New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-28
"EXTRA" on THE ELEVdTED
THE HARD WORK AND THE DISAPPOlNT-
MENTS OF THE NEW
PLEDGED GUARDS.

rbov wore seated around a cafe table in East
vcw-york and the conversation had been about
the late strike -.
81 haven't had much experience on either morse
or trolley cars" said one Of them. nut can give
Won a pretty fair idea to how the brakeman
nuts in his time the elevated. or AT IeaS' "''
some years ago II you care to hear IT, uh'ei-
stand things arc altogether different now
willingness being expressed he resumed: when
succeeded in getting appointed on the eN''" "H
about six seven years ago. althoush h'' no
particular liking for the business ana no eNpe''-
,on Of making a decent living from il. sim 1t was
the only thing that offered and was tired OF an
swcring advertisements. tired OF INTERVENING pos
sle employers and more than tired OF idi'heSs 80
was quite pleased to get word to call at tn" Once
and after few questions 10y the manager 70
ccivod a pass with my name on II for the current
mouth tosethcr with a note to the dispatcher
."The Young fellow with new pass was likely
! ~ deyelop an inoriinate taste FOR riding around
| the system in those days. and an open contempt
for the poor mortals who had To CIV" up h''N'i
each time they went through the passimeter.
Sow hear the employees arc limited to trip daily
10 and from work.
Proceeding 10 Van Siclon-ayr.. which was theh
the terminus OF the road, | was told 10 report
at the rather carly hour OF ga o'clock the next
| morning I lived only about mile from III" re-
porting point. and for a week or SO walked H. ana
terribly cold and rainy week II was. remember,
and stumbling through the mlghtcd, unpavei and
! unnaegod streets was no joke.
About that limo found that there was an
| other way TO get TO the RENDEZVOUS. ana a mu'h
! hetfor one and that was 70 40 up from Manhattan
! Crossing on a light engne-tha' Is. the engine
which went mp to take out tho nrst train In the
morning There were midnight trains then.
now the brakeman can 20 in his comfortable car
from any point the road TO his work
such a crowdiug and jostling IA there was on
that engine, 1t was the only one which got 10
! the reporting point In time for the rollcsh. and
! IN. extra who VAS not hand for this ceremony
| rot a black mark and work that day. even II
! II were his turn. weird ride II was through me
| night blowing tor switches. swinging round the
| many curves In the piichy darkness. relieved only
| by the twinkling eyes OF the signal lights Shad-
ony forms were outlined clnGing 10 the engine
! in all Imaginable positions. The cab would pos
| sibly hold eight ten by cro~ding and the rest
| must Dispose Themselves on every part % the en-
| CINE which would yield them footing and then
| hold on for very he pounded along UP the
road /; taking fearful risk-should never
! have bcea allowed. and has been abolished nov
| for years
"On arriving. the passenger platform wa forbid
! den 20 us eXtras.' and "" were relcrated 10 the
! coal box and shanty on the opposite track. there
/ 10 ST. on the anxious scat until "" wer" either
called Tor work or nnav dismissed. mob We
| made thirty forty. sorn'timcS ATTY miserable
wreiches waiting. whistlug. singing or stamping
our feet for warmth. only few could get In the
shanty hy tho stow"
"lt vas an cyer-chaurius crowd and a disap-
| pointed one Some evidently had vague idea that
! they were stepping into regular business with a
! definite weekly pay. and the awakening was rude.
! only 4 scw needed each morning 10 supply
vacaucics ami as the names were called in reg
/ ular -equcuce 10 sometimes took tho dispatcher
/ three or four days 10 80 through the list. The
/ disappointment was great: many LETT after one
! DAYS cNu,rl,uc" some remained a week or two.
and fca stuck % ont until they were promoted 10
/ run As The sto got low. another drAu.ht "1s
sent up from the ON 20. The supply was apparently
| iu"Nhaustbie
! got 10 know tho ropes Everything about a rail.
road Is done on what might b. called the dead
! iump hs he crew iS made up ior 'Ich
! train. they viii surely get n troub" u they make
any d"lai Ia gctmnE ne ,l"n ~ o %r1' Tho ,,n
! hose but the chains and gates must be fastened
! only a Few seconds generally cap-e from tho time
! tho engine is connected until tho conductor gets
| the signal 10 start. on freezing, Shppeiy morn
! ing, doing this work by The sense @. ieclns win
bcnumbcd fingers. Is no holiday task IN ex-
| speaking OF the first trip In the morning; after
daylight. things 70 smoothly enough. ,
| AN! the hours by. and We put the miles
behind us. Calling out The stations four calls for
passenger to step little lively please: dispensing
great deal o. intormato 10 uncertain parties as
ton to their destination. and keeping our eyes open
IN general. Especially on SUNDAYS. on the Broad
| way limo / called upon TO first master tho bar
barou, pronunciation or tho street asked for az IS
sure to be some iSreis ih VINO asNs5 men 10
OF Attending TO my other duties. and lastly make
him or her understand rher" 10 stop ana watch
TO see that thsy got OFF there.
| THE ordinary weekday crowd. though l2rgr. was
no trouble 10 us: they knew where they wished -
| and the proper manner 10 set on or OFT, hut the
| sunday summer crowd to the cemeteries i.Ocka-
| way and Manhattan beaches was not so pleasant;
OF all the dreaded circus-week crowd
and pleasantest OF all the special train OF school
! children or for excursion. with their bright.
| joyous faces ana thor shouts of laughter.
The hours spin round very quickly Il railroad.
! AZ least. they did FOR me- tho dinner which was
! brought 10 mo by Ittle boy tasted good. even
though eaten as the train was running, and conse
! quently under some difficulty. The old the
road were ANXIOUS to help me out OF uuandary.
and were generally thoughtful and kind. SO event
| ually got 10 be conductor myself.
! 1T was Il merry crowd which used to assemble
~ The old mansion on payday To receive their
weekly wage Hard as they had worked for it. the
| careless lads spent II like water. The nstalment
! collectors were on hand in force. These got some
/ OF the money; pcders got little more and after
| two or three rounds of drinks and a game
/ Of billiards there might be left for the land
| lady. and there might not
There have been several changes OF regime since
/ the time speak or but have no doubt there are
/ still score or more Of extras sitting IN row
! every morning. waiting To be called, and late
bemoaning their hard fate and regretting the day
! they ever took TO raroadng | did"