Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1883 — Had the Proofs. [ARTICLE]

Had the Proofs.

A hopping mad man at the Union depot wanted to see the President, Superintendent and Treasurer all at once, and it would have done him a heap of good could he have got within striking distance of even a $20,000 stockholder in any of the railroads entering Detroit. To the several queries as to what was on his mind, he finally replied: “I was coming in from Dearborn this morning, a walking on the track. My dog Bombo was with me. I’ve had that dog five years, and have been offered SSO for him. He was a little green about railroads, but on everything else he was as sharp as a razor. We had got down about a mile this side of the village when I saw a train coming.” . “And stepped aside?” “Of course I did. I own 160 acres of land and am a Highway Commissioner, but I ain’t fool ’nuff to think I’m bigger’n a railroad train.” “But the dog?” “He stopped, too. I reckon it was the fust time he ever saw a train, but he’d have bin all right if the engineer hadn’t begun to toot. The minit he heard that tootin’ Bombo began to bristle, and while the train was 500 feet away he started down the track to meet it.” “Then—- “ Wall said the man as he mopped his forehead, “it was a leetle too much fur him. An engine and five curs ought to git away with a dog any day in the year. He riz about twenty feet high, I reckon, took a slant to the left, and when he come down he broke the top oft a small tree.” “Well?” “I motioned fur the engineer to stop the train as soon as |h§. dog started. He/could have done it, but wouldn’t. Indeed, when the train* went past me he leaned out and 1-atfed —yes, sir, laffed in my face. ” “And you want damages?” “I do! I want the worth of that dog aud SSOO for the shock to my nervous system. ” “Have you any proofs?” “I should smile! Even when I’m all brake up I don’t try to put the right, boot on the left foot; see that!” And he drew from his pocket a hind leg, two paws, an ear and a piece of the lost canine’s tail and spread them on the bench. There was an expr&ssive silence in the crowd, and then the Highway Commissioner called out: “P-roofs! P-roofs! If them ain’t p-roofs who be they? Gentlemen, I never had a lawsuit nor struck a man 'n my life, but if I don’t take home a wad of greenbacks to settle this case the Michigan Central road will want a hull new board of officers to-morrow.”—-Detroit Free'Press.