Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1898-07-27
NEW WORK FOR WOMEN.
The Odd Occupation OF a Young
Woman in New York.
She 10 What Might Appropriately Be
Hermed an Accident Runner
Profit by Others
Injuries.

Ane unique occupation followed BY n
young woman was disclosed the other
cay IN New York when there was n ao-
e!oent on the Broadway cable line. The
accident in itself was not especially
noteworthy; car that was rapidly
rounding the Fourteenth street loop,
known as Dead Mans Curve" struck
newsooy who was running across the
street and knocked him 10 the pave.
nent, where he lay unconscious. his
head bleeding from a cash cut by
rough stone. The car stopped, and the
usual crowd of curious and sympathetic
oh!ookers gathered about the boy.
Soon young woman, with a bust
nsss-Ake air and tailor-made gown,
pushed her way through the crowd
aeout the PROSTATE youngstcr. She
promptly took charge of the boy, d.
tected that he be removed to a nearby
drug store, and sent man to ring in n
ambulance call. While this was being
done She moved quickly through the
crowd, pencil and notebook in hand,
secured the names of half dozen per.
sons who had witnessed the accident,
jotted down the numbers of the aon-
ductor and gripman, and made rough
little diagram of the spot where the
accident had occurred-all before The
car moved on in its uptown journey.
Then she hurried back TO the boy and
remained by him until his wound had
bten dressed, and he had been carried
away home.
Probably the most of those who OBJ
served the young woman's actions set
her down as woman reporter, but If
so they were mistaken. Her name is
Harriet Emerson, and she herself de-
scrbes her occupation in this wise:
MY interest in people who are
knocked down by street cars is caused
chiefly by business reasons, l assure
YOU" she said, brightly. I'm what
you'd cal a runner suppose; at
least that is what we used to call The
boys who did this work before began
it," Then, in answer TO her listeners
bewildered look, she explained further:
"1f you'll take the trouble to count
them up in your newspaper some morn
ing, you'll see there are great many
accidents of one kind or another in
big city like New York every day.
There are a good many, too, that are
never mentioned in the papers. You
probably know that If workman who
is injured by falling scaffolding, or
man has his foot cut off by tro..ey
car can, prove that it was the fault of
his employer, or the railway company,
as the case may be, the law permits him
TO collect damages for the injury done.
But perhaps you don't know that this
branch of the legal business has be-
come SO extensive that it occupies the
whole attention of several firms. 1t is
a lucratiye business, too, for juries are
apt to give the injured person the ben
eft of the doubt.
This is what gave me my oppor-
tunity. l made up my mind that a
woman who knew just what was
wanted, would have less difficulty in
getting the proper evidence than
street boy who knew nothing about it.
I've been al this work for year now,
and find that it pays me better than my
former Office employment as stenog-
40 ClHtI ian
ing notes of accidents, such as serving
papers and collecting evidence for my
firm, but most of my income is derived
from such affairs as you have just seen.
"Of course, l don't see all the acct
dents that happen, though good many
more than you would think come under
my eyes, but have good many ways
of finding out about them quickly. For
instance, at most of the dangerous
street crossings there are men who
know me, and will send tip to the
Office when there's case on. Similar
iy, I've made the acquaintance of work
men in the railroad yard and On some
of the big buildings. get percentage
on the fee from each case, and some of
them net me as high as $50. don't
have TO pick up many of them to make
a fairly good living. l dare say you
think its an odd occupation, but like
II, and it's good work. too, for il It
wasn't for me many OF these poor crea-
lures, who are MANNED or injured by
the carelessness of others, would never
get their rights. "-Cincinnat CONNER
einl Tribune.