American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-03-06
From the New York Democrat.
A GOOD JOKE ON ERIE FISK.
A Story that will be appreciated BY Rail
read Men.


0 give here, who resides in Oswego,
vas called down, ushered In the {
office, and from
here into Manager Fisk's room,
when it is reported the following c
took place: i
Manager" You are conductor on
he Erie, believe
"Yes, sir"
"How long have you been on the
,oad 7"
Fifteen years"
Had a passenger train all that
time. l believer"
Yes, sir"
"Worth considerable property, l
learn Z"
"Some."
"Have very fine house in Oswego.
Cost you some thirty, forty or fifty
thousand dollars p
Yes, sir"
"Some little money invested in
bonds, am toldr'
Yes, SIR"
Gown farm near where you re-
side -
eyes, sir"
"Had nothing when you com
menced as conductor on our road 7"
Nothing to speak of; only home
for the future
"Made this property since ?"
"Yes, sir"
" Been at work for no other par
tiesr'
mo; but 1 have saving my
money invested it from time to
time to good advantage"
Well, sir, what will you give to
settlei OF course you cannot pre-
tend to say that you have acquired
this property from what you have
saved from your salaryi You will
not deny that you have pocketed a
great deal of the money belonging to
the road-at least fifty or sixt y
thousand dollars. Now, sir. VIII at
will you give to settle, and not be
disgraced as You certainly will be, if
trial is brought, and you are CON-
PEELED to give up the property which
you confess to own, but which, in
reality, belongs to the company -
"Well, Mr.. Manager, l had not
thought of this matter. For several
years have been running my train
to the best of my ability. Never
looked at the matter in this light be-
fore. l have done nothing more
than other conductors have tried to
earn my salary and get it-and l
think I've succeeded. I don't know
that l owe the company anything.
If you think do, why, there's lit
tie difference of opinion, and 1 don't
want any trouble over it. l have a
uice family, nice father and mother
relatives all people of good standing ;
they would feel very bad TO have me
arrested and charged with dishon.
esty. 1t would kill my wife. She
has every confidence in the world
in me, and the idea that l, her hus-
band, would take so little as penny
that did not belong to me, would
send her broken hearted to the grave
don't care anything for the matter
myself, but on account of my family
and relatives, want to make it tight
with the road and the officers, and il
YOU won't say anything more about
it, I'll give you a dollar !"
We understand there was some
tall swearing done about that time
in the vicinity of one end of the Erie
railway. But whether the PROPOSE
ton was accepted or not, we canno
, tell.
The next day conductor from thu
neighborhood of Elmira was brought
down on a similar Grand, aud usher
ed into the presence of the officia
Judge and jury, when something lik'
the following dialogue ensued:
swell, sir, you have been seven
I teen years ON the Erie road as con
ductor T.
Yes, sir"
: "How much are you worth p
! "Well-$5O,OOO."
Family to support I"
eyes, sir"
"Made all this money since yor
have been on the road ?"
Yes, sir"
"Well, it is the opinion of the di
: rectors that the conductors hav,
been stealing half of the passenge
D money, and what we want of yol
, now is to divide. If you will no
!, consent to this we will bring suit t.
:: recover the money, and you will b
discharged. If you Will divide fai
and square we will say no NOR
e about it, and you can go on wit
your train.'
r We'll, now, Mr.. Manager. tina
u strikes me as the fairest thing l hav
q heard Of. Us boys on the roa,
I heard some time since that there wa
to be some little muss raised, bu
!, we did not expect anything of thi
u kind, or that we would be dealt wit
J. so literally. If this is all the direc
s tors ask of us, can say in behalf o
= the conductors of the entire line
> we are satisfied. l know l am TO
one. Half of what l have taken
your figures will be $4,000. / an
5 ready at any time for division
;, handing my half over to you if yO1
, VII hand the half of what you hav
. 'SthtH ONcE W ne. Will INV cSU Ill
I difference in United States bond
$ and quit railroading forever"
Rumor has it that there was NOR
: profanity about this section.
}, One day this week a conductor Of
} the Corning and Buffalo branch, VIII
!, has brother high in authority on
i road running out of Buffalo, as W
T are told, was invited down when b
! offered to settle with the compan.
!. on the receipt of five dollars, sill
dress for his wife. season ticket t.
:, the opera house, and ten thousan'
l dollar accident insurance ticket t
u cover him from danger on returning
Rumor has it that there was NOR
profanity then and there Astounding
= At present advice, we are not abb
to say how much has been made by
either party.
As if a railroad conductor coul,