Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-17
BULL ON THE BRIDGE.
Travel on the Great Pennsylvania
Railroad Was Suspended,
ALL THE TRAINS WERE DELAYED.
The Wild Western Animal Controlled the
Tracks and Only
RESIGNED At DEATHS STERN DEMAND.


A bovine on the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad
bridge, at Philadelphia, caused great con-
fusion and delayed traffic. The corporation
was finally victorious in the struggle.
PHILADELPHIA, February ia bull
controlled the Pennsylvania Railroad yes
terday afternoon. 1t was not an ordinary
bull, but one that was obstinate, self-willed
and determined. The majesty of the respOn-
sible position of President George B. Rob
erts had no terrors for that bull. General
Manager William j. Latta ordered the re-
lnoval Of that bull, but the bovine paid no
attention to the instructions issued from the
third floor of the Broad street station and
held the tracks. Up went the arms at the
Seventeenth street tower signaling trains to
move, but the bull said nay and he was
obeyed.
Passengers from New York were delayed.
An emigrant train rested on the tracks for
nearly half an hour without turning wheel.
People who wanted to 60 West anxiously
inquired what was the matter. Trainmen
laconically answered:
Its tue bull.
Hot messages came over the wires from
the North, the South and the West asking
for information as to the cause of the delay.
There was but one answer:
''It's the bull"
IT'S THE BULL.
Suburban and Communication ticket buyers
hocked about the closed gates and demanded
admission. 'This is funny. What does it
ali mean?" they inquired
'tIt'S the bull, /" was the reply. Nothing
more could be said.
"what time does the next train 90 out for
Bryn Mawr?'' was asked at the bureau of
information.
f'6I5"
"Why, it's $40 now, How do you make
that out?'
cts the bull"
With various expressions of wonder, sur
prise and expectation travellers wandered in
and about the station. Some thought there
had been a terrible accident others that
there was strike on the road and not a few
that something had happened they did not
even pretend to guess at.
''It's bull, passed through the crowd,
without single one knowing what it meant
and without an Official able to enlighten
them.
THE MAN SAID "sHoo."
The bull that controlled the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad had come from the West and was
about to be corraled in the abbattoir drove
yards when he took notion that he would
make a break for liberty. Dsshing through
the gate leading from Thirtieth street he
rushed up the steep 20-ioot bank and was on
the railroad tracks.
The animal was calm. He was free and
untrammeled. He could either start back
to Pittshurg or move on to Philadelphia, as
he might elect. He surveyed the field and
was apparently undecided which way to
go, when a rash individual standing near
the tower house at Thirtieth street, shouted:
''Shoo!''
The bull would not shoe. He was not
that kind of q bull He was dignifed and
resented the attempt of a solitary man to |
shoe him. Waving his head from side to |
side, he looked at that man, and when he
said "Shoo" again the bull moved on him ]
in column front.
THE ONWARD RUSH.
The man discovered that he had made a
mistake as the bull neared him with head
lowered. He climbed the tower without the
aid of an elevator, but made the animal
furious as he stuck his head ont of the win
dow and repeated, "ShooP'
With a snort of disdain the bull charged
for Broad street. He met nothing on his
way, and made rapid progress until he
reached the Schuylkill bridge. Relaxing
hls speed as he touched the trestle the bull
was seemingly puzzled. He could not
understand the lack of firm foundation.
First one hoof would sink into empty space,
and the bull would founder about. When
he again found a solid footing it would be
but second before be would lose his equi- |
4 IL. T. 4 - l.
the bull swayed from track to track.
HOLDING THE BRIDGE.
The telegraph operator at the Thirtieth |
street tower had send word to the Broad |
street station to stop all outgoing trains, |
and to Powelton avenue and South street to |
halt the incoming trains. There could be
no traffic while the bull held the bridge |
with Its two tracks. The animal retained |
his dignity if not an upright position, and
with great determination forged ahead |
toward the city proper. Not a train could |
move. The bull owned the road, and for
the time being was beast of great power, if |
net of wealth.
Floundering from side to side of the
bridge with uncertain step be kept moving
until an unhappy misstep brought him on |
his side, and a snap told the tale of broken
leg. He could 60 no further, but he quite
as efectually blocked all travel as if be had
been on his feet.
Business could be delayed no longer.
Trade and pleasure could not be
thwarted. The bull had to go, or else
the trains could not 90. A skirmish-
ing party from the abattoiT armed
with axes and knives approached. A
blow on the head and slash in the throat
proclaimed victory for the Pennsylvania
Railroad. Ropes were attached to the car
csss and, with the aid of a switch engine, the
dead brute was pulled to the West Philadel-
phia side and thrown over the embankment,
Then President Roberts went his way 10
his beautiful home at BaIa station, Vice
President Thomson speeded toward Merton
and the travelling public were free once
more to 60 at will. No more was heard the