The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-03-21
Hoodoos ON q Railway Train.

taking up tickets. One Of his passen-
gers was whistling as he hauled out
his. The conductor handed it back
unpunched. When the conductor re-
turned from the rear coach he hesita.
ted at the seat Of the whistling man
and then passed on. When he made
his second trip through the car, after
the train had left Trenton, he again
took the ticket Of the sibilant passen-
ger and returned it without the usual
perforation. After this had been re-
peated bald-hcaded passenger in a
starboard seat apologized to the con-
duotor and asked him why he didn't
punch the whistler's ticket.
II am not superstitious," was tho
reply, "but I am afraid if that fellow
doesn't t stop whistling we shall run
into blizzard, or off the track, or
have collision"
The bald head said that was cheerful
information coming from a conduc-
tor.
well, you asked me and have
told you. | never knew it to fail. I
know whistling is considered by some
as an evidence of good nature, but
when it is done in railway coach it
is in line with the crow of hen.
What on earth man wants to whis-
tie for when he is in a car don't
know. But that is neither here nor
there. 1t is bad luck, especially if the
conductor punches the ticket while he
ia whistling."
why don't you ask him q question
and punch his ticket while he is an
swering?"
"That would do not good. He must
lot have his lips puckered when 1
take the ticket. Besides, I don't
know what to ask him without appear
ing impertinent. can't think of any,
thing to ask
"Is that . notion common to con.
ductors?''
II can't say how general it is, but 1
have had it many ears, and know
others who think the same. A loco
motive engineer doesn't like to have
anybody whistle in his pilot"
"But you will have to take up that
mans ticket before he leaves the
car"
Certainly. But he may stop wnis
tling. If he doesn't shall have to
take it up anyhow; but the damage
will be done then
What damage?'
"Why, the hoodoo will be running
the train by that time. / know what
l am talking about
"Philadelphia; all out for Philadel-
plia," shouted the porter
The whistling passenger seized the
satchel and started for the door. The
conductor overlook him, and said
"This is not your station
II am going to stop over hers one
train
"Givc me that ticket, quick J" cut
in the conductor, $50 that I can fix
it, or it won't be good for a stopov-
er."
The passenger complied as he re.
sumed whistling. Tbs ticket was fixed
and the passenger left the car. The
conductor usually turns his train over
to another at Philadelphia, but this
time the same conductor continued to
Baltimore. When the train was un-
der headway again the bald-headed
passenger congratulated the conduc-
tor. He smiled and made no reply.
!.s. after the train left Wilmington
it came to stop in the open and stood
there for an hour. The locomotive
had got the kinks. When it started
again it was fitful speed. When it
finally reached Baltimore snowstorm
had overtaken it. CT it had ran into
one. The conductor left the train
there.
ut might have been all right he
explained to the bald-headed pa. sen
ger. but man got on at Wilmington
who wore ear muffs, and I knew that
we we're in for it. It may be wrong
about whistling men, but when man
gets on my train wearing heaters on
his ears l then know that there is
trouble coming. l am not supersti-
tious, but there are things you cant
get around"
The train was three hours late at
it's destination. The storm was at its
height. The street cars had stopped.
Cabs were So apiece.