Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-26
IHE TOPICAL IALKER.
A Scene Drawn From Life in n Smoking
Car which Illustrates Some Of the Re-
suits Of Celebrating Christmas MOI

A Scene Drawn From Life in a Smoking
Car which Illustrates Some Of the Re-
suits Of Celebrating Christmas Not
Wisely but Too Well.
IT HERE has not been more drunkenness than
usual probably during the holiday season.
| but 1t has been my misfortune to meet great
number of extensively intoxicated persons in
the last 46 hours. Sketches of drunkenness
| are not edifying, but am tempted to describe
a scene which made things very interesting for
/ the passengers on the Cleveland express two
nights ago. The train was late, that is to say
/ Eastern connections were. about an hour be-
hind time, and great crowd gathered at the
Union and Federal street depots. OF those
| who finally boarded the train it would be .
modest estimate to say that 10 per cent were
drunk and another 10 per cent somewhat under
| the influence of liquor. There was not, how
ever, as far as know. any disturbance in any
Of the cars but the smoker. In the latter, as
usual, the inebriated passengers congregated.
and yet as the smoker was the only car in which
there was room, dozen sober men took seats
| there. Twelve lambs among wolves.
| THE train had hardly started before a lanly
countTyman, whose face had been painted q
leathery yellow by the sun, began to deliver an
address on nothing in particular. He looked
like man who hangs about oil wells and takes
care to work as little as possible. He spoke
with racy Yankee twang, and swore pictur-
esquely and with much profane imagery.
When the conductor had taken up the tickets
forid Irishman, thick and strong as a bull,
who was pretty nearly sober, took exception to
some Of the lanky cOuntryman's remarks The
Irishman evidentlywent into the contest for
the fun of the thing objecting TO fight,
of co urse, if It had to come. But the country
man did not take the interference kindly. He
called the Irishman all the names he could
think of. Not one of these names can be given
here. All the Irishman would say in reply
was: "There is no need for you to apologize"
which hardly acted as sedative.
At last the tall, raw-boned countryman arose
unsteadily fro m his seat, and said to his laugh
ing opponent: "rll lick you or any --
- duplicate of you, you blank blank
blankn
Although clenched fist was unpleasantly
near his face, the Irishman still laughed and
murmured; Don't apoiogizeP' But a third
party took hand in the debate at this point.
IS
HIscombatant was a medium-sized gentle.
man who had been slumbering in the seat
behind the Irishman all this time. As the
countryman yelled the challenge to his tor
mentor, or his duplicate, the sleeper shook
himself and scrambled, and almost fell out into
the aisle.
who called me duplicate?' he Numbered.
The suddenness Of this irruption produced
momentary calm The last invader of the ring,
who spoke the Lancashire (England) dialect
as only native can, went on: 'sThs man who
says I'm duplicate is liar"
BY this time the leather-colored pugilist from
rural parts had recovered from his surprise,
and not deigning TO answer the newcomers
question. or not understanding it, he struck q
prize-ring attitude, as nearly as the swaying of
the train would allow, and begged some one to
step out and get licked. The gentleman who
disliked the term Of a duplicate advanced at
once-he had face, by the way which shone
like full moon in foggy weather, a dull angry |
red. But fourth man took hand.
E4E
he fourth man was brakeman-no chicken, |
but stocky. determined looking fellow His |
height was less than that of the smallest of the
men whom he started out to subdue. He had |
been watching the progress of the squabble. |
Now as the countryman and the Briton rushed |
at each other, the brakeman neatly upset the |
latter with a shove. administered with his left |
hand. and with his right forcibly deposited the
countryman in his seat.
The downfall Of the Briton was grievous to |
0eAOAAs
and for two or three minutes lay there strug-
Cling like q turtle turned upside down. The
audience laughed long and loud. The country
man continued to breathe blood and fury and |
whiskyfed sentiment. The Irishman benevo-
lently offered to back both men and hold the
stakes, which the Briton, upon his resuscita-
ton, announced he would put up In amounts to |
suit any pugilist's desire.
But the brakeman ruled the ring with
strong hand after this. and with patience and |
forbearance that I've never seen beaten. There
was no nearer approach to fighting than gales
of profane language till the train reached the
quiet station az which Iretired What occurred
afterwards some one else must tell
Little incidents like the above are not un-
common in the experience of railroad brake
men. The brakeman has to be ready to turn
policeman at a moments notice-and not only
to brake" his train. but to keep his own head
from being broken.