The times., 1899-03-23
COUGH-DROP VENDORS
Meet and Do BATTLE
Rivalry of the Triple X and
Double X Men.
A Dissertation on Throat Medicine
Stopped by the Police.
Disputed Commercial Prerogntivcs
in Front of Theatre-Both Of
tenders Released From Custody.

Greek met Greek last night when two
cough drop vendors, well known and fa-
miliar figures to all residents of the city,
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue northwest
shortly after s o'clock. The participants
were John Seamark, sixty-four years old,
and Christopher w. Weston whose age is
given as fifty-three years. The trouble was
due to a jealous rivalry existing between
the men. 1t assumed such proportions that
it became necessary for Policemen Warren,
Cochran, and Dodge to interfere. They
placed the vendors under. arrest and es-
released on collateral.
Seamark is purveyor to the public. He
dispenses cough drops which bear his
name and triple Y trade mark. His rival
Weston, occupies similar position toward
the community, in that he also sells cough
drops. They are made by Philadelphia
ilrm, and bear trade mark of but double
\. This, claims Weston, is not significant
OF any inferiority and lessons not the pres
tige OF MS ware. Both men cary red boxes
very similar in appearance, and each
claims the other is infringing on his rights.
AS rule the vendors get along smoothly
rms Is when they do not come in contact
with each other. 1t is their desire to avoid
clash and to that end they judiciously
seek different fields for peddling their
wares. This IS a small world after ALL
and consequently meeting Of the red
boxes cannot always be avoided. Both men
have an eye TO business and naturally
seek that point where there is apt to be
the greatest chances for sales.
Possibly no better base of operations
ls
theatre, where large crowds of people
are sure to pass. The greater the number
OF people encountered by a merchant the
greater his chance for sales. The men
usually appear, and by no agreement, at
| different theatre every night. The fates
are generally propitious, and a kind provi-
dence manages that they do not select
the same theatre for the same night
Last night however, that kind and be-
nign providence took a day Off and in its
absence the cough drop men inadvertently
met near the Bijou. The meeting was a
signal for an exchange of heated words
and then the hostilities opened up in
earnest. Blows quickly succeeded words
and a fierce battle was in progress when
the policemen appeared and made their
way through a crowd of several hundred
people gathered to witness the struggle.
The topic at issue seemed to be the privi-
leege of monopolizing the area in the
vicinity of the show house. A discussion
Of that topic led TO an exchange of per-
sonalities and reflections on the merits of
the respective cough drops.
Before the argument had been settled
the policemen took hand and interrupted
the proceedings. An investigation showed
that the men were about equally to blame
for the disorder occasioned and they were
taken to the stationhouse and charged
with disorderly conduct. Weston seemed
Indifferent to the charge against him and
produced a handful of nickels and dimes,
which, when counted by Stationkeeper
Heller, proved to be sufficient to secure
his release on So collateral
Seamark was not so fortunate. Busi-
ness evidently had not been very good
with him. and when he took an inventory
of cash on hand it was found that he was
several nickels and dimes short of the
necessary S.. He was in an awkward po-
sition and begged TO be released, prom
ising TO return later with the amount of
his collateral. After short delay his re-
quest was granted and he started out in
hot pursuit of his rival who had gained
lead and business advantage of five min
utes.