Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-16
A BAGGAGE MAN EXPLAINS.
He Dsciares That no Trunks are Smashed on
the Railroad.

How do so many trunks get brokens''
repeated the baggage man, as his face took
on an anxious and weary look. t'well,
that's question which has puzzled me
for a good many years, and I'd give a
good deal for satisfactory answer"
1.-The baggage smasher doesn't have any
thing to do with it of courses" was sar-
castically queried.
Not at all, sir. That's where the pub
lie does him rank injustice. In the old
days they have smashed up a trunk occa-
sionally, but in these modern times
trunks are handled like glassware I've
been on the road for seven years, and dur
Ing all that time have not even ripped
the handle off a trunk"
"But trunks come of your car all
smashed up"
Yes, sometimes, and I've had people
complain of me and try to get me dis
charged. They were laboring under a
misapprehension, however. In seven cases
out of 10 the trunk is damaged before 1t
leaves home. People never send trunk
to the shop until the last minute"
SIS the motion Of the train hard on
trunks?"
Very hard, sir 1t jars the nails and
screws loose, and the first thing you know
the sides Of the trunk fall In, and am
blamed for it. We have to stand trunks
on end you know, to economize space.
While in that position they are still mere
susceptible to the jarring"
"It doesn't hurt trunk to drop 1t from
the car door to the platform, does it,"
"Not the slightest. On the contrary,
If it is an old trunk the shock will tighten
1t up as good as new. On my run I save
the public at least $4,000 year for repairs
to the trunks. You have seen two men
seize trunk and fling 1t on top the pile
on a truck. At such times you think you
hear the sound of breaking glass, but you
are mistaken. 1t is the loose lock of the
trunk settling into place and saving the
owner at least so cents in cash. You have
seen trunk fall from the top of load on
transfer truck, haven't you?'
Eyes, have
"The noise was like bursting open
door, and you probably felt like giving
somebody piece Of your mind. The in
jury was purely imaginary. The fall sim
ply bolted the casters on and strengthened
the hinges. am sorry the public labors
under the hallucination it does, as 1t puts
baggageman in bad light. l suppose
you sometimes stand around to see your
trunk put on the carr
Eyes, often do"
And when you see it rolled over and
over and ended with bang, and spun half
way down the car you feel cold chilli"
II do"
"Well, chill no more. Such handling
Is really benefit to the trunk and should
be an extra charge. Dear me, but l wish
Uu6 puUlIC was luOTc dppr6CldtlNe!
"How would you go to work to damage
a trunk"
Il do not know, have laid awake
nights and speculated and planned and
wondered, but have never solved the ques-
ton. There is no way I could do 1t. In
case of wreck trunk might get dam
aged, but while under my care 1t is as safe
as its owner in the parlor car. For years
and years l have handled at least 500
trunks per week and In no case have l
been to blame for any damage. l wish
the public understood this, as it would
make my life more cheerful. 1t is useless
to hope though. The baggageman is
slandered railroad man, and so he must
remain while people travel with trunks "
And he caught the handle of an old
trunk, gave it wrench which broke both
hinges, and split the cover and sighed
drearily as he turned to his work check