Omaha daily bee., 1884-03-08
PICKING IN THE BERTRS.
Conductors on The Pan HandlG.--A Gen.
GTal Order COmpGS the Train
men 10 Play the Spy on
Pullman Cars,
Constc nation Among the lady Pas
sengers-An Outrage.
Chicago News.

sengers-An Outrage.
Chicago News.
The train conductors of the Chicago,
st. Louis & Pittsburg railroad system,
popularity known as the Pan Handle, now
draw the curtains of sleeping.ca
berth, and throwing the full rays of their
lanterns into the apartments, inspect
their occupants. There is a loud clamor
for the repeal of the order. The patrons
of the road are indignant because so little
respect is shown tor their rights and con.
fort.
Last Friday evening a Daily News re-
porter got aboard the night express, leav.
ing the Union depot at $50 o'clock in
the evening. There were nine cars in
the train. They were lightly loaded.
The sleeping-car conductors, pursuant to
the orders of their managers, collected
the tickets and fares of their passengers
for the train conductors. The train
reached Loganspsrt about l o'clock in
the morning. 1t was divided into three
sections for three different routes, and
twenty-five minutes afterward all had
departed. Before Kokomo was reached
the train conductor entered the sleepers.
1t was the first time he had been in them
during the trip. He took the tickets and
fares from the ssleeping-car conductors,
and after looking at the diagram of births
occupied started on through the cars In
turn he drew aside the curtains held his
lantern on the inside and carefully gazed
at the occupants. There were one or two
faint screams from ladies and emphatic
protests from gentlemen.
"What do you mean by this kind of
conduct?' inquired an irate PASSENGER as
the rays of the conductors lamp shone in
upon the berth, while the trainman
looked about leisurely.
"I'm inspecting the berths, sir" the
conductor replied.
"You ought to have your skull
cracked" suggested the passenger.
"Im only obeying my orders, sir, and
if you do not like it you will have to
make a complaint at the general Office"
the conductor replied, as he vent on to
other berths.
In the morning when the guests arose
the sleeping.car conductor received the
complaints of his passengers. A lonely
lady far advanced in the stages of con-
sumption said: 81 thought when I gave
you my train ticket that / was placed in
your keeping; that l should enjoy in the
berth which / had purchased privacy,
respect, and rest. had just got to sleep
when the conductor, a stranger to me,
rudely threw open my berth and gazed at
me. l do not know how long he had
been looking before | saw him, and l do
not know what he may have done before
L was awakened. l am an invalid, and
character of my affection is such that l
must sleep under as little clothing as is
possible. | shall avoid such an insult
hereafter by finding out in advance what
railroad companies treat lady passengers
with civility."
"The next man that puts his head into
a berth where my wife or / All sleeping
will get a bullet in his heart" angrily
exclaimed q young husband, who had
not known of the incident of travel until
informed by his wife, who said that she
had been the cynosure of the conductors
eyes.
A lady in delicate health said: 81 be-
came very sick after experiencing the
shock OF being so outrageously treated
by the man whom | supposed l should
look for kindness and protection"
what did he dol" was asked.
81 do not know. l was asleep when
some sort OF sensation seized me, and on
waking / was blinded by the bright rays
of the conductors lamp. Then l saw his
face. / was tempted to scream, but re-
sisted, and after he had gone by i be-
came 30 sick that l would have called for
a physician if ] had thought one was in
the car"
"Why do you permit such ABUSES of
your company's guests?" was asked of the
s~lesping-car conductor.
81 can't help it," he replied. eff /
resist the train conductors efforts he will
put me off the train"
At indianapolis The reporter obtained
a little history of the new method. About
four weeks ago a sleeping-car conductor
on an eastern division of the Panhandle
system was found holding back fares he
made a confession which implicated
Others. General Manager McCrea issued
all order that the car conductors should
show their diagrams. Soon afterward
that order gave way to another which
reads about as follows:
To CoNDUCroRs-Each conductor shall
look through the berths and find by
actual count how many passengers are IN
the sleeping-car. In case any sleeping,
car conductor shall refuse 10 show his
diagram or object to you looking through
the nerths yon shall st"p at the first sta
ton and put him Of the train. Any
failure to comply with this order shall
result i'll immediate dismissal.
JAMES McCREA,
General Manager, Columbus, o.
The Panhandle system embraces tn,
lines OF the Pennsylvania be
tween this city and Pittsburg, by wa,
of Logansport; the lines to Cincinnati
Madison, Louisville. Indianapolis, and
the Vandalia between st. Louis and Pitts
burg.
"There is no excus for such conduct,
; said a passenger agent of the Kankake,
line ''The company ought to see tina
the sleeping.ca conductors are men il
whom they can place at least an ordinar,
amount of confidence. If they cannot d
that their own conductors should take vi
| the fareR Of the slaaninn M.