The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-05
FREAKS FLOCK TOGETHER.
Never Travel Alone or with Ordinary
People.
Philadelphia Times.

Philadelphia Times.
"Freak night on railroad train"
THE The conductor of the express for New y,
every morning five minutes after midnight
spoke slowly. There's not many people
know what freak night is; hardly anyone
but we conductors, and then mighty few OF
us. But it's fact that certain trains on
certain days of the week have freak
nights It's so regular that you know
when to expect it. It's sure to come.
It's this way" continued the conductor:
ION this midnight to New York emigrant
tickets good on the smoking car are issued
at reduced rate Six nights of the week
we have just the poorer people that wait
all day, sit in the car all night and are
walked in New York at 4 o'clock in the
morning, all for the opportunity OF gong
over for a half dollar cheaper: They're the
kind of people you see everywhere and any
where on the streets.
but on one night of the week. just as
regular as death or taxes. all the queer tsh
that are travelling around seem to gather
would stop and look at when they passed
you. They are very fat, very thln or very
drunk; funny-looking people, ugly people,
"They never travel without each other
You don't see one freak in carload OF OF
binary people: All are plain, everyday PEI
pie, or else all are freaks. It's got so that
| can predict what a train LOAD Is g0lhs 10
be. If see one or two ordinary people Gtt
ting on why / know it's an ordinary nlgHt,
but if / see one of these freaks, then Know
I'll have only freaks. They generally come
Saturday or Monday nights, but there Is no
rule. Sometimes we won't nave any I0 -, g.
month, and then well have three or Iou5,
freak nights together. In 1896 couhteu
we had between forty and fifty-aDout o.o
night week, you see II you II COZ fraak
the smoker I'll show you, Tor II lIeaN
night tonight. -
There were five people only in the car car;
Freaks don't carry heavy as a RUE. 49,
up in front a stout man was emDracnls
friend and both were singing the JeI l M a.
welcome song, ''Hailee! Hailow! Ior , al1
liar in that, may be, but I'll show You.
stop that singing" he said Loudly nc -
a woman in the car and she wants ,Tre ~
Sleep Both men turned around. -
were Enthusiastically Irish. AND sugHI5o -
German song, too" chuckled the c0hauSgttto -,
Two others in the car had freak "' ro,,sr
all over them. One was a man VINO ny ~
have been six inches over six teet td , lie
was thin and dressed in rusty oiaGh, ~
had turned over the seat ahead or MIN an IL
by putting his feet up. had elevale s b I1i
knees, thin and gaunt two teet apUET Coz
head. The other was a strangs-Iooh tReIonq-
efgner remarkable for his neliness' i11-e4
ing to some Eastern race, he was et -,
in ordinary clothes which dld nov II. his his
His face was pitted and hairil arS ~ lance
mouth into an evil position. on nrst XII 81 20
he seemed II have no nose, SO sIl et'' Mn,
sllnken was it. Wouldn't like 10 meet In. ~.
on q country road at night. saio INC w.
There was one other person in the c c4is,s
woman one of those small swarthy ItSs s.a-o
VINO trotbin9 feakish about that woman
on first sight. But come up here with mt me
He led the way to the woman. LON
there he said. On one arm the MOo ,
held baby: on the other arm a an ,.eTe
bahy: on the seat a third baby. Ihey wy
triplets. >. ,,d tho con-
ductor genially. Its a good thing ioi ~
Won didn't get in that smoking car ,roI-
An inquiry among the conductors ot lint
lev cars has revealed the curious ldcS rD,,sv
the same conditions prevail there men
too. have freak nights" although out o .hs
a month on the average, Just as OF OH. In IN
railroad the freaks travel only az LIS nth
the owl ears They are never seen "a A.
ordinary people, but flock together a a.
though they have the affinity lot ssser
other. their nelghbors' pecullariues ny cc-
have any interest for them. They nave -
cupied the center OF interest too long. tnsSy
are too accustomed 20 being wondered ~
So they never wonder themselves.