The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-21

anu NEs taIuiDR the maRnlucent sum VI 40
cents day.
All things must end. however. and at
last. after week of this work for glory
had passed, the reporter was turned ia.
That is, he was accepted by the cards
patchers as regular conductor and given
next day and reported the next morning at
4:45 for duty.
lie was assigned to a car. which made
nine trips to the ferry and back and paid
So 60 for the days work.
He swept and busted the car and cleaned
the Windows and helped the gripman to oil
the grip, and by this means got his uniform.
which had been looking so nice and clean
short time before, so dirty that it looked
as II 1t had not been brushed for year and
was as seedy as any old conductors.
Not having time TO hunt up brush to
clean himself off with, he was forced to 60
out on the road looking as though he had
just climbed out OF an ash barrel.
Being nervous, the first thing he did was
to throw the rope off the pulley, which Is
used to hoist the cable into the grip. in such
a manner as TO require him to use the hook
to replace it.
This is very ticklsh piece of work for
any one who does not thoroughly under
stand how to do it. The way it is done is
TINS; The rope, which Is moving at speed
OF about eight miles an hour, must be taken
hold Of with long iron hook in such
manner as to allow it to slide through The
hook without moving il. and the hook sud-
denly lifted so as TO throw the moving
cable into the grip.
Unless the hook is held Just right the
cable Will catch 1t and drag it for some dis
lance. This lis just what happened TO the
reporter. He took the hook with watch
me-show-you-how-to-d sort OF q look on
his face and lowered it through the slot
while the Initiated conductors and gripmen
stood around ready to laugh at his failure.
AT first he could not find the rope at all,
and got astride the slot, and facing the car
SO as to see what he was doing.
de now saw the rope, and firmly shutting
his teeth together, he hooked onto it and
lifted. There was sudden wrench at his
arms, and he felt as though he was being
turned inside out, and then became pain
fully aware that he was skating along The
slot backward, and pounding the cobbles
very forcibly with the seat OF his trousers.
Alter what seemed To be an age the hook
let go of the rope and he picked himself
up and looked about No one seemed 20
sympathlZe with him or TO care " neither he
was killed or not, and they only stood
around and grinned as IL it was n common
occurrence to see person dragged along in
that manner.
The leaving time was now up. and one OF
the gripmen who was standing around
offered his services TO put the rope on the
pulley.
His assistance was gratefully accepted,
-
tragedy. betook himself 10 the back plat
form and gave the bell 10 go ahead.
The man in front with the hook gavels,
sudden pull az the rope and succeeded.
This ended all trouble as far as that end
OF the road was concerned, but a con-
ductor,s trials do not end. with starting the
car. That is just the beginning Of them.
They kept coming along at high rate OF
speed. No sooner was one trouble put ont
of the way than another began. On the
RpPnnH n I'M nd had
thirty-six transfers to issue at Fourteenth
street TO the electric cars, and after it was
all over remembered that he had punched
them all for Haight street. de got an even
100 passengers from an Oakland boat. and
in the excitement of taking fares and in
making change forgot to issue any transfers
al Geary street
He was held there until six minutes over
time to punch them for passengers who
wanted to 60 out that street, and on the
whole when night came he was very glad TO
60 to bed at an early hour.
lie reported the next morning at the same
time as be did the day before, and was put
down on the book for collecting. That Is,
he must go to the ferry at $3.50 p. NJ. and
collect all the fares on a certain car as IL
goes up Market 10 Sixth, ana then go back
and take another, and so ON until he has made
SIX or seven trips. when he has earned 45
cents for the days work.
When he reported at night he CHANGED to
his lunch, and saw in large letters this
sign;
'REPRDIAND"
Mr - does not go forward 10 the open Sec
ton often enough 10 get all the fares.
lie also talks with passengers.
III he does not show an immediate improve
ment bis services VIII no longer be required.
This was all. but it meant great deal.
There is slate hung out every morn
ing at o'clock telling what run" each
extra grlpman or conductor has to take
charge oil on the morrow, and this night il
said for the reporter TO take out run 8
which reported at $40 O'Clock In the mo,s-
Ing.
He was little nervous about this as that
gripman had only a short time before
started up while at the Twenty-eighth-
street end of The road while an old lady was
running for the Car, and as he had started
slow she tried TO get on, and her strength
falling she had TO stand on the step for
about 100 feet before the conductor or grip
man noticed her.
She was badly frightened and cried all the
way downtown and had come back TO the
Office and reported that the gripman was TO
blame. This little matter gave the gripman
q haId name ana the reporter dreaded 10
run with him and was at the last moment
spared the trouble OF danger.
In the morning he went through The usual
red tape ceremonies and had got his car on
the outgoing pit when the night Waterman
came out Of the Office and told him that he
was called down to-day. This means that
he was TO lose the days work and 90 down
to the superIntendents Office at 30 o'clock
to see that officer.
ii did this and was as coolly received by
the oihcious clerk as he had been on a
lormer occasion. and with little delay was
ushered into the august presence of the SUI
perlatendent, who is by the way perfect
gentleman toward his employees
Inc superintendent wasted no time, but
got right down to business.
Mr.. -, you have been reported to this
Office as having given the bell 10 90 ahead
from the inside of the car. Have you any
thing to say?"
mo, sir" replied the reporter
Ou must do better in future, that is
all, said the superintendent.
But don't think that can do any bet
Ter and L want TO quit" said the reporter.
glad OF the chance TO get away from the lob
which had been so distasteful TO him. !
Very well. Report back TO the car-dis-
patcher and get letter from him that you
are all right at that end of the road"
"All right. sir.'
1t looked easy enough TO omit All he had
10 DO was to go TO the end of the road and
get letter from the official in charge and
20 back to the main Office and gat his de-
poslt money. But lie was counting his
enlcKens before they were Matched.
lie got to the end of the road and asLed
for his letter, and was told to turn in his
buttons. which he did. putting tile modest
black ones in the places just vacated nv the
brass ones. and got his letter, directed bsrk
TO the superintendent. O"SA
Then the fun began. He presented h,s
letter and waited for his S25, which Inv tha
way, did not come. Instead he was Sivan
a letter addressed ITO the Auditor. s. p r.