The San Francisco call., 1895-12-01
THE BAGGAGEMAN EXPLAINS.
He Declares That No Trunks Are
Smashed on the Railroad.

He Declares That No Trunks Are
Smashed on the Railroad.
"How do so many trunks get broken?"
repeated the baggageman, and his face
took on an anxious and weak look. well,
that's question which has puzzled me for
good many years, and I'd give good
deal for satisfactory answer"
"The baggage-smasher doesn't have any
thing to do with it, of course?" was sar-
castically queried.
mot thing, sir. That's where the pub
lie does him rank injustice. In the old
days thew have smashed up trunk occa-
sionally, but in these modern times trunks
are handled like glassware. I've been on
the road for seven years, and during that
time | have not even ripped the handle off
a trunk"
"But trunks come off your car all
smashed up"
eyes, sometimes; and I've had people
complain Of me and try to get me dis
charged.
"They were laboring under misappre-
hension, however. In seven cases out OF
ten the trunk is damaged before it leaves
home. People never send a trunk to the
shop until the last minute
"Is the motion Of the train hard on
trunks?''
Every hard, sir. 1t jars the nails and
screws loose, and the first thing you know
the sides of trunk all fall IN, and l am
blamed for it.
1--WE have to stand trunks on end, you
know, to economize space. While in that
position they are still more susceptible to
the iarring."
ut doesn't hurt trunk to drop it 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 it
up as good as new. On ny run I save the
public at least $4,000 a year for repairs to
the trunks.
"You have seen two men seize trunk
ard fling it on top of the pile on truck.
At such times you think you hear the
sound of breaking glass, but you are mis-
taken. 1t is the loose lock of the trunk
settling into place and saves the owner at
least 90 cents in cash. You have seen a
trunk fall from the top of load on a
transfer truck, haven't you?'
"Yes, 1 have"
'The noise made 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
halluclnation it does, as 1t puts baggage
times stand around to see your trunk put
on the carp"
Eyes, | often do"
"And when you see it rolled over and
over, and ended with a bang, and spun
half way down the car, you feel cold
chill?"
81 do"
well, chill no more. Such handling is
really benefit to the trunk and should be
an extra charge. Dear me, but l wish the
public was more appreciative."
"How would you 60 to work to damage
4 trunk"
81 do not know. I have laid awake
nights and speculated, and planned and
worried, but have never solved the ques-
ton.
"There is no way could do it. In case
OF a wreck a trunk might get damaged,
but while under my care it is as safe as,its
owner i'll the parlor car. For years and
years | 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 a 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 checking
off.-Philadelphia Evening Item.