The New York herald., 1879-08-25

OH portion or the tOrmentors; ana the poor man,
mastering up courage. suddenly seized on the reg
ular ticket and was hurried off amid the noisy
9noiiatlons OF the yctors. The crosstown cars oy
this time began to arrive laden with people bound
for the seaside and the sight of the living stream
called out all the latent energy of the runners.
Hither and thther they rushed, urging the advan-
sges OF the boats they represented and abusing the
speed. accommodation and charges of their rivals.
That boati shouted one of the representatives OF
the line which claimed to be regular. ''will take
you down. hut 1t won't bring you back" .,.
''rhe Adelaide is the only boat that win land you
the pier retorted the rival ticket seller. "Dont
be deceiving the public" ~. bt.,
''His boats never time We had to take his
\ passengers back last Sunday. Tickets for four?
yes, ma'am; our boats run every half hour" And
the runner voice sank several octaves he handed
out the tickets and pocketed the money with polite
smile Ia curious contrast to the belgerent aspect
Z he had worn while addressing his rival But the
latter not 10 be suppressed.
This way for the Coney Island pier boat; every
lady presented with bouquet and every gentleman
with gold headed cane! This way for the pier.
This. way. sir. to the palace boat" -l
Then there would be pause, until another arrival
of street Jersey ferry boat sent them rush
ing of to renew their solicitations for patronage. 1t
noticeable that few OF the men their badges
so to render them easily deciph herable.
As the day progressed the energy OF the ticket
agents seemed to increase, and the abuses the
Tenth street pier were carried to the extreme limit
. OF federation. The competition at this point
most intense and as 1t was concentrated at the foot
OF the pier not word was lost the owd assem-
bed in expectation of the arrival OF the
steamboats, of their prediction. Though there
were apparently some dozen runners" engaged
in the sale of tickets two dis
tinguished themselves by the boisterous
ergy of their rivalry that the others were
almost lost sight Of though at times they managed
to contribute their full share to the din and disorder
OF the scene. In point OF lung power or readiness
to retort, they could not pretend to contend with
the two champion noise makers, whose wordy war;
fare was not wholly without interest for the
majority OF the necessarily composite crowd. One
OF these men was u tail. vigorous specimen of hui
manity, dressed in pepper and salt tweed suit and
rakish-iookng straw nat decorated with black
band. He had on badge. but it was ingeniously
turned outside in, so that it was impossible to OBJ
serve the number He represented that his the
regular line, and dilated at considerable length
the merits OF the Rosedale. Illewild and other
boats. His rival was q sturdy. middle-siZed man,
younger by some years, aud not whit less perti-
naciously energetic.
MRDLEY OF voIcEs.
Don't buy tickets for the Rosedale; she don't go
to the pier" he cried.
"If you go down by the Adelaide you will have to
stay all night"
''Why don't you mind what the HERALD tells you,
and don't be deceiving the public"
''The Adelaide's one-horse boat. She's never on
time; she was to be here at one O'Clock. but she's
now at Coney Island"
''Take the Adelaide-here she comes!"
Just look at that old tub! She's worse than
Il Here party of ladies and gentlemen appeared and
both agents rushed to meet them. vociferating their
contradictory statements. at which the new comers
seemed thoroughly puzzled while the crowd. having
already passed through the ordeal looked on and
rather enjoyed the embarrassment which the new
"If you buy that ticket you won't get home to-
night. maam urged one agent to rather timid
Twenty-Five cents. ma am. to the pier and back"
"Does it really bring me bsck?' tmidly inquired
the puzzled lady.
'Its shame for you to deceive the lady, urged
the rival agent. with an expression OF we-feigned
sympathy
"Desr me-" soliloquized the woud-be passenger
aloud, II really don't know what to do and she
turned away TO seek advice from some more relia-
Kept arriving In wh the naSns made groups ap
their minds beforehand. purchased tickets with
out paying heed to the clamorous runners.
uhosa vOira mi ba haar6 fhrou. IN
vaulted pier. Passages at arms were family
curing between the minor agents. and twice
these attempted 10 minge in the wordy warfare Of
the chiet combatants but they gla to retreat
under cover of attending to the constantly arriving
"Here comes the Rosedale. the floating village"
shouted the tail champion; "boats returning every
half hour"
"wait on the dock for the palace steamer Adelaide.
She'll be here in u minute %
| 1.-The Adelaides at Coney Island" interrupted his
tireless opponent.
''wait for the palace steamer; her carpets are
foot thick"
| .Your tongue was foot thick this morning" in
| terrupted an unfriendly satellite.
$50 away. you scarecrow; you re frightening the
children Go away and hide behind the bulkhead!'
This attack on the personal appearance Of the
lucky interloper amused the spectators, and as it
was considered lucky hit the speaker wGs rewarded
| by such general applause as told he had scored
victory. At tins moment the Rosedale appeared and
| the waiting crowd began to embark; but the
Of arrivals constant this rather increased
the energy of the opposition and all kinds devices
and subterfuges were adopted to stem the tide of
patronage that set in toward the Rosedale. While
| one set OF runners urged the arriving groups
| to "hurry up the others exerted themselves,
and with success in many cases. to bring them to q
halt and induce them to await the arrival of the op-
| position boats. The gangway was encumbered and
each person was strenuously solicited to wait for
| the palace steamer" thereby causing . good deal
| OF delay.
Don't hurry. maam; therell be another boat
| here in minute
collar the gangway there and let the people pass"
Then the Rosedale agent would indulge in mild
employ of physical force in removing his rival
out OF the line OF progress SO as to leave free
passage but 1t was done always good-naturedy. and
in way to seem though the collision acci-
dental In the meanwhile, the policeman whose
duty it is supposed to be to keep order, leaned
against the pier tmbers noncnalantly aud enjoyed
the fun, not allowing the hustle and excitement to
disturb in the least his phllosophic repose.
Similar scenes occurred ut Pier q where the rival
runners also In force; but they did not to
rades up river. They, however, put in practice
similar tactics and rewarded with similar
cess. On one occasion one of the men this pier
had made vigorous but unsuccessful efforts stop
the tide ot patronage flowing on board the opposi-
tion boat, and having urged large party who were
advancing. half running. half walking to get
board before the gsngplank should be removed. he
finally cried out, "You needn't be i'll such o hurry.
This is not six days walk!
From the above description of scenes witnessed
yesterday by reporter II Is evident that some
methcd should be adopted by the companies of
moderatng tho energy OF their servants, because
such scenes are liable ut any moment to degenerate
into row. little bad temper occasional
glass of whiskey might expose q crowd of women
and children to the danger OF Tree ight as there
always roughs present that would only be too
happy to take hand II anything like row should
be started The cure seems to be the uniforming of
the and the issuing Of oLders to the police
to arrest persons giving false information to the
public