Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-13
A Commuters Complnint.

10 tine Editor OF The Evening Star:
TITS the practice of the commuters nhose
who hold quarterly tickets) at the Baltimore
and Ohio depot to enter that building by the
rear to avoid the crowd that has to saueez.
through the ticket gate these hot August DAYS.
Lately, however, there have been stationed
TWO or three w9tchmen with badges and club.
to prevent any one from entering the depot but
by the ticket gate.
yesterday afternoon a young man living at
Rockville attempted to enter at the rear Of the
depot lie was stopped by the satchuan and
ne waited outside of the depot till the uagers-
town train came in from baltimore. That be-
ing the particular train he usually boards to
go to Rockville, he made a break for il ard
the two watchmen "a negro and an
lrlshman) made a rush for the commuter
The Rockvillian outsprinted the watchmeu and
entered the smoker. The negro got behind the
tender OF the train next the Hagers,oyn en-
press, and through a window entered into n
colloquy with the commuter, making u.e of
various expressions to the dire result that
would beiali sad commuter on the morrow If
ne repeated his performance feat that
was not looked on with favor by the
other watchman who entered the smoker hut
was apparently undecided whether TO eject ,he
eommuter or reprimand him. lie chose the
natter course and among other offensive things
sald ne u De ID II the commuter had better
try that over again." Some of the passengers
IN the smoker were indignant at the con-
duct of the watchmen and advised the conn
mater to go out and obtain the names Of the
obnoxious watchmen and seek redress from the
local officials OF the company. The commutor
went on the train for that purpose leaving his
umbrella In his seat, and Was seized by the
freshman, who was urged on by the negro. The
freshman said to the commuter: YOU'RE
not on the train now and I'm goip'
to put yer out o the depot Go on now -
and proceeded TO uncerimoniously hustle the
commuter toward the rear entrance The
commuter too much for tie watchman.
however, and at this juncture q man demanded
to see the commuters ticket, which the com
muter unadyisedly showed to him. The CON-
ductor Of the Hagerstown express recognized
the commuter and inquired the cause of Che
disturbance. He WAS informed, and disap-
peared In his train with look Of disgust. Tie
watchmen then disappeared also.
why the passenger should be seized by the
watchmen when he had a ticket and Ind leSt
hls umbrella u his seat is hard to unidersts nd
The negro made himself offensive in engaging
IN a wordy warfare with the eommuter through
the window and afterward passing through the
car staring at the commuter, who inquired
what he meant, and was informed by the negro
that he only wants to get yer coGntenance."
Who clothed these men with the authority TO
prevent persons who have tickets from enter
ing the depot man named Burns, post
master at Washington Grove. bought a load Of
melons and went to the freight depot TO trHns-
act some business in connection With his bur
chase. He then had about three minutes TO
catch the Hagerstown train and proceeded 10
get there by the shortest rouie-through the
yard. He was intercepted by the above watch
men, but broke away and boarded the train.
He doesn't understand yet what he was stopped
for, and remarked afterward that he barely
could restrain himself from knocking one VI
the men down. ES.R