New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10
THE DAILY BRIDGE FIGHT.
TERRIBLE STRUGGLES TO BOARD THE
TROLLEY CARS.
THE HARDsHIPs OF wHEELMEN on THE ROAD
wAY-DEGRApING sPECTACLEs.

THE HARDsHIPs OF wHEELMEN on THE ROAD
wAY-DEGRApING sPECTACLEs
Brooklyn Bridge. OF the most famous struct-
ures in this any other country, now gives con-
tlnuous troley-car performance The trolleys havo
practically taken possession Of the driveways on
either side OF the Bridge. The old Bridge cars are
still run. but only in trains OF two cars each and
the Brooklyn elevated trains row run across 10 the
New-York terminal
The Introduction OF the irolley-cars to the Bridge
was welcomed by thousands OF Brookynltes who
do business the Manhattan side Of the river. ard
who are now able reach their homes for one
fare; but there is another and an extremely large
class OF persons who theoretically resent the pres
ence Of the trolleys. These people are TIE Wheel
men. The wheelman complains that he gets no
chance for comfort the Bridge. and lttle more
for his life and limb. Scarcely day passes with
out the occurrence OF some ACCIDENT more or less
slight TO some Cycst whG has not yet learned that
the trollcys the Bridge. and that II Is unWise
70 dispute their possession outside OF the courts
Between the trolieys and the trucks there is
space so narrow that even trick rider could not
safely pass therein.
one day last week fat arrived on foot at
the Manhattan end OF the Bridge pushing his wheel
ahead Of him and holding his handkerchief to "A
cash In his forehead What did they do ter yer|'
inquired a sympathetic policeman. They didn't do
q ting ter me-" came the response "and be l!ivin.
on Is bike de Only chanst he has Is ter take er
fcrryboat."
The whoelmen bitterly complain. too. over the
going on the B:dso II they escape the toleys
they declare that they Amos; sure to be shaken
to death on the cobblestones Of the approaches to
the central span on both sides Of the river. They
are shouting loudly for the construction OF cycle
paths one each side Of the Bridge. and Ii Is
understood that their demands are being con dcred
The trolcy-car procession twenty-tour hours a
day for seven days a week is quite rs tomaTk@"io
spectacle as the Sunday bicycle procession on the
Concy Island cycle Path and that, as everybody
knows Is the eighth wonder OF the world. IN rush
hours tho sight closely resembles a game OF Rugby
football. in which men. women. children. polceIn ~
motormen and conductors arc the players. long
inierminable lnc Of ears loaded 10 the foo'ooafds
comes mping IN. Another such line goes hating
out At the loops surges 1 crowd anxious above all
things to rush the incoming cars as soon as th'y
get within striking distance. The spectacle IS any
thing but eeyating. 1t reminds one Of n pack OF
hungry dogs rushing for bone. The foremost IN
the waiting thrcng rush up the line as soon as inc
car comes into sight around the turn They hardy
wait for the empty. OFTEN they Pile In before
the car comes to stop. They hesitate at nothing
so they get seat. Two-th.!ds OF them doht get
that.
on the Fourth Of July in the early afternoon.
when thousands were awaiting chance to get to
Couey Island the rush was tremendous one car
came slowly In. TANNED and covered with return
Ing excursonlsts. The outgoing tNcuIsion!st5
rushed In before It halted Let EN- off, shouted
the conductor. He might as Wei have spoken 10 "A
,hundercioud. The assallan;s swarmed over the
footboard and charged between the seats. The IN
fortunates VINO wanted to get OF howled for mercy
or fought profanoly. according 10 their individual
dispositions.
in the midst Of the uproar a fat woman on the
rear seat shrieked, Cit of me hat ye knock
kneed. bow-Iegged. spawned son Nv seaeook"
There was "A smothered exclamation, ana then a
thin. tall dyspcpuc person VINO hdd Jls' l1r'e' ms
way to the car shot out ana landed on ~ ia, -
Following him came the fl; woman, c.utchinS hei
damaged hat. What She would nave aohe "lii ny
be known for policeman pTrVe",rg naI ~.
thin maa waited Tor another car ana modh""iIe III
a similar scene took place as every car came In.
No woman a2d PS;cs tneTe. aI" no n," for T the
rest Of the day. Every car was stoimed before u
stopped II was impossible 20 get on "l'noni a
out struggle that made one feel wIet med for an
hour The spot where inc cars soppea was "s' ,
,rrec One man VINO had waited while ten cars
a seat without riskng his life at length determined
fooiboard but could not squeeze inside lie con,
Guided he wogldnI go 70 1oney lslan' and t5n
car jcrfed around the curve. The man drQppCd on
Then ne remembered that his hat had fallen Inside
among the struggling feet and he ran shouting
after the car He ran hundred yards before some
6ody dragsfa d MS nj hd i' sar ' iood wd but
grateful and fed, endcayOrng 20 pat his Tile mo
!
The very next ear that came in carried on a
baby and left its mother behind For moment
| there WIS a terrible time until the Inspector
stopped the and restored the bowling infant to
rs hysterical mamma Half IN hour iatcr three
men who going TO coney Island In each
others company cndcavored to get aboard me
same car The first carried Off one oi mem
and left the other The second car TOOK No. :
| and No 3 was left to come on by himself Each
! OF these men was Of ordinary physical strength
but the rushing frantic strife Of that mob was too
| much .Or them. -, 49,, 49,.
| All Of these scenes or something like them. have
been taking place FOR long time late every aiter-
| noon at the City Han terminal OF the Tlllrd-aVe
| elevated line But since the Bridge trustee.
| perfected their plans OF service BTookiyn"ard
| travel has fortunately been reasonably comioTtabe
and decent Travel over the Bridge by inc ,U"l''y
lines however. IS something mat IT. Is not pheasant
10 watch. TO participate therein IL positively d'-
| grading. 1t may make an athlete OF a man II ne
can live through month OF il, but OLD hauds say
| that the first month IS like football every day.