The San Francisco call., 1898-04-17

and run back, or stop on the track and look at the car, and you have to be sure of yourself and the brake and the track to save them. Another thing: Women getting off the car with two or three children lose hold of one some times and it will go right in front of the car on the next track. That hap pened to me on Second street the other day. My car came along and there was a four-year- standing back to me while his mother was going over toward the sidewalk. I stopped about six inches from the child, and the af- fair frightened me so that l just couldn't move for a moment or so af- terward. but the mother never even thanked me. I've lost twenty-three pounds since I began running on the Mission line, just because l have to work and worry. too.
 w. $. CRONK-I have been nine years on the cars and have had my share of bad scares. The most trying thing to me is the way men and women step in between two passing cars-a most dangerous thing to do, but they don't seem to realize that fact. People will get off the wrong side of the car In spite of the conductor, and then if another car Is coming along there's apt to be trouble. Then, again, there seem to be some persons who deliber- ately expose themselves to danger for purpose. Some people wouldn't mind getting hurt a little If they could get good pay for 1t, and most every motor and grip man has met such cranks and had to save them in spite of them- selves.
 A motorman's nerves are strained all the time, with the people, the children and the teams. The heavy truck men of this city, though, are a fine lot of men, the finest I ever came in contact with-they never make any bother if they can help it, but the drivers or light Wagons-Some of theu-are nuis- ances. They like to tantalize a man and keep just ahead of him when he wants to make time.
 JOHN MILLER-I have worked on five different lines and one of the worst frights I ever got was the first night that took charge of motor. It was on Folsom street near Twentieth, and a child about four years old, who was walking along one side of the street with its mother. saw its father on the other side and started after him. She started so suddenly that 1 was taken by surprise, and the worst of it was that when she got half way over she fell right across the track. My hair rose right straight up, for it had been raining and the track was slippery, but 1 managed to bring the car to a stop within about a hands breadth of her little head. Instead of realiZin that I had saved the baby's life the father wanted to whip me, which I thought rather ungrateful. but I was new to the business then and had not learned that that's about all we grip and motor men can expect under such circumstances.
 Down on Second and Bryant not long ago an old gentleman stepped out from behind a loaded truck right on my track. not six feet ahead. I put on the brake like lightning, but as the car stopped it struck him and knocked him down, but didn't hurt him. The first thing he did when he got his breath was to swear at me for not ringing my gong. I had been ringing the gong for the truck. but If I had stopped to ring it for him he would have been mashed sure. It was brake or nothing in his case, and so I chose the brake.
 Broadway and the crossing at Fourth and Mission are the worst two places that I ever struck, and the middle of the day when people are going to lunch and and in the afternoon, are the worst times in the day.
 c. F. RACKLIFF-I am a rather new man, but I have had my experiences. Two weeks ago I was going down Mis- sion, near Nineteenth, and in the mid dle of the block two boys jumped out from behind car on the other track rioht in front of me. I managed to stop just in time not to hit them, but all the passen; ,ers were frightened; we had a great time with the women