, there was a
violent shock as the brake was thrown
on, then the car tipped to the left-and
Cummings and the kid" were in the
water
He is good swimmer and helped the
"kid"-although blood was streaming
into his eyes and his gold-rimmed spec
tacles were smashed beyond repair. In
order to keep swimming, he had to dis
card his shoes and pants. The shoes
he took off under water. The pants, he
said, were so water soaked they just
slipped off as soon as his belt was
loosened.
The two made the bank and their
only thought was to get away. They
started to walk back along the track.
The kid said Cummings, was
chilled and pleading / was afraid he
might pass out and there was blood on
my hat that looked suspicious. I only
wanted to pick up some pants some
where and then get him into Washing
ton, where somebody would pick him
up and take him to hospital. But
I'd never take a chance myself on
coming into Washington without any
pants"
Pants Secured.
Finally they met a farmer with q
lantern. He went to the barn and sup
piled Cummings with the requisite pants