The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-06
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
The Chicago & Indianapolis Airline al


The Chicago & Indianapolis Airline and
the Wabash.
"Reminiscences Of railroad, as well as OF ma
tional and civil wars, often make interesting
reading, therefore we publish an incident con-
nected with the breaking out of the war be-
tween the north and south roads. On the
memorable vpight of Sept. 20, 1888,
the presidents car of the Wabash system
ran into the city and sidetracked in the freight
yards used jointly by the Chicago & Indianapolis
Airline and the Wabash, tia former leasing yard
room, freight depot facilities, etc, of the wabash
at this point, as well as using five miles OF the
Wabash track to gain entrance into the city.
During the day of the 25th the G. q |. Airline
people announced 81 rate from Indianapolis
TO Chicago and the same rate to return. VICE
Presldent Hays of the Wabash system, and Col
Andrews, the general superintendent, came INTO
tine CITY on the coach above mentioned. Their
gard was crowded with G. & l. airline and their
own cars. The difficulty which their conductor
had to find room in the yard even Tor their
private car tended to aggravate matters;
Hardly had their coach come to standstlll
when Geo. Breeount general agent OF the " q
Colonel Andrews, in his usual pleasant style,
asked General BrecOunG what in II all this
racket was about, referring to the cut IN rates
and to the blockaded condition of the Wabash
yards. General BrecounJ pushed pack
his hat and began by saying,
us, and we now propose to protect our
rights to the bitter end. We shall send out a
train tonight, carrying some 200 Chicago pas
6engers al q ST. rate, and tomorrow morning a
train bringing full as many will arrive mere.
Well, we shall have to start your trains and stop
lhem at Howland's Station, where youcome onto
our track" said Col. Andrews.
"But this is not in consonance with the con
tract between our people aud the Wabash" said
Gen BrecOunt.
s'Contract be DID," said Col. Andrews. "You
have got none" :,
He then pulled from his coat pocket an article
of agreement, covering sixteen pages OF foolscap,
and read to Col. Andrews the part Of the agree
1nent referring to the rights of the g. & L.
Airline at this terminus, which read as
follows: 'The party of the first part has leased
and devised to the second party the equal right
10 possess, enjoy and use in all respects, IN com
snon with said first party, for railroad purposes,
the railroads, right-of-way, main tracks and
sldetraeks, yards, grounds, switches, telegraphs,
telegraph facilities and other appurtenances,
fixtures. terminal facilities now possessed or
owned or which may be hereafter possessed or
acquired by the party of the first part, between
penis now known as the junction of the rail-
road of said second party with the railroad OF
the first party from Fall creek TO Alabama
street." Another clause of the contract says:
Strains of the second party Chat Is, the G. & |.
Air-line) shall have the same rights and prvi-
1eges as the trans of the first party OF the same
class"
After the reading. Colonel Andrews handed the
document TO Vice president Hayes, whO after a
short consultation, told General Bree0unt his
avenue that night. they had announced and
sold tickets for snch trains, but after that night
they could not run their through trains fur
fher south than Howlands Station, where
the Airline comes onto the Wabash tracks. At
this iuncture General Breeount ordered hacks
sssa drays to transfer passengers and baggage
from the Administered depot to Massachusetts
avenue. On the noon of the Goth
General Brecount managed to run a
train through the lines, ami created
quite a rumpus. Meantime, Vice-president
Hays had telegraphed the general solicitor of
The Wabash company to examine carefully the
contract between them and the L., N. A. & c..
people controlling the G. & I. Airline, and re-
port by telegraph had they right to
shut the Airline trains out of Indianapolis,
stopping them at Howland'5 Station.
few hours later the solicitor
1elegraphed; Contract very strong one.
Move cautiously. 1 think they have fast I'M
I'll May /, 1885," From chat time matters took
different turn. The Wabash people became
more conservative. The edge of the war was
taken of and the c. &. I. Airline was in shape
to give its competitors some of the livelest COM
petition they ever experienced.