Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-25
TIL. Nk's FRIEND.
\ Member Of the Benign Brother
hood OF BaEcagemcn Talks.


How do 80 many trunks get braken?''
repeated the baggageman, as his face
took on an anxious and weary look.
well, that's question which has puz-
lied me FOR a good many years. and ia
give a good deal for a satisfactory au-
sWer."
The baggage smasher doesn't have
anything 10 with 10, OF COURSE was sag
castically asked.
Not thing cir That's where the
public does him a rank injustice. I'm the
Old days they have smashed up q trunk
occasionally, but i'm 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 on "a trunk"
but trunks come off your car smashed
W"
Yes. sometimes; and I've had people
complain of me and try 70 get me dis
charged They were laboring under a mis-
apprehension. however In seven cases
out Of ten the trunk Is damaged before
it leaves home. People never send a
trunk 10 the shop until the last minute"
rs 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 a trunk all fall IN. and | am
blamed for il. We have 10 stand trunks
on end, you know. 20 economic space
While IN that position they are still more
susceptible 10 the jarring'
1t doesn't hurt a trunk TO drop II from
tn car door 10 the platform, does it,"
Not the slightest. on the contrary.
If II is an old trunk the shock will tighten
IL up as good as new on my run save
the public az least 5000 per year for re-
pairs To the trunks. You have seen two
men seize trunk and fling il On Top
the pile on a truck. At such times you
think YOU hear the sound Of breaking
glass, but you are mistaken. II Is the
loose lock Of the trunk settling into place
and saving tn owner al least 80 cents IN
cash. You have seen a trunk fall from
the top OF load on a transfer truck,
haven't you?"
"Yes. / have"
THE noise was like bursting open
door, and you probably felt Ike siying
somebody piece Of your mind The in-
jury was purely imaginary The FAN
simply bOlted the casters on aud strensth-
cned the hinges. ] am sorry the pupllc
lahors under the hallucnation it docs. as
u puts baggasrman IN "a bad light /
suppose YOU sometimes stand around 20
see your trunk put on the care"
Yes. | often DO"
And when YOU see 1t rolled over and
over. and ended with a bang. aud spun
half way down the car, You feel a colo
.chni?"
Il do"
wen: chill no more. Such handling IS
really benefit "a the trunk and should
Doe AN extra charge. Dear me- | wish the
pubic vas more appreciatiye."
How would YOU 20 to work to damage
truuk|'
II do not know l have laid awake
nights and speculated and planned and
worried, but have never solved the 0ues-
ton. There Is no way / could do il. In
case OF "A wreck "a trunk might get dam
aged. but while under my care II IS as
safe as its owner IN the parlor-car. Fer
years and years ! have handled 81 least
500 trunks per week. and in no case have
/ been 10 blame for any damage ! wish
the public understood this. az u would
make my life more cheerful Ii is useless
10 hope. though. Tho baegageman T.
slandered railroad man. and 50 he must
remain while people travel with trunks"
And he caught the handle Of ~ eli
trunk. gave IL a wrench. which broke both
hinges and split the cover. and siehed
drearly as he turned to his work check
ing or.