Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-05-07
NIGHT CAR INCIDENTS.
Some of the Diversions on an Early
Morning Ride.

From the New York Sun.
one of the liveliest lines of night cars IN
the United States runs from the Pennsyi.
Bergen % Point Ietses at Certain ANY seasons n tn there
are no fights-on the night cars of this line.
Ine rest of-the season there are nights.
such as one sees on; the stock yards roads
in Chicago. The writer mas often been on
car in which every passenger, except
himself, was punching faces indiscrimi-
nateiy Tor no apparent reason than there
was pugnacity in the air.
The night conductors on the divisions of
the Consolidated Traction Company's sys-
tenn lead an active life. Those with con-
victions as to their right 10 keep order in
their cars have Il sur1eit of fights. They
must stop the cars at regular intervals,
buckle into the rumpus from behind, while
the motormen break loose from in front,
and give and take until they punch the
love OF peace into the heads of the beli-
some conductors who do not think they
get paid for lighting and therefore decline
to join in the fray. These men are will
Fortunately for them. there is a police sta
ton half way from the ferry to the point
ON on the line of the trolley. When. there
with Two miles of punching. the peace
loving conductor stops his car in front of
one, tne station "a on and four or five policemen
called, for the emergency is realized the
moment the car stops.
Inc ponce station trick is known, how
among the passengers. and they often cir
cumvent the conductor In coming up
from ,b .he point, after Sunday picnic on
.ntt,y .ne pay shore, these men usually defer
settlements OF differences until after the
ponce station is passed. For most men.
me me two mile stretch from the station to
tn's, tme Terry would seem long enough to al
low any man his fill of hostilities: but
these Jersey fighters are a peculiar lot:
once they start they seem to want to
mjlie nIfp fgb1 at II ad all night Although the two
pei1gerents, 1t usually does for the car.
II Is no uncommon thing at the ferry house
To- 10 see night car come IN dark. window
less, cushionless. with a rip-roaring crowd
surging from door to door In a final effort
70 get Its moneys worth of black eyes be-
iors Tbe ,he moef e9nductor calls All OUT"
combats on the cars is the lack of nickels
with which to pay fares. The Jerseyman
s.il VINO mas tasted the sweets of metropolitan
homeward loaded with sweets, but devoid
OF nickels. When the conductor insists
on getting the nickel he usually is warned
70 10 av9la punch in the eye by retiring to
the platform. The conductor then looks
at the lnstector. a trolley official whose
chlet duty at nights is to see that dead
pea Deats ), are thrown off with the least delay
ana damage TO the rolling stock. The in
spector sleeps in corner when not in ac-
ton. The conductor looks at the INSPECTOR
ana then goes up to him and shakes him
seiltiy; me Inspector awakes and this COM
VerSation enSues:
What in thunder is the matter?"
Ihat Dig tough over there went pay"
do,., Wen. throw him OUT. throw him out!
don't delay the services
corner. 'e 'ouen
The conductor approaches the tough and
but sometimes not Heels and fists nv
The motorman hears the fight an1 stops
the car, thus frustrating now and then the
conductors plan to eject the tough in full
hnf
tired ana as 1t wanes the tough settles
back into his corner. The inspector, who
mas watched the conflict with half-closed
eyes, then rises from his attitude of re-
pose. shakes himself out, yawns and de-
scends on the tough.
Get out, you loafer," he says.
No response.
Pay or get out"
No response. but shifting about in pre-
paIation for an attack. The inspector then
goes INTO action. If he is the champion
really inspects. he does an artistic Job.
Ihere Is rip and up comes the tough
with the cotton batting starting from his
sleeve seams another rip, and he is round
ing the side post of the door with his coat
dividing in the back; a third rip and off
ne ne goes While canvas scraps and Innings
sometimes that is the, end; occasionally it
isn't. The insnentor who is. or was last
season, the pride9of the road was not in
saik Saes e h9 t hsq oasst bass esetsa e
swear terrifically and challenge the whole
Consolidated Traction Company to come
out ana night him. this PARTICULAR inspector
from the car and take after the challenger
at high speed. He was so ferocious a
spectacle that the challenger usually ran.
inc writer saw two men, however, who
didn't run on critical occasions. One got
an uppercut before he realized that the
fight had begun and the other was borne
to the pavement by the fury of the on
slaught. In neither case did the challenger
manifest any desire to fight the rest of the
traction company.
It may be said in justice that a man
who does not care to fight on these cars
Is perfectly free to remain at peace with
the world. Nobody will molest him. If he
pays his fare he is left to choose his own
diversions. If he desires to join in the
fray he needs no introduction. He is ac-
commodated at once. on any excuse or
none. If he wishes to read or sleep, the
others will settle their little differences
without realizing that he is alive.