Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-04
LETTER FROM ROCKLAND.
RocKLASp, Oct. 81, 1870.

RoCKLASD, Oct. 81, 1870.
To the Editor Of The Daily Journal:
| have never seen any thing equal to the
vigor with which the Rockland lack drivers
prosecute their business. | have travelled
some-am quite familiar with the style of
hack drivers in various parts OF the world;
have seen some enterprise displayed by them
in New Y ork, San Francisco and st. Louis;
have run the gauntlet of a double file of them,
with good sized vaise i'll my hand, many a
time, and come out without a scratch; have
had some experience in Sacramento three
cardmontc house have been through whole
block of New York jew dealers in ready
made clothing; and know something of the
active business habits of New York Peter
Funck auction shop. But for smartness and
dash in their employment, commend me to
the Rockland hack-men.
/ embarked in Portland for Rockand in the
steamer Richmond last Friday night, with my
wife and little boy. Arrived at Rockland
about four oclock the next morning. Beside
ourselves, there was but one other passenger
for Rockland-an old lady. The boat having
touched the wharf, we started for the gang
way to step ashore-wife on one arm and lead
ing my boy by the other. AS we came out of
the saloon | was instantly seized by three
stout men, while another seized my boy, and
several others my wife, and great many 9TH
ers surroupded us in the darkness, all shout
ing, and screaming, and pulling and hauling,
in a jargon and confusion truly terrific.
"What means this mob | shouted-''what
have | done to deserve this treatment" as |
was pulled away from my wife and boy.
Louder and fiercer were the yells, and l now
distinguished a Shrek of ''f,ee ride 10 the
+ House ~ and another superhuman
scream of "to L House, free ride and free
rum r' In vain hung back, bawling till was
hoarse that did not want to go to either the
A House or the L House; my resist
ancc was useless in the brawny hands of three
Rockland hack drivers, and my voice was
drowned in the demonac yelling of the eight
cen hack-men who had come for us four pas
sengers, and was bound to have us-dead or
alive-wholc or in pieces. They meant bust
ness. l was unarmed, and my wife and the
old lady could render me no assistance. my
trunk !" l shouted, ''let me see to my trunk
At this two other hack-men dashed through
the crowd that surrounded me, and thrust
their hands into my pockets. | shouted for
the police, supposing them to be pick pockets,
Your baggage check. we want your check
and they got it in less time than it takes me
to tell it, but not in season to avoid a pair of
black eyes which one of them got, from a
finely delivered blow by one of the men hay
ing me in charge. lie evidently considered
me his game; no opposition house could pick
me with impunity. l was then boosted into a
coach and a guard was stationed Mt each door
to keep me from escaping | looked out into
the darkness and shouted for my wife and boy.
All my screaming was useless. The crowd of
enterprising hack-men were surging up with
yells and cries to which 'pandemoniums let
loose" must have been feeble, pummellng
each other with fists and whip-stocks. Above
the din | heard a woman's shrill cry. AS the
crowd approached NJ aror | discerned the old
lady horne upon the shoulders of several of
the vigilart hack-men of the "A-- House.
whilst the equally enterprising drivers of the
''Z- House" were making a dashing charge
for her re- capture. They had already taken
her bonnet, travelling bag, parasol, shawl, and
all the other loose articles of clothing she
had on, and were now making a gallant dash
for the body. The perseverance and business
like promptness with which both sides man
aged the affair was surprising, but the supe-
ror agility of the Z House" men tn
umphcd The passenger was torn from the
other side, thrown into a hack and away it
dashed at lightning speed into the darkness. |
have not heard from the old lady since, al
though have carefully scanned the obituary
notices of all the papers of this vicinity.
The coach in which | was confined was next
attacked, and my rescue attempted by the OPP
position, and am certain l was only saved by
the fleetness of the horses which dashed away,
and in their course crushed a light carriage
for the u House" and ran over one of
their drivers. l was landed at the ia
House" The driver generously refused any
fare. Five very polite gentlemen waited up
on me out Of the carriage, urging me strongly
to enter the house, breakfast and boots black
ed gratis, but ascertaining that my wife and
child were not there, l peremptorily refused
their hospitality, and went forth in search OF
Al, NJ O. I Ja,y