NINETY MILES ON A BUFFER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3573, 24 February 1914, Page 3

NINETY MILES ON A BUFFER.

A Londoner named Archibald Coppin, aged 20, who had ridden for 90 miles on the buffer of a Great Central cxpress( appeared before the Nottingham magistrates on a charge of riding without a ticket.

Coppin, who gave an address in Cassidy Road, Putney, said he had domestic trouble with his wife and mother-in-law. He was without funds and determined to go to Liverpool and get work. He tramped to Aylesbury, and waited there for the midnight express from London to Liverpool.

When the express stopped at Aylesbury, he climbed on a buffer of a coach next the engine. At Leicester he was seen by a porter, who gave L ne alarm, but Coppin slipped from his perch and disappeared among the trains standing on the sidings. When the express went on however, he was seen climbing on one of the buffers of the last coach. The Nottingham officials were wired to, and when the train arrived Coppin was found standing on the buffer with his back to the coach, holding by the iron rail.

His clothes were drenched when water was taken up by the engine from the troughs between Woodford and Rugby.

The night was frosty, and the traveller was numbed and helpless. He was taken to the waiting-room, supplied with hot tea, and, on reviving, was handed over to the city police. It was stated that had he continued the journey lie must have been overcome- with cold and fallen under the train.

He was fined half a guinea, or, in default, seven days’ imprisonment. Coppin apparently, had a companion for part of the journey.