Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-03-02
THINGS SEEN ON TRAINS.
Conductors Know Certain Occasions as
Freak Nights and Look for Them.

Conductors Know Certain Occasions az
Freak Nights and Look for Them.
Freak night on railroad train"
The conductor of the express for New
York, which leaves the Reading termin-
al every morning five minutes after
midnight, spoke slowly. There's not
many people know what freak night
is; hardly anyone but we conductors,
and then mighty few Of us. But it's
fact that certain trains on certain days
Of the week have freak nights It's
so regular that you know when to ex-
pect it. It's sure to come.
Its this way" continued the conduc-
tor ION this midnight to New York
'emigrant tickets good on the smoking
car are issued at reduced rate. Six
nights of the week we have just the
poorer people that wait all day, sit in
the car all night and are walked in New
York at 4 o'clock in the morning, all
for the opportunity of going over for
half dollar cheaper. They're the kind
OF people you see everywhere and any
where on the streets. But ON one night
Of the week, just as regular as death
or taxes, all the queer fish that are
travelling around seem to gather to-
gether on one train. They are people
you would stop and look at when they
passed you. They are very Fat, very
thin or very drunk; funny looking peo
pie, ugly people; in fact, freaks They
never travel without each other. You
don't see one freak in car load of Or
binary people. All are plain, everyday
people, or else all are freaks. It's got
so that can predict what train load
Is going to be. If see one or two or
binary people getting on, why know
it's an ordinary night; but if see one
of these freaks, then l know I'll have
only freaks. They generally come Sat
urday or Monday nights. but there is
no rule. Sometimes we won't have any
for month, and then we'll have three
or four freak nights together. In 1896
l counted we had between forty and
fifty-abOut one night week, you see
If you'll come into the smoker I'll show
you, for it's freak night tonight"
There were five people only in the
car. Freaks don't carry heavy baggage
as a rule. Away up in front stout
man was embracing friend, and both
were singing the German welcome
song. "Hailee! HailOw!" for all 1t was
worth. ''YOu don't see anything pecu-
lar in that maybe, but I'll show you.
Stop that singing" he said, loudly.
There's woman in the car and she
wants to sleep" Both men turned
around. They We're Enthusiastically
Irish. "And singing a German song.
co. chuckled the conductor. Two
others in the car had freak" written
Ill over them. One was man who
must have been six inches over six feet
all. He was thin and dressed in rusty
black. He had turned over the seat
ahead of him and. by putting his feet
lp, had elevated his knees, thin and
saunt, two feet above his head. The
other was strange looking foreigner,
'emarkable for his uglincss. Belonging
% some Eastern race, he was dressed
II ordinary clothes, which did not fit
lin. His face was pitted and Il harelip
lrew his mouth into an evil position.
At first glance he seemed to have no
hose, so small, so sunken was it.
Wouldn't like to meet him on Il coun-
ry road at night" said the conductor.
There was one other person in the car,
woman, one of those small, swarthy
italians who patronize the owl trains
aft
sh about that woman on first sight.
But come up here with me-" He led
he way to the woman. Look there"
lie said. On one arm the woman held
l baby, on the other arm another baby;
IN the seat a third baby. They were
:riplets. 80 you see it's freak night"
said the conductor, genially. ITS
good thing for you you didn't get in
hat smoking car"
An inquiry among the conductors of
:rolley cars had revealed the curious
.act that the same conditions prevail
here. They, too, have freak nights"
although but once month on the aver
age. Just as on the railroad, the freaks
travel only at night in the "owp' ears.
they are never seen with ordinary peo-
pie, but flock together. Although they
have this affinity for each other, their
nelghbors' peculiarities never have any
interest for them. They have occupied
the center of interest too long; they are
too accustomed to being wondered ut.
So they never wonder themselves
Philadelphia Times.