The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-09

They Created a Scene In the Quiet
Little Town OF NOOSic.
DID NOT LIKE OPPOSITION
liveryman Thomas r. COnuell Did Not
Propose TO Sec Ills Trade Drift
Away from Him II He
Could Help II.

element these days. The nine days
had about elapsed since the pcstoffice
was burglarized, so that the good
housewives had winnowed nearly all
the gossip out OF that occurrence:
something happened yesterday that
will furnish material for many back
yard dialouge during the next fort
night.
Liveryman Thomas +. Connell. OF
Duryea. and Newton Williams. Of
Moosic who run rival transfer busses
between the Moosic and Duryea street
car lines. engaged In u fight at 3 o'clock
yesterday morning. Williams was
knocked down from a blow Of a large
stone flung by Connell: II made an
ugly cash In his head and covered him
over with blood. The assailant went
to Duryea before he could be arrested
for his act. Men. women and children
on their way to church saw the fracas.
In order to reach Pittston by the troll
ley route the passenger who boards the
Moosic car will be required to alight
where the car turns from Main avenue
In Moosic to Spring street to Stark's
Patch. One must foot 1t then. taking
a course to the right. down past No. Is
shaft of the Pennsylvania Coal COM
pany and around the Horseshoe
Bend to the other side of the river.
The Wyoming Valley lines run to the
upper end of Duryea. At any rate the
walk Is about a short mile. and 1t Is
along this route that the transfer
busses make their trips. The Moosic
extension runs to the lower part OF
Avoca borough.
Williams Betrayed His Scheme.
I.iveryman Connell was the first to
put his vehicles in motion, but the
scheme originated In the fertile brain
of Williams. who was a butcher. 1t
dawned upon the latter that there was
a barrel OF money" In II for any man
who had a couple Of teams and as
many band wagons to transport the
crowds that were forced to walk from
Moosic across to Duryea to take the
car there for Pittston. The street car
company Is bloekaded on both sides Of
the river by legal Instructions. The
South Side and Moosic line runs only
to Avoca but the tracks are laid al
most to Pittston.
The Delaware and Hudson Railroad
company prevented the trolley COM
pany from crossing its tracks at grade:
that Is where the hitch comes in there.
on the other side Of the river the Tay-
lor line goes only to Rendham, there
being many complications preventing
the extension of the system to Duryea
to connect with the Wyoming Valley
Traction company's line at that point.
Therefore the best route to Pittston for
those who go by the trolley--and the
traffic is very heavy on Sunday when
no trains are running-is to go to
Moosic and walk from there to Duryea.
Butcher Williams evolved the idea
Of putting transfer bus or two on this
road. He succeeded in interesting
young man named Willard and they be-
gan to make preparations: while they
were preparing they told their friends
what they were going to do. 1t got
talked around Moosic that Williams
and Willard were going to make a for
tune.
News Reached ConnclPs Ears.
Beyond in Duryea Connell keeps
stable and string of horses. He
heard glowing account of the new
enterprise and the thought seized him
to establish line before the Moosic
common carriers got started. Accord
ingly, the very next day he put two
teams attached to two band wagons to
work. The fare was nickel. and he
coined almost a bushelful Of silver be-
fore the day was over.
AmaZement and alarm overcast the
visages Of Williams and Willard when
they saw another Richmond in the
field hut nothing daunted thew got
their own wagons ready and after Con-
nell had the field Ali 10 himself for
three or four days thew came ont one
morning ready to beDin comnet,tion
with him Somebow the most of the
trade went 70 Williams and Willard
They had two vehicles one ripged ont
like an omen sYreer car with q canonv
overhead and easv stems an the aide to
climb I'm The other was light snrinp
wagon three.seatnd also canon,sS
The 6rst tbree or fnur davs of tho
comnetition the passenpers got nuick
rides The drivers whinned nm their
steeds TO get TO the destination first and
proc,re the most available positjon tn
secure Messengers on ihe return trim.
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