The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-10-16
S0RROWFuL SCENE.
INCIDENT OF TRAVEL ON 1
NORTHERN PACIFIC TRAIN.
LITTLE CHILD IS PUT OFF
Indifferent Father, Who Had Ticket,
~ Forced by the Passengers to
- Alight and Co., For
Her.

ed" remarked John H. French trav-
cling man, as he sat in the lobby of his
hotel last evening, land do not very
often let anything make me feel badly,
but l saw a case today that made me
feel as if the good things Of this world
are not at all equally divided.
ri ION the Northern Pacific train coming
from St. Paul man, roughly dressed
and apparently a miner. had with
him little girl of possibly or years
Of age. When the conductor came
around to inspect the tickets the father
handed him a pass for himself. but
failed to produce anything for the
child
"Of course. there was howl from the
conductor, and he announced in most
emphatic language that the father
would have to pay for the little ones
passage, or else the child would be put
off the train. The father made no re-
ply. except to gather the infant closer
to him, while a look Of determination
came from his face.
Responsibility Too Great.
"While the conductor had the un-
doubted right to eject the child from
the train, because her fare had not
been paid, it was a serious matter to
put her OF among strangers. with no
one to care for her, and the train Of
fetal did not like to take the respon-
sibilty of doing so.
Repeated efforts were made to in
duce the father to pay the child's fare,
and at last it came out that he had no
money, not even enough to pay for any
thing to eat on the long journey to
Spokane, Wash. Then the conductor
x,,so :,I, Fo{ >5,,,
his baggage checks SO the company
could hold the baggage until the fare
was paid.
3 with persistency worthy of a bet
ter cause the man held Onto the
checks, declining to even allow the con-
ductor to see them. He was deaf to
all threats that the child would be put
off among strangers at the next sta
ton. During all of this time the little
one was in an agony of terror, and
sobbed and screamed with fright, and
perhaps hunger, too.
Passengers Are Ugly.
Had the father been even apparent
ly willing to do the right thing the
passengers would have made up a
purse and paid the fare Of the child,
but he was not, and seemed almost in
was put off or not. A lady in the seat
behind the two fed the child from time
to- time. but SO far as the passengers
were concerned the father could have
starved to death.
"On each division of the road the
same scene was re-enacted-the conduc-
tor demanding ticket for the child and
threatening to put her off if her fare
was not paid. Thus it ran until the
Glendive division was reached. The con-
ductor on this division, who had been
notified of the existing condition of
affairs, had a long talk with the father
end endeavored to induce him to do the
right thing, showing him the rules Of
the road, etc.
eff the father, who until now had re-
manned almost perfectly silent when ap-
proa ched by the train officials, had not
become angry and made insolent replies,
he would probably have been permitted
to have carried the child along with
him, the company trusting to luck to
get it's money at Spokane. But he lost
his temper, and it got him into trouble.
Off at Big Timber.
"When a few miles from Big Timber
the conductor made another demand for
the child's money, and when 1t was not
forthcoming announced that the child
would be elected at Big Timber.
"'Get her ready to leave the train
he said, addressing the father, who
made no move SO to do.
"The conductor helped the child put
on her shoes, her coat and her hat. and
as he did so tried hard to hide the tears
that rolled down his face. for his heart
went out to the innocent little one. who
was to be made to suffer for the faults
OF the father.
''The scene was pathetic one in the
extreme, and nearly all of the passen-
gers turned away. and tried not to hear
the screams of the child, as she begged
to be allowed to remain with her papa.
"'You can't put me off the train
shouted the father. My ticket is good
until the goth. and I'm going to ride, no
matter if have to leave the little gim
behind
Scored by Conductor.
"'No, I cannot put you off, slowly
replied the conductor, his face showing
the anger he tried to conceal, and I'm
sorry for it, but if you had a single
shark of manhood in your composition
you would get off with the child, and
not allow her to be left here at Big Tim
Der among strangers. for I'm going to
put her off unless you either pay her
fare or give me the baggage checks
"When the train stopped the conduc-
tor picked up the child and walked to-
ward the door with her. The child
screamed with fear, and half Of the
passengers arose to their feet and made
a threatening move toward the father,
who evidently concluded that it was up
to him to make a move.
81 will get off with the child he said,
but you and the company shall hear