Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-07-15
RufHanism on Railroads.

The frequency with which scenes OF roWoy-
| ism are being enacted on the railroads leading
into Staunton is already beginning to arouse
just Indignation and to excite the most I'M
favorable comment. We dislike very much TO
appear in the role of fault-finder, but when
| ever the rights and conveniences of the traV-
cling public are SO outrageously Invaded az
1 they have been in the instances to which we
| propose directing general attention, we shall
not hesitate to subordinate our reluctance 10
| complain to q. rigid sense of our duty as pub
lie journalist. Our esteemed contemporary, the
Charlottesville Jetersonidae contained the fol-
lowing notice, in a recent issue. in relation 10
the subject upon which we have started out to
indite few lines:
Last week party of four or five rowdy ne
groes took the Chesapeake and Ohio passenger
train at this place They entered the paSSen-
ger cars, seated themselves, and began smok-
ing. Captain George Wlieht. the Conductor,
requested them to go into the smoking car II
they wished to smoke. They defiantlv refused,
and continued smoking. The Capiain request.
ed the ladies who were in the car to go BACK
into the parior car which they did. The Cap
TAIN with the assistance of The colored porter
and armed with a billet OF wood proceeded
vi ct drGis to forcibly eject the rowdies OF SOM
bre hue. After an active engagement for few
moments, they were put Off between Mechum's
River and Crozet. They were very abusive,
and as the train started of, they stoned the
cars. Such acts should be punished with Sc
verify. and we hope they may yet meet with
their just deserts"
The conduct of the Conductor was highly
comm ndable, and should mark him for pro-
motion at the earliest practicable moment At
ter the lapse of a brief period intelligence of a
similar outrage on the same road is communi.
Gated to us by old gentleman from Rich
mold, who was passenger on the train at the
time and spectator of the scene which he de-
scribes. On Whitsuntide Monday party of
drunken groes took the train at Charlottes-
Vile, who conducted themselves in most TN
becoming manner and created quite disturb
ance. One negro of q e party rudely broke
open the glass-door leading into the ladies' car,
and after walking up and down the car in an
insolent and defiant manner for some time,
absolutely refused TO leave 1t. In coming
through the tunnels between here and Char
lottesville, the car became uncomfortably filled
with smoke. greatly to the annoyance of the
ladies on the train, whose fears for their per-
sonal safety were greatly excited because some
we're without escorts or protectors.
We are also informed by another gentleman
that on Saturday night. the 5th inst. another
drunken crowd took The train al Winchester
for Woodstocd on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, who had prolonged the festivities OF
the Fourth at Winchester into a protracted
debauch and that they conducted themselves
in manner which was marked by the grossest
improperly. In justice to the colored people.
we will say that in this instance the offenders
were white men, The presence of ladies on
the train failed to place any restraint upon
their gross ribaldry, but seemed, on the con-
trary to act as an incentive to the preparation
of rude jests and other discreditable conduct.
A bridal couple CHANGED to be on this train,
and the groom became SO much incensed at
the disreputable behavior of these miscreants
that he offered to fight the best man in their
party. This was declined, and 1t afterwards
devolved upon the Conductor to transfer both
bride and groom to the baggege car in order to
shield them from the maudin fury of this
mob.
These are a few instances of ruffianism on
the thoroughfares of our public carriers, which
were so fragrant as to call for the prompt sup
preston OF such occurrences hereafter. While
such state of things exists no lady or family
of any gentleman travelling alone can be con-
sidered as altogether free from molestation.
We believe that there is already law in ex-
istence authorizing Conductors of railroad
trains to arrest all turbulent persons, but the
law should be SO amended as to empower
Conductors TO invoke the aid of passengers in
the preservation of good order. This is alike
demanded by the dictates of public decency
and for the maintenance of the good names Of
the railroad companies themselves.
P. S.-Since writing the above, we learn from
the Rockingham Register that the author of
the above disturbance on the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad was Robert J. Walker, Editor of
the Herald, published at woodstacK, and Gem
monwealths Attorney of Shena ndoah county,
as well as Elector upon the Malone Republic
can ticket.