Wichita eagle., 1890-02-23
THE INDIAN AND THE CONDUCTOR
How the Noble Red Nan Essays to Beat
rhe Railroad Company.

How the Noble Red Ran Essays to Beat
lhe Railroad Company.
ePapn Richards, an old time conductor on
the Western New York and Pennsylvania
railroad. which runs through Cornplanter
Indian reservation, on the Allegheny river,
near Salamanca. has had some experiences in
carving Indians on his train that are worth
relating.
'sTalk about dead beating on railroads."
said Mr.. Richards, there is no living, think
ing being who gives up money to railroad
company with so 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 L long ago made up
NV mind that whenever an Indian boardsmy
train havea scheme of some sort to 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 am ready to gamble that
proud science never had anything down finer
than a Cornplanter Indian has the business
Of bilking his way on railroad train. OF
course SPEAK Of the ragtag and bobtail OF
the Cornplanters, for there are many of these
Indians who are good citizens and pay their
way accordingly.
IAN Indian method of beating conduc-
tor is strikingly original. Suppose him to be
going up the river to Salamanca, a ride of
few hours from the reservation. He buys
ticket to the next station only, perhaps at an
expenditure of ten cents. But if you expect
your Indian to get Off at that station that is
where you are weak on the Indian strategy.
The train stops but the Indian does not
F-Av~ h:cc ham hats nm
in his heart is that the conductor will think
the Indian who had the ticket for that sta
ton got off, while the Indian who did not get
off has through ticket. Nearly all of these
Indians answer to the name of John SO l
stop on my way through the car and say:
John, you didn't get off at your station"
"'Injun 60 on to next station, he will say,
and going down into his beaded purse he will
fish out enough nickels and pennies to pay to
that station. Arrived here he will not get
off, but sit quiet and thoughtful; or perhaps
when the train stops he viii make an ostenta-
tious dash through the car to the platform,
making a feint to get off, but will dodge into
the next car and take a seat. You come
around and find him sitting there as serenely
as if he had been in that particular seat for a
day or two.
"'Well, John, you didn't get OFF at your
station, will say.
'Injun go to next station he will repeat
again, and out will come the purse and the
reluctant pennies will be counted out. The
same thing is repeated at the next station
and the next, and still again at the next, and
SO on during the run up to Salamanca
''The Indian never seems to think you
fathom his game. He regards it as most
subtle piece of strategy, entirely too deep for
the beclouded mind of the white man. All
the conductore understand John perfectly
well, and he has about one chance in mill
ion Of getting through on his original ten
cent ticket, but he prefers to take that one
chance and pay considerably more from sta
tion to station rather than buy ticket clear
through. This refers to the trip up the river
Unless the Allegheny is frozen over We rare
ly have the privilege of carrying John down
stream. He will spend all his money at Sala-
manca, and couple of slabs and the broad
bosom Of the Allegheny will furnish him a
very congenial means Of transportation
hone
''It is common sight to see John aboard a
slab or two complacently floating home after
one of these pleasure trips to Salamanca
New York World.