The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-01-01
RIDING ON THE RAIL.
Lights and Shadows Of a Train
g Master S Life.
Laughable Sketch of the reculiar origin of
the Bell Rope--An Experienced Contluc-
tors Recollections of the Queer Char
aeteristics of Noted Travellers.

AS a rule, railway conductors are po-
aite, intelligent, attentive and consider
ate. So far as it is possible within the
limits Of theirduty they are alse sympa-
thetic-woman. children and poor, ig-
norant people being treated by them
witt. especial cunrtesy.
The position of conductor is one of
grave responsibility, aside from its
financial duties. He is master of the
train; his authoritygis supreme. Con-
duetors are chosen for certain valuable
traits of character, They are the So
Der and vigilant custodians of valuable
property and precious lives, and yet
amid all the perils of their calling moth
ing compares with the dangers which
the lurking, ,stealthy sleuth-hound '.spot-
ter has in store for them. The spot
ter's motto is "Down the conductor!''
as | write am reminded of an incident
in the spotting business so unique and
0fsucli astounding infamy that | can
not refrain from recording it here: On
one of the great trunk lines of the coun-
try the managers decided to put to the
seYerest test the integrity of their con-
ductors. 1t is to be presumed that the
conductors on this line had proved to
be too honest for the average maseu-
line ''spotter. and, therefore, a wom-
an was chartered for the work. This
feminine spQtter had evidently been Sc
iected fer her persuasive talents. She
could plead like an angel, and to add to
the pathos Of kher pleading and the
logic of her tears, she was provided
with baby. The job was magnificent
" put up. Thepo forlorn, poverty
stricken woman was provided with a
story of Wretchedness and woe well
calculated to draw tears from stones,
and she reeited it with becoming agony
Of expression and gesture. She wanted
2 tree ride to certain station where
her husband had gone to obtain en-
ploTment. She was penniless, alone,
without friends, and in this condition
she appealed to the conductor to let her
ride to the designated station. The
eeoonduetor refused gently but firmly.
lhe pooi rssaan then oot unon her
knees, held up her chi10 ard viii
streaming eyes sobbed forth her plea
for aid in this hour of her extremity:
put the conductor remained firmly fixed
II hIs purpose TO put her off at the first
station He said to her: Madame, ct
the next station j viii put You off this
tram. will take you to a hotel. |
viii provide you with food, shelter and
lodging at my own expense. You shall
not suffer, but you shall not ride on this
tfaln. The conductor discovered the
spetter under the disguise. Too gallant
ana manly to expose her, he treated
her as II she We're lady, and while her
mission was ruin. he paid her back in
mercy and saved his position. That
woman was transferred to another line,
.,nu py her tactics swept it of every con-
aletor TO whom she made her JnolIrn-
'al appeal. This is true story, with
os'e esnloelhshment, and it brings into
terrible prominence the perils Of the
track. . 'h HIS
IN the early days of the railroad in
sals country the locomotive engineer
was tne master of the train. ~ ran 4
aeeordlng to his Judgment and tbe
,,,es. Seutueter had very little VOL. IN tba
matter Collecting fares sn,,....., III '.i'
ing the loading and MI vi .-'eii''e
wcre nei IL ana !. shouting "All aboa2di,'
mele naa. an that the conductor q,
pected to do. The Erie pa. '.<-
n sllen the New York & Erie irs ps;j., 8 M,,S
Dae OF the pioneer conductors an az. =
une was Captain Ayres. Ha ,.s ''-'N
olly tram then called for bet ~ - =.
y sefninal points. 1t was ma, .
freight and passenger cars $50
oil The engineer, without ha
SinoWledge of what was goino - ~
o. the locomotive, having if 4 IN
way as to how the train Was f.
aid not strike the CAPTAIN &c et'' NJ
proper sort of thing. He e. a - "
encountered fractions nasso, - -
insisted on riding without -. - " ~
;ale, az ana as there was no waTt 10, i.
ing TO the engineer, and tbe = 5a,.e 10
SSala S,.s.D not be thrown from ,;,;
i, Aae y was in motion. tho ., a,s.'l,,
hin, n0ra sis cases had no choice i rto
Caa,a;ae Can l'ae until regular stop W; MAJ
st;fnts ,sssln Ayres finally determin. - =
trains. He n.ea ssseln IN the ru ing c
sufficiently lono' aoeuled q stout tWine
~ 'tte nv 70 the rear car, and to 'go2
sss.ass sns string next the emo ~ /,
- - -sselea Q stick of wood uo -.