The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-05-06
TROUBLE WITH THE TROLLEY.
How Motormen Argued With a Live Wire.

WRITTEN Fol; THE SUNDAY REPTILE.
There was a quick. whistling swish. and
a section of the big copper trolley wire
fell to the ground. II she, out a great sheet
of flame. whsrc il touched the track rail,
and then sputtered and spit AMI whisti"d
until the vibrations of the wire had thrown
1t from contact with the track.
TIL" conductor on the ear that had caused
,lrr trouble did not see IN. break His ear
kept on. The angry, stcalthy. rreacherous
wir" was allowed to rest In peace. living in
wait for some unwary pedestrian or luck
l.SS horse with Il sleepy driver.
y little Siri in a blue fIock started TO cross
IN" street where tn" broken wire lay. She
hooked nap In time. saw the huuging. swing
ing strip "f rounded yellow metal. gave a
H1tlc scream. and scamper-d back to the
sidewalk. TErn sh" went down the street
another block. and ran across.
Presently another ear came along. The
motormal looked at the broken wire for
thu distance az a block. and then brought
hiS car Ia a sudden stop. ierked at the hell
cord until his arm gu; tired. and the con-
ductor ana half the passengers came for
ward T." -" what IN. trouble Was.
The moturman lishci about on tho front
platform, and brought cut a long stick If
wood. Thc conductor ran back to the rear
end. dug into the sand box. and cam. out
with u short coil nf small rope.
Watch OUT" said the conductor.
I'm watching" said the motornau.
How are We going to fix it," uucried the
conductor.
Drag it out of the way and tic it IN"
said tn" moiCrman.
Who'll hook it ou?' said the conductor.
You viii. said the moturman.
"~bImriwill." said the conductor.
Hook IN" end of the wire" said the mo-
;orman.
How" asked the conductor.
"Renf the md over. said the motornan.
All right grab hold. I'll throw an end
Of the rnr" To Won. said the conductor.
No said the motorman.
How. tntnE asked tho corductcr.
Gimme a stick" said the motnrmsu
You've got one" said the conductor
'HHt ] want another one" said the mo-
t"rman.
Howl tn" broom do" asked the conduc-
ter.
An right, SAID the motorman.
hnd N" conductor got the broom.
Now; what asked tn" conducror.
'ion. M't"rman No. = stopped aIonrsijs m.
Two men and tn" broken wire.
step az i and kick the other end
Are YOU an undertaken asked the
conductor. ~ "'
Motorman No, : opened the gate If his
PLATFORM. seized his fOur-lece-d s,onl and
stepped to the ground. lie placed th. Stool
on - side. ami then stood on the legs.
taking. car" ~ keep his heels off thc
ground. Tfcn h" lifted n club. and brought
II down on the wire lying Hat on the
ground. The how sent the wir" Jerking
and twisting across the iron rail. and IL
started another imitation of \ ~esrvius when
thIrgS have sOn" wrong With its .lige=-
tior.
There was a scat;ermsat."
Try another way. said Conductor No.
2. who got into the discussion without
leaving his Ear platform.
Push II "f the track, said Conductor
No, /.
And then Conductor No. I reached AT II
gincerly with :: long wooden pole, touched
il and jerkei back He was not shocked.
50 he touched the wire again. this time
less Singerly. But still he had his doubts
about the safety of she proceeding. and
drew the stick back. Finding ne was still
able to turn loose when he wanted to. he
settled the stick carefully against the wire.
gave II a good push. and sent II we'll off
the track. Then i, quit sputtering. Con-
duCtor No. ] Strengthened ZIP and gave a
big sigh of relief. and MotOrman No. .
stood on his stool again.
1T wont hurt you" he said. Just
put your stick under il. and hold It up
while | hit II y HEX"
No. Nnu hold it. while 7 HIT" said
the other moioTman.
'.All right" said Motorman No. .. But
60 NJ II careful. II don't sta?d much
~nonke.in'. you know, and 7 want 10 work
Tonight"
II is a hard thing 10 get a wire on the
end OF a straight stick. even when the
wire * harmless. and is known to be-
sn. And it is a good deal harder when the
wire is "A trolley wire which has a gruia-.