The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
YELLED "DOWN
WITH V|N|NG, y
Two Thousand Men Wanted
to Mob a Castro
Street Car.
ONE MAN BEGAN THE FUN
He Insisted Upon Riding on
a Regularly Obtained
Check.
HE WOULD NOT BE PUT OFF.
An Angry Crowd Assault ted the Rail.
road Men and Helped the
Passenger.
HE WOULD NOT BE PUT OFF

The unpopularity of Manager Vining Of
the Market-street cable system and of his
recently imposed transfer method were
amply demonstrated at 7:15 o'clock last
evening when crowd of 1000 people. men,
women and boys were about ready to over
turn car No. lbs of the Castro-street line.
hardy and determined young man re-
ceived check from Powell-street car
conductor, but neglected to change the
check for transfer from the agent at the
corner of Market and Eddy streets.
He boarded the dummy of the Castro
street car outward bound. The conductor
reached him in due time as he was calmly
enjoying his cigar.
Fare. please was asked and the
check was preferred.
This won't do" stated the conductor.
'Its check. You should have got a
transfer for it from the agent"
This appeared to be Greek to the passen-
ger. who looked about for information
while the conductor moved along to the
others.
Returning, Mr.. Winnings EN- ploye again
accosted the man with the check.
That's all you'll get from me" said the
passenger. II paid cents for this on
Powell street and Ill not pay again"
Matters were beginning to get interest
ing, and the words of approval on all sides
encouraged the young man to be resolute.
You'll have to pay or get off," threat
enlngly spoke the conductor, little dream
ing that he was entering into what
eventually terminated in the biggest row
he ever got into.
"Tll do neither" declared the passen-
Ger, land you II have a healthy time put
ing me off. You'd better not try it,
The pnnHnrtnr etnnnad tho ah lxy
before Sixth street was reached and with
the assistance of burly gripman essayed
to put the man off the car.
1t was two TO one at first, and the one
managed to hold on with grip that the
two could not break.
Other cars and other conductors came
along, and in a little while dozen uni
formed minions of Winnings were plling
on the one passenger.
Then the bold American spirit of the
other passengers who had remained idle
all this time boiled over and they took
hand in the trouble. Some pushed the
conductors away. while others held on
and assisted the young passenger.
The people on the street began to gather
from all sides and yelling mob soon
formed about the car. Twenty cars were
delayed, people from the housetops
and windows, where a good view of the
trouble could be seen, shouted with the
others.
Hold onP' shouted some.
Don't let them put you OFF, yelled
others.
"Good boyl Stick to theml"
Then some one in the crowd suggested
that the car be turned over. and in a
moment the mob pressed forward shouting:
Down with Vining"
Never since the Kearney riots mas a mob
shown such earnestness.
Ladies and children in the Castro street
car fed as best they could, and for q mo-
ment it really looked as if some damage
would be done.
In the meantime the passenger held on
to his check, and fought bravely to retain
his position on the dummy.
The crowd heIped him and so often he
would be jerked away by the gripmen so
often would the push get him back.
Two police officers came into the crowd
and were buffeted about like shuttle-cocks.
They were utterly powerless against the
mass, which was steadily growing larger
and more threatening.
Mob them!" "Kill themp' "Happ
Vlning u could be heard on all sides.
AT this juncture the gripman and the
conductor decided it best to leave the pas
senger have his own way.
They rang up, and the passenger, red
faced and perspiring from the battle he
had just been through, rode away unmo-
Tested any further.
He was cheered to the echo by thou
sand voices, while another thousand Missed
the conductor. gripman and Manager
Vining.