Wichita eagle., 1888-04-06
WITH A TRUCK DRIVER,
RECKLESS DODGNG UNDER HORSES,
FEET AT EVERY CROSSING.

Reporters Experience on the Sea
with Drivers OF Heavy Wasons-Peopl
on Foot Seem to Be to Blame for s.os
Accidents.
A reporter was sent out to spend day o.
two on the drivers seats. The heavies
trucks were selected. After negotiations will
several drivers he finally struck bargain
with young man named Jimmy, and SO
cured seat beside him for ride up Broad
way from Rector to Canal street en- load OF
canned tomatoes. Broadway was not un
usually crowded, as it was early in the day
! but the ride developed several startling in.
cidents. Asked if he had met with many
mishaps, Jimmy replied: Not very many.
IL is pretty tough to keep from doing it some
times, though, and l make close calls for
people crossin' streets, but never run over
nobody. Women are the worst THEY'LL
stand still and look up an down the street as
long as it is all clear, and then, just when
half score wagons come in q bunch, they'll
try to give their husbands another chance by
lodging right in among the hoses"
"Whoa-upH yelled Jimmy, as he nearly
fell backward in his efforts to stop the team,
and there was an exemplifcation of his re-
mark. At Cortiandt street an old lady had
taken too many chances for her feeble limbs
and was nearly under the horses feet. but an
athletic, quick witted young man seized her
as she fell and assisted her out of danger.
At Fulton street there was as usual, great
JAM and Jimmy, as he expressed it, chad to
keep his eye peeled" A number of people
apparently had not another second to lose,
and rushed pell nell across Broadway. All
Of them escaped, however, although an old
gentleman of robust build moved off with
the conviction stamped upon his countenance
that he would have been seriously damaged,
II not entirely ruined but for his foresight
IN raising his umbrella for protection from a
threatening milk wagon
Opposite the poStofice q lady who looked
like stage schoolmarm, and who escaped
danger by at least fifty feet, halted on the
curb to threateningly shake her sunshade at
the drivers collectively. while two men with
law books under their arms calmly pursued
their way, notwithstanding their shoulders
were grazed by the noses of an Adams ex-
press team, while a furniture van left axle
grease on their coat tails. 1t was not a rare
thing during the trip to see people rush
step or the slightest contact with another
equally rash pedestrian must have thrown
them under the animals feet. Near Duane
street, owing to 3 collision of truck hubs, a
Grated sewing machine was dumped from the
top of load on 20 an empty truck, while on
tie opposite side, about where il would have
fallen had IL gone that way, stood a lady ard
two children. The accident caused a gen
eral stoppage, and the pole Of another wagon
smashed one OF the boxes and opened I'D two
cans Of Jinnys tomatoes. which were
greedlly captured by two small bows at tie
imminent risk of their limbs 4 little s1y
to the rear a beer wagon caught the preced-
ing wagon on the hook with which the for
ward end Of the poles Of such wagons ara
provided, and backing became necessary,
which caused the horse OF following cab
20 shy. Thereupon the two Young ladies
who occupied the cab precipitately fed,
sought the sidewalk that was furthest from
them and narrowly escaped being run over
The profuse vocabulary OF the truck driver
is painfully circumscribei as 10 the number
Of phrases in vogue, but unlimited as TO We
hemence II is fact, however, that there IS
very little profanity recklessly cast ad-ift.
The drivers, as q rule, rarely give il expres-
sion, but allow it 20 accumulate for particQ-
larly trying emergencies. 4 driver who was
interrosated on the subject explained tia: "a
good solid oath lightens e heavy load wonder
fully sometimes" ana some Of them seem 70
have faith in its accomplishing many other
things
The return trip was made with a grizzly
bearded, shaggy eyebrowed old man, whose
SLOUGH hat seemed determined to orrsloz,ch
all Of its competitors He said he had b.assr
twenty years teamiu'. Used 70 be more arts
,ocratlc and drive two spankin' horses in a
red wagon for big dry goods house. b,,. tie
'wells had no use for him now, and he h.d 20
a-nl liu,s and horSe hair for a plassersr.n