Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 October 1880 — JUMPIMG ON A TRAIN. [ARTICLE]

JUMP IMG ON A TRAIN.

“Catching a train” in England is a very different affair from catcning it iq thia country, for there it siguifiefethe individual baa sufficient time to«htef the railway carriage before the guard closes the doors ana gives the signal to start. After that, no matter who arrives, it is too late. A* i I The laws against getting on or -off * moving trains m England are very strict, and also in guarding the tracks at the station and vicinity ajyi ase not tn infringed upon or mth impuStyx as an Americanjriend recently fouga to, his sorrow. * w He chanced to he on a train going t<l London, and had written to have his baggage sent from a certain point tol meet him, to be put on-hoard the train s at an, intermediate station, where alsca his wife and son were to get on. Ar* rived at the latter place, where the train stopped for a few moments, he left the . railway carriage, put his family on board and sought for his luggage to place on the train ; but in vain. Meanwliile the time for starling the train arrived, yet still he tarried, thinking to jump on at the last moment, American fashion, and started to do so, but was restrained by an official.

“But I must go on this train; my wife’s aboard,” said the anxious American. “Can’t help it, sir; train’s in motion ; against regulations.” “But you are going,” said the traveler, as be marked the long train gradually moving, car aftercar, past them, and the official preparing to take his place. “Certainlyl’m the guara—last man on. I take the vau. Stand back!” So saying, the guard, or, as we call him, the conductor, pushed back the American and leaped to his place on the step of the guard’s van, or last carriage in the train. Quick as lie wap, the American was equal to him, for with two or three bounds, despite the cries and rush of the porter, he leaped after the guard, dung to him on the step of the carriage, and both were hurled out of the station in that manner, after which they tumbled into the compartment of the guard together. The official was white with rage. “I told you that you could not-get upon the train when it was in motion.” “Ah 1 but you see I did.” i “Do you know we both narrowly missed being hit by that crane as the train went out of the station 7” “A miss, my good fellow, is as good as a mile.” “And you have broken the regulations, ana made me and yourself liable to prosecution.” “Oh, fudge 1 The company won’t take trouble to prosecute, I guess,” said the Yankee. But this time his national guess was incorrect

The train was an express, and he rode in the guard’s van mare than fifty miles before another stop enabled him to rejoin his party in the other carriage and continue kis journey to London, during which the matter passed from his mind. Arriving at the station in London, our American secured a four-wheeler, selected his baggage, had it placed on the roof of the vehicle, bestowed his wife and party inside, and was about to follow, when he was tapped on the shoulder by a quiet, plainly-dressed individual, who remarked : “Sorry to detain you, really; very unpleasant duty, but you are wanted on a charge of aseaulting the guard in the discharge of his duty, os the train left Leamington.” ,„i. . , M Here was a dilemma. A stranger in London, after dark, arrested 1 What should he do ? He at once explained. "He was an American tourist; he was not aware of the law. Hja wife and he both strangers Hadn’t even been to their hotel yet. Couldn’t it be arranged in the morning?" “Oli, certainly, if he would khidlv give his card, the oflrfllHrSWP'cSrfct nis hotel at eleven to-morrow.” ' No sooner s&id.thanjdone. The American whipped out his card-case, handed over the t*tof pasteboard i»niweffiwr Who glanced at driver, wip claeKtSTlklr df SKe vehicle, and the party were soon rattling over the London pavements. As they whirled along, the first view of London by gaslight was forgotten in the explanation of the affair by the American to liis wife.

“But it is all over now, I guess,” laid he "Tor although I gave the Allow my name, I didn't give him any address, and he won't know where to come alter all.” Here again was s mistaken guess, for a second thought might have informed Him that the number of every cab admitted in the railway station was known* that he had given direction to the driver before being accosted by the officer, and thereby the latter had obtained his address ; and that if the case had been of sufficient importance, the cab could easily have been followed by another, even if the driver had not been instructed to notify the officer where he left his fare. / however, our tourist, being somewhat uneasy, related the affair to' an English friend whom he met on arrirglj* the hotel, who did not relieve liis anxiety by looking grave, blinking his head, and remarking th>had better both goto the railway manager’s office. This they did, and through the intervention of a personal friend to one of the directors,

after atul cf donations, tile American departed, glad to bare got rif as be supposed, of the unpleasantness. About five days ak*w, baring meat time changed hie hotel, oar America a citbNn had business down in (the cit 5 after tnutfactmf, which be ha<l to meet his wfib and fnend at Wes r minster HaH, toriew that noted bail* dug. Standing near the entrance, and awaiiti* her coming, he was astonished to observe her to be two genUamen nff - had called at to A meri ~ ant tion : “Mr. oTFohce, LeAmingtoa." . >;- fc -,'a> atesaaesoffense our traveler had committed upon one bf her majeety’s servants, and »ou>inmifiNthfmfkrdrr to appearon the following Wednesday, (it was then BaturdJtyjTat “the aforesaid” Leamington. ’ was coming up to London myself,” said the offiaal, apologetically, end thought 1 would serve this, to make it

as cttntortahle-as ponible.” tdil* It was useless for the American to stats that the matter had all been settled by the railway manager ; of this the polite chief or police knew nothing. The first arrest was probably at the in ; stance of the railway company in London ; but thia was by the police lues at heaminglon, of which he was cMW. Tnfl 6nl cial would not he satisfied except by a.visit of the American and responsible friend again to tfiq managers office at the London station, where it was arranged that the traveler would appear and answer on the following week, if the affair w|s not settled before; and the polite chief of the' Leamington police took his departure. .. The visit to Westminster hall was given up for that day, and the American began to wish he had never jumped on that railroad train. Supposing al> right now; he forgot all about it again, unulit was unpleasantly brought to mind on the following Sunday by a note sent him by private hand, from liis friend, to a place where he wa^spending

IfiIVVEJ* £ * TJiis note informed him that the affair had qnte a serious look; that the general managers at Leamington had been mulcted for damages for an accident that occurred at that point a few months since, Iha that Ills jumping on the train had been witnessed by two of the principal directors, as well as hy one or the focal police, and it was determined to punish any such criminal recklessness, Hence the summons, etc. This the London railway officer had, by his personal .influence succeeded in postponing for a few days, but an expense of £3 10s. haa been incurred, and perhaps it Would be best to arrange that before -Mr. John Lund or another official eame up to London again. Our American was now getting nekvotuand scared. He at once saw liis V9WrfViend in London, wndfooceeded to arrange the matter as suggested. I Then, returning to his hotelffte ordered a cab to take him to a railway station,

and- having dischugfid the cabman, he todfe another efib and drove to a new the hope fids means have done the reason therefor was explained in the ■following letter, sent to him by iris' friend, who had arranged matters, and . wiio itwimi rfciHray'Autiionties A “I think I have arranged matters for the withdrawal of tlie summons. The expenses incurred amount to three pounds, ten shillings. If your American friend pays this, and at the same time wishes to benefit the widow and orphans’ fund association of the railway line, a check for five pounds in full will be received.” It is almost unnecessary to state that the American’s English friend did the needful thing instanter, and the American himself breathed freer accordingly, although it had cost him twenty-five dollars for jumping upon an English train in motion. -