Evening journal., 1890-02-20
The INDIAN AND THE CONDUCTOR.
How the Noble Red Man Essays TO Beat
the Railroad Company.

How the Noble Red Man Essays to Beat
the Railroad Company.
Pap Richards, an old time conductor or
the Western New York and Pennsylvania
railroad, which runs through Cornplanter
Indian reservation, on the Allegheny river,
near Salamanca, has had some experiences in
carrying Indians on his train that are worth
relating.
Talk about dead beating on railroads, "
said Mr. Richards, there is no living, think
ing being who gives up money to railroad
company with 20 much heartfelt reluctance
as an Indian. l have been carrying some Of
them on my train every day or two for the
past fifteen years, and ! long ago made up
my mind that whenever an Indian boardsmy
train havea scheme of some sort 10 contend
with. think it Is Pope who makes the state
ment that proud science has never taught the
Indians soul to stray beyond the solar walk
or milky way, but l am ready to gamble that
proud science never had anything down finer
than Cornplanter Indian has the business
Of bilking his way on a railroad train. OF
course speak Of the ragtag ard bobtail of
the Cornplanters, for there are many Of these
Indians who are good citizens and pay their
way accordingly.
tor is strildngly original Suppose him TO he
going up the river TO Salamanca, ride OF a
few hours from the reservation. He buys a
ticket TO the next station only, perhaps at AZ
expenditure Of ten cents. But II you expect
your Indian TO get off at that station that Is
whore you are weak on the Indian strategy
The train stops, but the Indian does not
bulge from his scat The hope that wells up
q. L.
the Indian who had the ticket for that sta
ton got Off, while the Indian who did not get
of has through ticket Nearly an Of these
Indians answer 10 the nnme of John, 50 |
stop on my way through the car and say;
John, you didn't get off at your station.
"'Injun 20 ON to next station he viii say,
and going down into his beaded purse he will
fish out enough niclels and pennies to pay "a
that station. Arrived here he viii not get
or, but sit quiet and thoughtful; or perhap:
when the train stops he win make an ostenta
tious dash through the car 10 the platform
making a feint to get of, but will dodge intc
tho next ear and take seat. You come
around and find him sitting there as serenely
as If lie had been in that particular seat FOR o
day or two.
"'Well, John, you didn't get of at youI
station, / win say.
'injun SO to next station he win repeat
again, and out viii come the purse and thu
reluctant pennies will be counted out. TIT
same thing is repeated at the next station
and the next. and still again at the next, ant
SO on during the run up 70 Salamanca.
1.-THE Indian never seems to think yol
fathom his game. He regards it as a mos
subtle piece of strategy, entirely too deep foi
the beclonded mind OF the white man. AL
the conductors understand John perfect,
WE'LL and he has about one chance in n mill
ion Of getting through on his original ten
cent ticket, but he prefers to take that ont
chance and pay considerably more from sta
ton to station rather than buy ticket cleal
| through. This refers 10 the trip up the river
Unless the Allegheny is frozen over we rare
ly have the privilege of carrying John dowr
stream. He win spend all bis money at Sala
manca, and couple OF slabs and the broad
bosom of the Allegheny will furnish him q
very congenial means Of transportation
home.
at is a common sight TO see John aboard O
slab OF two complacently floating home after
one Of these pleasure trips TO Salamanca -
| New York World.