The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-17
S%TREET-CAR STORIES
AMUSING INCIDENTS ON THE INDIAN
APOLIS LINES.
Riding ON the Resistance Box to Cure
Rheumntfsm-SOme Kickers-
Other Tales.

He was a man with a. drawn expression
about his mouth, and he carried a cane.
He boarded a North Alabama-street car and
sat down on the resistance box on the
rear platform. The conductor says he rode
three round trips during the morning, and
finally explained that he was trying to cure
the rheumatism. He was a great sufferer,
and he had read in the scrap column Of
some paper that the heat thrown out by a
resistance box is a sure cure for the dis
ease. In the East riding on the resistance
box has come to be quite a fad in one or
two towns. The conductor says he never
saw the rheumatic but one day, and he does
not know what effect the heat had upon
him. Nevertheless, the conductor was
ready to pronounce the new cure a fake, and
he gave his reasons.
so have had the rheumatism for three
years now, and !, too. heard hat electricity
bit of good. For three months 1 ran a
trailer on Illinois street, and !! gave the
stuff a fair trial. Every time a fellow steps
from the trailer to the motor he gets a
shock, and I did nothing but step for more
than a month. After we got out OF town
and the other on the motor and let the
electricity run through me, but it never did
lust as bad as ever had it. That fellow
that was riding on the resistance Dox
might as well save his nickels, for 1t amt
going to do him any good. He might just
as well sit over the stove, for he can get a
lot more heat there"
On one of the last Crown Hill cars on the
Illinois-street line, one recent night, q
small man sat in the forward corner, SEEM
ingly half asleep. After Seventh street
was passed he was the only passenger on
the car. The conductor called out Eight
street in a clear voice, but the lone pas
senger paid no attention. The conductor
called Ninth street, but the passenger sat
motionless. The conductor stepped forward
and asked the passenger at what street he
intended to alight, but the man only looked
blank and made no reply. The conductor
returned TO his position on the platform.
He felt duty bound to call the names or the
streets, so the passenger could make no
complaint should he be carried past his
street. At each street the door was opened
and the name called out distinctly. AS the
car proceeded the conductor began to shout
the names, but the little man in the corner
called the conductor, and the passenger
merely put his foot down from his knee
At the east entrance the outbound car
met another re turning to the city. The
conductor who had been doing so much
The lin car also came to a standstill.
"Say, what is the matter with that little
fellow in my. carr, asked the CONDUCTOR OF
the "out car to the conductor OF the in
car" onaro-
TOR addressed Hes ali right. He gets off
night. for he generally comes out on my
car. Why. what's the matte, e no,,t,ne ever
since we left Seventh street, and l can't
get him to tell me where he wants on
The cars moved on, and the little man VINO
had sat so quietly in the corner got OFF
without saying a word, for he could neither
hear nor talk.
Eleven men were crowded together on
the platform of a North Alabama-street car.
If was the 6-o'clock car. and the first one
which had passed that way for thirty min
,,,es The fares had not been collected
and the men on the platform were srowl-
mo about the poor street-car accommoda-
lions and saying harsh things about the
street-,tar company. One said the company
had put two good cars on the line, and
they were on other lines one-half OF the
time. Another recalled the fact that the
track is poor. Another said the taxpayers
of no other town in America would take
so much from a corporation
II tell you what let us do" said one
man, who, Judging IRON oTae ms Of app rsilroas
'let US right here and right now organize a
no-seat-no-fare' society,", II we Will 1ake
the Initiative others will fall in with the
TT has been worked in other cities with
good results said the passenger with the
historic brow.
THAT is a good idea and the patrons of
this and other INES We na s1o for a rs seat. a ana we
are not even given standing ROOM spoke
up another bravely.
..AI we have to do is TO say, and say
emphatically, that we viii not pay for
such abominable@
Fares, please. gentlemen. Git your fares
ready 1t was the conductor who spoke:
and eleven fares were pushed forward, and
the rebellion was brought to a speedy end.
The passenger afterward said, however,
that such a society would be a great thing
for the city. and added that he was going to
try and persuade some of his friends TO
enter into such an agreement.
There is one patron of the North Penn
sylvania-stree line who has the reputa-
ton of being most dreadfully disagreeable.
The conductors say ne is a kicker. and the
neighbors say he has the dyspepsia Any
way, he generally creates a scene wherever
he goes, but since a recent experience he
is a little particular about his conduct on
the street car. He boarded q crowded car