The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-09
RAILROAD NEWS.
General Passenger Agent Jerry
Black of the Santa Fe,
Proves Himself to Be the Right
Man For the Place.
HE OUTWITS A CROWD
Of Foreign Line Passenger
Agents on a Big Deal.
True Story of the Captu ring of
a Circus Contract.


agent of the Santa Fe, is good type
of the up-to-date rustler for railroad
passenger business: Here is a story
illustrating his abilities in this line,
which was told by one of a group of
foreign line passenger agents who We're
waiting to see Mr.. Black at the Santa
Fe offices today:
Last October Ringing Bros circus
closed the season at Purcell. L. T., and
as the Santa Fe is the only line through
that place Mr.. Black at once saw an
opportunity for making a big haul for
the road. The disbanding of a show is
always an attraction to passenger
agents, and there is usually a warm
fight for the transportation of the peo-
pie to their homes. When Mr.. Black
thought of the opportunity he also
thought of a way to prevent COMPETE
ton, but as the foreign line agents
had way of knowing his thoughts.
they were on hand at Purcell in dozens
on the day the circus was scheduled to
diSband.
The Santa Fe had arranged to take
the show people, about 400 in ALL out
of Purcell in a special train, and dur
ing the day the agents of other roads
went among them and represented that
if they allowed the Santa Fe to ticket
them to Chicago they would be held
up" for a higher rate than there was
any need of paying. They told them to
buy tickets only as far as Oklahoma
City, competing point where the Choc-
taw road crosses the Santa Fe, or take
the train and simply pay cash fares that
far, stating that the Santa Fe train
would be compelled to stop there for
the Choctaw junction. In the event
the Santa Fe people objected to selling
tickets to Oklahoma City or allowing
them to take the train without tick
ct, the agents suggested that they wait
and take the regular Santa Fe train
which was due to arrive soon after the
special train was scheduled to leave.
Mr.. Black and his assistants were well
aware of what was going on and that the
show people were thoroughly impressed
with the idea that the Santa Fe meant
to hold them up" When the per-
Torrance ended and the performers and
show hands started to gather at the de-
pot the first thing that met their gaze
was a large bulletin with this an
nouncement:
Regular eastbound train - hours
late; account Texas quarantine regu-
lationS."
At the same time the bulletin was
posted a yard foreman left the station
a track veIocipede with orders to
proceed down the road a mile, and flag
and hold the regular train until further
orders.
This stroke of genius decided the ma
jority of the show people who had fig
ured on taking the regular train to
some competing point. When the San
ia Fe'S rate to Chicago, which although
not exorbitant, was sufficient to net the
road a handsome profit on the special
train, was announced, and also that the
circus managers would pay from the
Santa Fe ticket office, many at once
converted a portion of their final sal
aries into a ticket over the Santa Fe
to Chicago. But a great many chung
to the idea that the train would have to
stop for the Choctaw crossing at Okla
homa City, and went aboard without
tickets and with the intention of paying
cash fare that far.
When all was ready for the special
train with it's 400 passengers to leave,
Mr.. Black sent for the engineer.
How fast can you run with that
train?'' he asked.
ION a good piece of track I can easily
make IS miles," said the engineer.
'WeI.' continued Mr.. Black. ''I have |
telegraphed our people at Oklahoma
City to flag the crossing there, and |
want you to go through the town at a |
rate of So miles. Do you think you can |
do it,
Il think I cam replied the engineer. |
IF you do, I'll send you a box of fine |
Havanas," said the general passenger !
agent.
The engineer went back to his en- |
CINE, and the train pulled out. It pas |
sed the small stations between Purcell |
and Oklahoma City at a good rate of |
speed, and in less than an hour the |
lights of the junction point became Wis |
ible. Up to that time the conductor |
had failed to collect tickets or fares.
What place is that?' asked one of |
the men of a brakeman. peering |
through the car window at the lights in |
the distance.
oklahoma City" answered the train
man.
The news passed through the cars
quickly. and the men who intended to |
leave the train stirred themselves and |
got their belongings in readiness for a
hurried departure. Suddenly the speed |
of the train increased. It dropped down |
a hill and around a curve at a velocity
that startled every occupant. The
lights of the town became almost in
clearer, and then with
a rush and roar and a changing of the
engine bell, the train shot through |
Oklahoma City and over the prairie in
the direction of the Kansas line.
The engineer had earned his box of
HaVanaS.
prairie, the train was stopped and it
was announced that the conductor
would collect the fares, and anyone re-
fusing to buy a ticket who was not al