The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-07
bad fists olinched and elbows set at an aggres.
CITY HALL STATION.

had fists clinched and elbows set at an aRgres.
si TRs ss sersn ss n w Tenay into aS pp 9hs ticket Office. 10
saw there three ticket windows with a line OF
Me- aEs or would sif p eo@e up 1sa faIl n n ppeb e sa ths T T1Dss ~
Of tho other windows a line in which there were
S SSosst .Saf iiln so" The 't stran sg"T fei ina IN r Sshi I0i the the
shortest one he saw. and almost before he knew
them urging the others forward. SO that he in
return was compelled to stub his toes against
re- ne h ss1.o Of young you Nv woman oman in front Of him.
but he is ready to make oath that tho last
thing h, thu, ,,G young woman san did after draw,
ono OF those same heels and bring it down with
been interfering with 1t; II that was her inten.
ton: she was successful: Inasmuch, as the
denly, and his heel in turn raped sharply on
the shin bone OF a Notwithstanding gentle
very unbenevoIent things. it can be taken Tor
granted that at least three OF the people who
deposited their tickets within the next few
minutes we're somewha out OF temper. Observa-
ton showed that a disposition to get angry at q
moments notice anu at tho slightest proyoca-
uon was a general characteristic of rush'hour
At the entrance to tho train platform there
in the middle. Three men stand there and chop
the tickets hat are put into those boxes just as
ping machines for two hours. This means that
the crowd, generally speaking. comes through
the paSsage%ay four abreast; The middle pair
outsiders into the outside boxes. The boxes
wouldn't be there If the crowd was not so great as
cause the minute the crowd decreases the mid
die box is closed. The stranger found a corner
crowds entering and leaving the platform, and
made some computations. He doesn't know
how many people 1t takes 10 make q train!oad,
platform In q given time. but to tho best of his
Judgment, as he watched. there seemed to be
the platform during the time In which it took a
train TO unload, I'LL up again. and pull out. There
time, 80 that one-tfth OF a trainload was left
behind each time on the platform.
The stranger started down tho platform. Men
in uniform. stationed about thirty feet apart,
were shouting with voices as loud and m0not-
3nous - tbose OF street haeksters. Move up
Hurry up forward" sand SO on indefinitely.
When tho crowd became slightly congested they
lent the Aid OF their arms and shoulders to their
voices. They literally herded the crowd TO the
front. At the same time there was a crowd COM
Ing down the platform FROM The trains that had
just arrived; These were the people whom the
observer had seen at q more advanced stage of
office. Now he saw why they we're angry and
excited. As the great crowd OF IInricm-hound
folk came running, showing. and pushing their
way up INC platform, encouraged and driven by
the employees OF the railroad company, incom-
ing peopls-who needed no directions or urging
In their effort to reach the bridge and Brooklyn
and dinner-were lett to fight their way out as
I~are they sS, could sxs, F a3i. they h to hghttri They
StS W ' iiVNOl Z blaiL Slll Will
out fighting. They were not so many as
the incoming crowd, and so they wsnt to tho
wall. or AT least the substitute for the wal, on the
platform, IA brensthigh iron railing next TO the
tracks on either side. They came down along
this railing, their outer shoulders thrust for
ward to meet the incoming mot on tho ono
side. and often with their hands braced against
the railing on the other. Every little while the
crowd In the middle would widen out, and then
there would DO n squeeze on the sides and a rat
Tie 81 mems c,iss, words, or the cries Of women
appealing for help.
The observer was about half way up the plat.
form. He was beginning to wonder whore The
police were, 10 OF course. he thought that
wherever such q crowd was gathered common
sense would direct that a body OF police be sta
toned there 10 regulate IL. He didn't SEQ any
police, and concluded thoy must be at q point
. little further up the platform, where there was
n racket which indicated a Gro d OF human be.
ings In an unusual state OF excitement. He
fought on. A great volume of voices from
somewhere near the side rails dinned in his cara
the unceasing refrain: g Harlem express on the
.tghtl This side for Harleml Harlem express
Plenty OF seats in the forward cArs!"
He kept on through the turmoil. through the
shouts and the elbowinR and squeezing confu,
sion until he reached tho very end of tho plat
form: A train had Just gone out. II was the
"train ON the right" commended 10 him as a
quick means OF getting 10 Harlem. A train or
the left was just coming in. II stopped with a
ereakinR and groaninR Of machinery, He heart
the gates slam, and then around each car plat
form wHs q whir!ing and scattering of huma
boGi S. like ga wdusl on the whirlpoOls along til,
surface of u mil!race. He heard one or twI
soiSGps OF women. and time and again thu