Year: 1872




DiNuHANrDoN, N ". Jan. 10, 1872.


AN eleven-year boy of this city,
named Clarence Shanks, was made the
involuntary hero of most remarkable
adventure a day or two since. He lives
with his parents here, and was sent on
an errand on Friday last, with instructions
to return home Immediately. Being a
good and obedient boy, his parents natu-
rally became alarmed when evening drew
near, and he had not yet returned. Mes
sengers were dispatched in every direc.
ton, streams were dragged, and every
means taken TO obtain trace of the miss
ing boy-all to no purpose. The search
was kept up all night, and then given up
in despair by the relatives and friends.
The mother of the boy was almost crazed
at his disappearance, and her situation
was becoming alarming, when about seven
o'clock Saturday evening, the boy made
his appearance, in an almost exhausted
condition, and exhibiting unmistakable
evidence of having endured great hard
ship during his two days absence. As
soon as he was able he told his story,
which 10 oubstantially 40 fUllUWs.


When he went down town on his er-
rand, he saw through the open door of
freight car, which was in train at the
Erie depot, a quantity of corn lying about
the floor. He thought here would be a
good chance to obtain nice meal for
some pet chickens of his at home, and
he climbed into the car and commenced
filling his pockets While thus engaged,
the door of the car was suddenly closed
and fastened. The boy at once began
to cry and shout to make his situation
known, but to no purpose and soon
the train moved off He says he
first thought of the effect his disappear.
ance would have on his sparents and then
began to conjecture how far he would
probably be carried before he could make
his presence in the car known. 1t was
pitch dark in his moving prison, and he
was bumped around on the floor like q
ball at every jerk and lurch of the train,
there being nothing to hold to. AT times,
he says, he would be thrown with con
siderable force against the sides of the
car, and he has great bruises on his
shoulders and hips as the consequence.
Scratches on different parts of his person,
and the presence of ugly-looking splinters
also testify to the character of his expert
ence on this part of his journey The
train, he says, stopped once before il
made the stop where he was discovered,
and he did all in his power to attract the
attention of some one about the station.
He shouted, pounded on the sides of the
car, and fairly shrieked for assistance, but
without the desired effect, and he was
soon once more rolling and humping
about the car, on his way he knew not
where. The train finally stopped again,
and the young prisoner ascertained, from
the movements about the station, that
some cars were to be switched out of the
train, and he says he prayed that his car
might be one of them. His car was one
of them, and when it was placed on the
switch he succeeded, after lying there
about an hour, in attracting the attention
Of man who was passing the car. He
opened the door, and upon seeing the
poor boy, covered with dust, in which the
tears had cut deep traces down the boys
cheeks, brutally demanded, "What the
deuce you doin' here?" Choking with
sobs, the little fellow told his story
only to be informed that "he'd better
dig out, quickm He then went
to the depot building, and
asked a boy what place he was in, and
how far it was from Binghamton. The
boy eyed him suspiciously a moment, and
then told him he was in Barton, about
thirty-five miles from Binghamton. Il
was after dark and the unfortunate
Clarence was in an entirely strange place
without cent to purchase morsel tt
eat or pay his way back home. Moreover
the cruel rebuff of the trackman haC
disheartened him, and he could not sum
mon courage to ask assistance of any one
He obtained information of the boy who
had told him where he was as to a roaC
which went in the direction of Bing
hampton, at a time of night when ht
would have been quietly sleeping in bee
if home, he started on his way to the city
where his agonized parents were searching
in ali directions for him. He had NJ
dinner or supper, and the pains of hunger
began to assail him. These he satisfied al
well as he could by eating of the corr
which he put in his pockets in the morn
ing, which act had placed him in hi
present unenviable situation. After walk
ing about two hours, and passing many
houses where he could see the CHEEKY
lights, and children playing within, bring
ing the burning tears afresh to his eyes
his strength began to fail him, and hi
knew he must lie down somewhere anC
sleep. 1t was very cold, and he was al
most numb with exposure. Coming to {
house where it seemed kind people mus
live, he made up his mind to go in anC
beg supper and bed for the night
His hand was on the gatelatch, wher
q fierce watchdog came bound
ing at him and frightened him away
About mile further on he came to farm
house, near to which, along the road, was
small inclosure, in which was hay
stack, and about it cattle-feeding. TIL,
almost frozen boy crawled into the hay
although suffering from hunger, and ht
soon fell asleep. He was awakened once
or twice by mice running across his face
and by the cattle rubbing and pushing
against the haystack He awoke early OF
Saturday morning, and upon crawling tC
the ground he found that his feet wert
frozen, and he was so stiffened that h'
could scarcely walk. No one was stirring
about the farmhouse. He breakfasted OF
raw corn. He met wagons on the road
but was Overtaken by but two, and thest
were heavily loaded, and their driver
walking, so he did not ask for ride. II,
passed through many villages but, al
though almost fainting with hunger, wa
not courageous enough to ask for mouth
full to cat. All day long he iourneyeC
along, suffering intense physical and men
tai agony, until just after dark the light
of a large town came in sight and he fel
it must be BinghamtOn. 1t was Bing
hampton, and about Z O'clock he reached
his fathers house, more dead than alive
The boy tells his story in very touching
manner. His extraordinary experience
has prostrated him on bed of sickness
but he is rapidly recovering, Did Davic
Copperfield's famous journey to his Aun
Betsey Trotwood ever before find so nea
parallel ?--Cor. ". Y. Times


AS the 4:30 train from New York reach
ed Stamford, Saturday, an antique-look
inc dame thr1st har haod ont of fhn win