The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-02
The Trunks Faithful Friend.

How do so many trunks get broken
repeated the ggageman, as bis face TOOK
on an anxious and weary look, says the
Detroit Free Press. We'll, that's ques-
ton which has puzzled me for a good
many years. and I'd give good zeal Tor
a satisfactory answer
The baggage smasher doesn't have
anything to do with il. Of cOurse2' was
sarcastically asked.
Not a thing. sir. That's where the pub
lie does him a rank injustice. In the old
days they have smashed up trunk coca
si0nally. 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
of a trunk"
But trunks have come off your car
smashed up"
Yes. sometimes; and I've had people
complain Of me and try TO get me dis
charged. They were laboring under
misapprehensiOn. however. In seven
cases out of ten, the trunk is damaged
before il leaves home. People never send
a trunk TO the shop until the last min
. rs the motion Of the train hard on
Very hard, sir 1t jars the nails and
screws loose, and the first thing you know
lhe sides Of a trunk all fail il, and am
blamed for it, We have to stand trunks
on end, you know, TO economize space.
While in that position they are still more
susceptible TO the Jarring."
1t doesn't hurt trunk to drop IL from
the car door 10 the platform, does it,
Not the slightest on the contrary, If
IT is an old trunk the shock viii tighen
II up as good as new. on my run / save
the public at least g, coo 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. 1t is the loose lock of
the trunk settling into place and saving
the owner at least 80 cents in cash. You
have seen a trunk fall from the top of a
Load m a Hrslfr for
Yes, l have"
The noise was like bursting open a
door, and you probably felt like giving
somebody a piece Of your mind. The in
jury was purely imaginary. The fall sim
ply bolted the casters on and strengthen
ed the hinges. ] am sorry the public la
bors under the hallucination it does as
II puts baggageman in bad light.
suppose you sometimes stand around to
see your trunk put on the carr"
Yes, l often do
over, and ended with a bang, and spun
half way down the car, you feel cold
chill2'
u do"
We'll chill no more. Such handling is
really a benefit to the trunk and should be
an extra charge. Dear me- but wish the
public was more appreciauve"
How would you 80 to work to damage
Il do not know. I have laid awake
nights and speculated and planned and
worried, put nave never solNed the ques-
ton. There is no way could do it. In
case of a wreck a trunk might get dam
aged, but while under my care it is as
safe as its owner in the parlor car For
years and years / have handled at least
800 trunks per week and in no case have
/ been to blame for any damage. / wish
the public understood this, as it would
make my life more cheerful. 1t is useless
to hope, though The baggageman is a
slandered rairlOad man, and so he must
remain while people travel with trunks. "
And he caught the handle of an old
trunk gave il a wrench which broke both
hinges and split the cover, and sighed
drearily as he turned to his work check
ing off.