The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-07
TRAVELLING ina FOG.
An Old Bus Driver Tells Some Of
His Experiences.

Drivers in London Streets Have to Be
| Very Careful During the Frequent
| Reigns of Fogs-odd Accidents That
| Occur-rhe Value of Street Lights.
The fog came down on London last
week, and in early morning the fog sig
nails were exploding ON the suburban
lines. Talking of the fogs, an old bus
| driver had an interesting chat with nae
The other morning on my way FROM
! Hammers1nith
'sThese ERE fogs is dreadful" he said.
Zone day I'm thinkin of was bad I'M;
couldn't get the losses to go at all, so /
turned back at Piccadilly. But that
doesn't pay; for if the company don't
think-and they mostly don't think-it's
thick enough to stop running the buses
and you do stop without any official tell
ing you, they'll make you pay for the
half Of the journey that you missed. /
had to pay for that half journey from
Piccadilly."
'Have you ever got on the wrong road
through the fog" asked.
ooh, yes; lots of times. I've often
turned up wrong street, but I've gen;
orally found my way again. But one
time-about three years ago-I got quite
lost. It was going from Hammersmith
to Liverpool street. You could have
cut the. fog, it was SO thick. We passed
Kensington and Knightsbridge all right,
and then got somewhere where didn't
know; my mate behind looked about
bit, but he coulazat make out where we
was, so we went sid asked pliceman.
He was on point duty and told us we
was in the park somewhere, but be
didn't know where. But I've made
plenty of mistakes like that. Why. the
first run this morning nearly went the
wrong way.
tNow, look here" he said, pointing TO
street lamp that was glimmering quite
close at hand, s'those are the things that
puzzle you. You think that's on the
pavement and go sharp off to the right
to miss it and you find yourself at the
wrong side of the road with traffic on all
sides of you and policeman swearing
and waiting to take your number for
causing an obstruction. That's in the
middle of the road: it isn't on the pave
ment at all. I've often wished that big
lamp at the corner Of Hyde park far
enough; it always balks me-"
care there many accidents in foggy
weather.
81 don't think there are more than in
clear weather, for every one drives care.
ful-they have to do or they'd soon have
a smash. Sometimes, you know, cab
by will pull up sharp and your pole
will go through the back of his .ker-
ridge but then them things always hap
pens. The losses, too, gets frightened
when it gets extra thick, and they'll
'jib;' but they're often not so bad as
some Of the passengers, who nudge You
and pull you and tell you to please be
careful, The fog doesn't hurt the losses
much; it might give 'em cold, but it's
US that suffers most. When there's a
frost and fog together it's awful.
eve often had my 'osses led, but we
don't like any one to touch our animals
heads. It's like an insult to us. P'lice-
men are always at that game, because
they know we don't like it. Butit'svery
bad when they fall down in fog, for no
one can see you and it's quite likely that
another bus will come sailing along right
onto you, but in all my experience I've
only seen one 'oss down in fog. and he
was shot. I'd sooner drive anywhere on
thick night than up to Hanmersmith
or Bayswater. You have the park all
along one side of the road, and you know
how dark it is. think Bayswater is the
worst of the two. once drove three
'oss metropolitan bus into the middle Of
a row of hansoms, but it's surprising
what little damage is sometimes done
in collision"
But how do you manage to find your
ways'
why, we grope," was the significant
answer. 81 think the best way is to get
the left hand wheel of your bus against
the curb and let her grind You won't
know what that is. Well, mean keep
ing alongside the pavement. Never
mind the wheels; they'll be all right.
On some routes men go about with Ian
terms to guide you. but that's too slow
work. I once went Il journey when the
conductor took one of the lamps in his
hand and ran along on the pavement to
show me how far was off the curb. but
all men haven't the same disposition.
and I've had conductor who wouldn't
move off the step to tell me which side
of the road was Why, sometimes
can't see the whip have in my hand,
it's so thick. Some buses have bells.
but don't; they don't show you where
you are-that's what you want to know.
The fog's only good to the pirates peo-
pie can't see which bus they're getting
into, and a good many grumble when
asked to pay the extra fare. But it
doesn't do them very much good. for
some folk are frightened to ride in a fog
they think it's safer to walk"
Thank you, sir. Good morning.
Pail Mall Budget.
Robbery in Northern China.
In many districts of northern China
robbery is the regular winter