Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-09-04
CINCINNATI STREET RAILROAD
EXCITEMENT.
Continued Opposition to the De-
mands of the Companies.
Track and Car Scenes.

From the Cincinnati Commercial, Thursday.
From six of the morning to nearly
midnight of yesterday, the city was
moved with excitement over the street
railroad controversy The obstinacy of
the companies iu refusing to adhere to
their contract with the city to sell twenty
five tickets for one dollar and three cents;
their course in Withdrawing tickets en-
tirely from the cars, and selling them
at only two or three points, thus forcing
people to pay, in most instances, six
cents in ordering conductors, drivers
and other employees to forcibly eject pas
sengers who refused to pay the six cents
or FIVE cent ticket--all this served to
strengthen the people in their determi-
nation to resist what they call an +" i'm
position and extortion," by refusing to
pay unless accommodated with tickets as
provided for by law In other words the
populace was tumultuous, excited
and very angry.
There we're many curious scenes of
excitement early in the day. Very
many of the hard-handed, anti-eXtortion
representatives, too broad of shoulder
and muscular of arm to be easily whip
ped, had things all their own way, and
appeared TO take peculiar pleasure in
entering a car, selecting a choice seat,
drawing forth the inevitable 81 03-and
finally riding for nothing. In other cases,
conductors, drivers and others in the in
terests of the companies succeeded in
dragging out few of the people.
On John street car, one of the con-
ductors a young man slight of build and
small OF stature, had for passenger one
of the determined and muscular ones,
who refused to pay six cents.
You won't, eh ?
No, sill"
Then you must leave the car
/ won't do that, either"
"Then | will pay your fare myself
here.are six cents-your fare is paid. "
OF course the six cents were the com
paoy's
Quite frequently crowds would be at
tracted around cars by the stoppage of
the same, as conductors and drivers had
favorite way of stopping the cars, so as
to annoy the people as much as possible,
whenever they bad ease. On Cen
trail avenue, near Eighth street, car
was stopped in this way, whereupon, the
horses having been taken out, the car
was taken hold of by score of pairs of
stout hands, and propelled rapidly along
Central avenue and Fifth street, loaded
with ladies, to the great amusement of
the spectators, and, without doubt, to the
perfect satisfaction of those who per
formed the selfimposed labor In an
other instance driver who deserted his
post was good-naturedly seized by the
passengers, tenderly deposited on the
front platform, and mildly requested to
drive on. He, however made his escape.
William Doherty and Frank Staun-
haos, driver and conductor of car No. 5,
of the John street line, were arrested
and taken to the Ninth street station,
charged with assaulting David L. Hoke,
one Of the popular idea advocates.
John Stevens and ]. V. Sargent, driver
and conductor of No. 4, of the Third
street line, were arrested and taken to
Ninth street station, charged with an as
saut upon one Lorenzo NJ. Smith
Alexander Whiteside, conductor, and
John Moore, driver, of Fourth street
car, were arrested and taken to the Ham
mond street station, charged with unnec-
essarily obstructing the street by stop
ping their car
Frank Griffith and Marion Collier, con-
duetor and driver of John street car,
were arrested on the same charge and
taken to the Ninth street station.
AT about noon-time quite number of
cars were withdrawn by orders from the
officers Of the companies, and those that
remained on ran very irregularly. From
two to four of the afternoon it was very
difficult to find car The companies
seemed to be halting and wavering as to
the best policy to pursue. They were
determined to adhere to their demands,
but feared to withdraw the cars for any
length Of time, as that would give ground.
for breach of contract action.
NEST END MASS MEETING.
The people of West End held another
mass meeting last night. at the corner of
North and Freeman streets. There was
very large attendance, and all present
seemed deeply in earnest Some few
talked about tearing up tracks, but this
idea was quite generally discounte-
nanced An organization was effected
BY calling Henry Kesslet to the stand
and I. L. Hunt 20 act as Secretary.
PROPOSITION.
The committee appointed TO confer
with the street railroad companies, re-
ported that they had just had a cousulta-