The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-16
BLOCKADES RESULT.
officials Refused to Move Cars-"Five-
Cent-Eare" RbOsly

Cent-Fare" RhOdy.
There was a merry time last night on
several of the street-car lines. crowd
of young men determined to test the ability
Of the company to collect more than
cents fare and they had time doing it,
A car stood On the Illinois-street line for
three-quarters of an hour, blocking the
line all of that time, before the company
finally gave in and then the conductor SIM
ply refused to collect any fare at all where
cents was not offered. On two Pennsyl-
vania-street cars the same thing was done
with the same result, blocking the line for
nearly half hour.
AT S:45 o'clock about a dozen young men
boarded Illinois-street and College-avenue
No. 509 conductor No. 49, motorman
No. 355. at the corner of Washington and
Illinois streets. The conductor did not offer
to collect fares until after Market street
passed and then he began his rounds.
He had collected eight nickles before he
came to one of the crowd that boarded the
car at Washington street. This man offered
8 cents. The conductor refused to take IT
and said the man would have to get off
the car. The man would not move and an
effort was made to put him off, but the
conductor soon saw that the man had too
many. friends in the car and desisted. He
stopped his car at Ohio street and there a
large crowd collected to watch the pro-
ceedings.
The conductor conferred with the motor
man and with conductors from other cars
that had followed close behind him, but
they could not decide what to do. Finally
road officer came on to the scene. He
ordered the car moved forward one block
ca IN a11 ha
pass AT this the crowd thought the three
cent-fare men had won a voctory and a
cheer arose. The car proceeded just one
block and stopped again. The crowd soon
followed. when it was seen that the car
had stopped, and it became larger than be-
fore. Four conductors and motormen en-
tered the car after 1t had stopped and
began an argument with some of the men.
Finally one of the street-car men said:
ITS nothing but gang OF drunken ruff
fains and toughs."
He evidently intended to say more. but
was stopped by grip on his arm that
made him think he had suddenly come In
contact with steam wise, lie turned and
saw a man about twice his size, holding
hin. by the arm and big fist shaking in
his face.
drur ken toughs, sir, or you may regret ii.
Nov you point out the man or men who
are drunk and I'll put them off the car
myself"
The conductor realized by the pressure on
his arm that the speaker was amply able
TO put half dozen men off the car. but
he did not point out the drunken man.
THE CROWD RODE FREE.
About this time patrolman appeared on
the scene. Ee pushed his way through the
crowd to the car. The street-car men ap-
pealed to him to do something. He heard
them and was seen to shake his head. He
stood around in the crowd to see that there
were no disturbances, but took no part in
the affair at all. The crowd was very good
natured in its actions Finally a road Of
fcer saw that there was nothing TO do
but to accept 3 cents fare or let the men
ride for nothing. He did not seem to care
TO make a personal attack on the men to
eject them. or thought IL unwise on ac-
count OF further damages and probably ar
rests of the men concerned. He ordered
the car TO proceed and told the conductor
| TO collect fares where cents was offered.
but TO allow all the poor people who had
no money to ride free. The crowd re-
mained on the car until the conductor had
passed through and refused their pennies
| and then got off at North street
BY the time the crowd got off at North
| street it had been augmented to fully forty.
| There consultation was held and it was
| decided TO try a Pennsylvania-street car
next The crowd moved east on North
| street and gathered force as IL went. there
being more than fifty when Pennsylvania
| street was reached
About twenty of the party boarded a
came along for fares the first man offered
| him cents OF course he refused it, Some
| and there the car stood, the conductor ar
glIing with the first man he approached
| Finally he took the man by the arm and
made an effort to put him off. Others OBJ
/ jected. saying the conductor had a big job
| on hand IL he undertook TO put all the
"three-cent'' men of the car. He then
| realized what he had struck and consulted
| the motorman. After a wait of about Ave
minutes. he turned his trolley and backed
| down TO the Denis on House. where he met
another north-bound Pennsylvania street
car.
| There the fun began anew. Three street.
| car men came into the car and took hold
| OF one of the crowd and attempted 10 put
| him Off Others of the crowd grabbed their
| friend on the other side and for "A minute
| there was regular tug OF war. the poor
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