The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-20
MEIGS'S MOVE TO HARLEM.
tFrom the New York SUM-


'Meigs has been a changed man since
he moved up to Harlem" said the old
guard on the Sixth avenue elevated train,
and as he has for many years been one
of our regulars on the midnight uptown
train know him we'll that may say
truthfully that the change has improved
Mefgs. / know most of our regulars on
the midnight train by name and as Meigs
has been riding up in my car for many
years know him quite well. 1 don't
know what his business is but it is some
thing that keeps him. down town until
mIdnlght. Then he boards my train at
There isn't a nicer traveller on this
f f6a9 t H4ae Melgs SOBER nor roqgher one
years near Seventy-second street station.
Meigs was drinking heavily. Finally one
night he boarded my car very much in
until he reached 125th street ana when Il 7
woke him lp and told him that We Fa 4
gered to his feet and hit out at me. Wei,
sir, it was nasty fight while is lasted
and we held the train for it. It took three
of US to subdue Meigs and land him on
the platform and we were all badly
bruised hated to see Meigs roughly
handled but it had to be done
THE following night Meigs boarded my
car at Fourteenth street, sober and very
penitent. He offered to repair all damages
done and asked me as a favor to see that
he was put off the car at Seventy-second
street if he again fell asleep. I think
in my car for at least five years and I
never carried him past his station. 1 put
the other guards on to him, and when ]
was off duty they looked out for him.
habits that we ali felt sorry for him.
We'll, sir, last May one night 41eigs
got on my train in his usual sleepy con-
dition and when he reached Seventy-sec-
ond street 1 tried to put him off but he
put up a game fight. but with the assis-
t9nce of another man We pushed him off
cursed US. He came aboard the next
night sober as a judge, and told me that
he had just moved up to 13Sth street, and
for that reason he had objected to being
put off at Seventy-second street
" 1t was all right on your part said
Meigs, but knew what l wanted and
hour for the next train, and when I
attempted to get on board of it the guard
pushed me back saving that didn't
me, you see, and supposed that 1 was at
my station
1T happened that was sick a few days
after that and when I came back l found
that my substitute was a wreck. He had
tried to put Meigs off at Seventy-second
street, as usual, and Meigs had put up a
stin fight Well, sir, to be brief, Meigs
fought nearly all of the old guards at
Seventy-secOnd street station during the
next few weeks, and he frequently got the
had moved and they thought that they
were doing him a favor. Meigs couldn't
keep up that pace and he had two alter
natives, either to move back to Seventy
second street or to stop drinking. His
wife objected to the former and approved
the latter Meigs knew that if he didn't
Some of the old men, you see. handled
him more roughly than necessary at Sew
enty-SeCOnd street.
ssMeigs was all right at bottom and he
He now advises every man to move to
Harlem and stop drinking. First time
way. but Meigs' story is straight. Goodby,
here is your station"