The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-09-04
A wHEELING TRAVELLER

Relates nm Experience on the D. 8 o.
Insufficient Accommodations and n
Tough Crowd.
To he Editor Of Tie Inttliigaesr:
Sir; Allow me to relate some recent
experience as traveller over the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, which may be
OF interest to the travelling public. ar
rived with my family at Cumberland,
Md. from Bedford Springs, on Tuesday
last, September LIST, for the purpose OF
taking the $3.50 p. IN. passenger train
for the west. This train is scheduled
us "The Limited" and limited 1t GER
tainly proved to be in the accommoda-
tons offered the unfortunate passengers
who were compelled to accept it. When
the train pulled in to the Cumberland
station from the east, there was the
usual rush for seats by some thirty or
more people in waiting for it, a large
number Of whom were ladies'. The
train consisted OF one Pullman car, one
coach for first-class tickets, and the
smoking or second class car, We found
the Pullman fully occupied and the
first.class car full. l inquired Of an
official upon the platform OF the station
il another car would not be attached
and was answered no. Consequently
my family with the others (many ladies
includcdl were compelled to scatter
themselves through the smoking car
and occupy such half Of each seat as
could be found vacant and thus crowd
ing that car to its utmost capacity.
What this indignity meant for the
ladies and children needs no eXplana.
ton to travellers On leaving Grafton,
after four hours endurance OF the vile
and nauseating smoking-cGr, brake
man came into that car proclaiming
that another car had been attached to
the rear OF the train and the ladies and
other iirst.class passengers were invited
TO change to it. Although the train was
now in full motion the invitation was
gladly welcomed, and the venture un,
dertaken by ladies and children, as wei
men, carrying their satchels, bundles,
ETC., entirely through the other two
cars. Now imagine our disgust alter
the foregoing trials to find the car in
which all hoped for an agreeable change,
already in possession Of band OF base
ball rowdies from Warrington return
ing home from an excursion. This was
worse than the smoking-car, for the
base hallists made the night hideous
with their singing, bowling and black
guardism generally, stimulated by
draughts from their bottles. Ladies
and children were greatly frightened
by the tumult, and to quell it the con-
ductor and brakeman were appealed to
in vain. In fact both were evidently
afraid to interfere, and the brakeman,
I thought, seemed rather to enjoy the
riot which continued until the train
reached Warrington and the rowdies
left the train.
The Baltimore 4 Ohio railroad, no
doubt, claims to be first class passen-
ger road, and as such should have pro-
yided an additional coach at Cumber-
land for the large number OF first class
passengers who entered the train at
that place, and were compelled to sub,
nit to tho indignities now complained
Of There is neither apology nor excuse
for their not having provided another
car and for such disregard Of the rights
of passengers. For the accommodation
of the base ball team, however, car
was attached at Grafton. Perhaps that
may be the class of business most at
tractive to the Baltimore & Ohio rail
road company. l have it from q re.
liable source that such conditions and
neglect Of duty as herein stated are
often complained OF by travellers over
that road, SO that it cannot be said that
my experience was exceptional or accl-
dental. The travelling public will judge
liza road SO indifferent to the rights OF
its patrons is entitled to their encour-
agement. JAMES w. PAXTON.
Wedding ". Va, September 8, 1891.