The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-28
WIGHT C1R NCDESTS.
sono OF the Dtversiens on an Early Morning
Ride 70 Bergen Peint BY trolley.

NAE 70 bergen Eo1nb Dy EfOu0y.
One OF the hreliest lines of night cars In the
United States runs from the Pennsylvania ferry
In Jersey City to the tip OF Bergen Point. At
certain seasons there are no fights on the night
cars OF this line. The rest OF the time there are
fights, good healthy right and left Western
fights. such as one sees on the stock yards roads
in Chicago. The writer has often been on a car
In which every passenger. except himself. was
punching faces i~ndiscriHinately to- 10 apparent
reason than that there was pugnAcity In the air.
The night conductors on this division Of the
Consolidated Traction Company's system lead
an active life. Those with convictions as to
their right to keep order In their cars have q
surteit OF fshts- They must stop the cars at
regular intervals, buckle into the rumpus from
behind while the motormen break loose in front.
and give and take until they punch the love OF
peace into the heads OF the bellicose Jer-
ductors who do not think they get paid
for fighting. and therefore decline TO
join IN the fray. These men are willing to let
the police do the peacemaking. Fortunately for
them there Is a police station half way from the
ferry 70 the point on the line OF the trolley.
When. therefore. the fighters refuse to be salts
fed with two miles OF punching. the peace-lov-
ing conductor stops his car in front OF the sta.
they come without being called. for the emer-
gency is realized the moment the car stops.
to some OF the regular lighting men among the
passengers, and they often c~ircumvent the con-
ss1GtEr; In coming up from the point; after a
usually defer settlements of differences until
after the police station is passed. For most
the ferry would seem long enough to allow
any man his m OF hos,ilities; but these
star, they seem to want 10 keen az It ali niEhi.
Although the two-mile nght does not always
sanef II 'q e n 1Hs n oss5issTent tb5i IL es q, NY S fer7y ' Sa5 5ss
to see a night car come in dark, windowiess,
eushionless, with a ripr9aring crowd surginR
moneys worth of black eyes before the conduc-
The most productive source of the single com-
bats on the cars IL The lack Of nickels with
which to pay fares. The Jsrseyman who has
I1SSed 'he sweets y o,, .. ms,T9pohbt on spGrfinS lfs
with sweets but devoid of nickels. When the
conductor insists on getting the, nickel. he
by retiring to the platform, The conductor then
looks at the inspector. a trolley official whose
thrown OF with the least delay and damage to
the rolling stock. Tho inspector sleeps in . cor
the inspector and then goes up to him and
shakes him gently. The inspector awakes and
this conversation ensues.
What In thunder Is the matter =
That big tough over there won't pay"
well. throw him out! throw him out! don't
Yer can't do IL: seer from the tough's corner.
The conductor approaches the tough and crap.
sometimes not. Heels and fists ny. The motor
man hears the fight and stops the car. thus
frustrating now and then the conductors plan
until both men are tired, and as It wanes the
tough settles back INTO his Gomez. The inspec-
tor. who has, watched the conf'ct with half
closed eyes, then Tisss from his attitude OF re-
pose, shakes himself out. yawns. and descends
on the tough.
Get out, you ~loate-." he says.
No response.
"Pay or get out"
No response, but a shifting about In prcpara.
ton for an attack. The inspector then goes into
action. II he Is the champion inspector OF the
line, the inspector who really inspects, he does
an artistic job. There Is q rim, aud up comes
the tough with the cotton batting starting from
the side post Of the door with his coat dividing
in the back; a third rip, and or he goes while
canvas scraps and Innings ioat OF with the wind.
Sometimes that Il the end: occasionally II
isn't. The inspector who Is, or was last season,
the pride OF the road. WAS not inclined TO let a
man who had been eleCted talk hack at him.
challenge the whole Consolidated Traction Com
pany TO come out and rRht him. this particular
inspector would accommodate him. lie would
leap from the car and take after, tho challenger
at high speed. He was so ferocious a spectacle
that the challenger usually ran. The writer
saw two men, however, who didn't run on crit
realized that the fight had begun. and the other
was borne TO the pavement by the fury OF ths
onslaught. In neither case did the challenger
manifest any desire TO fight the rest OF tho
II may be said in justice that a man who docs
not care 70 light Oh these cars is perfectly free 70
remain at peace with the world. Nobody will
modest him. II he pays his. fare he 10 left TO
choose his own diversions IT. he desires to join
in the fray he needs no Introduction He Is az
commodAted At once, on any excuse or none. II
he wishes 10 read or sleep. the others will settle
their little differences without realizing that he
Is alive.