New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-12-01
RTB-BPEAEISG RAPID TRANSIT.

To assail a woman with physical violence, TO
break two of her ribs, to infict other injuries
upon her and to cause her to faint with pain
not pleasant performance, is it? Not precisely
in harmony with the holiday spirit of happiness
and good cheer. Suggestive Of Bill Sykes rather
than Of Cheerybe Brothers. But it was not in
some den in the sums, nor in a street brawl,
nor yet in that strenuous engagement Of the
football field, which some affect to regard as
the climax of brute violence Neither was he
who did the deed rufian a wilful law
breaker. The assault occurred at midday upon
q frequented and crowded thoroughfare and
was committed by the employe of a great cor
poration whose express duty it was TO serve and
to safeguard the public. In brief. the unfortu-
nate woman was thus crushed and nearly killed
in the crowd on bridge car platform through
the efforts of guard to close the platform gate.
The case gives no cause for wonder Rather
the wonder is that such cases are not of daily
occurrence. For violent assaults, such as might
we'll cause such injuries, as frequent are
the cars upon the bridge at certain hours. The
f-enzied rush Of passengers is bad enough. But
when the is filled TO suffocation, and the
platform is packed and damned, up comes a
stalwart guard to close the gate. and gripping
a rod at each side Of the gateway with his
hands, applies his knee or his shoulder to the
back of the last person who got On, and thrusts
with MI his might-as though he were packing
hay into a NOW. 1t is brutal performance.
But it is done hundreds of times daily, to the
serious injury of many and to the gross dis
comfort of uncounted thousands. If cattle or
sheep were thus packed into cars pens the
outraged law would quickly be invoked. II
some trainhand stableman should break the
ribs of horse or cow in forcing il into too
small 4 space he would be hailed to the bar as
an inhuman wretch But seeing that only
women and men are thus treated, the matter is
passed lightly by as of no especial account.
The man who did the mischief in this particu-
lar case was arrested by the husband of his
victim. but was discharged by the judge on the
ground that there had been intent of wrong
on his part, and that the proper remedy was to
be sought through civil action. That view of
the case is doubtless correct There are some
rufians among the employees of transportation
companies, but most of the men mean well, and
err only as they are compelled TO err under the
companys rules. 1t is the companies that are
at fault They ought tc provide cars enough to
carry the people without indecent and dan
gerous crowding. They could do so if they
would, at least to a far greater extent than at
present. In the case under consideration the
company could have done so fully. For this
catastrophe did not occur in rush hours. but at
a time when travel was comparatively light
The secret of the trouble was that Thursday
was a holiday. and. usual. the number of
trains run much reduced. And. though
travel was light. the trains We're run at so long
] intervals that the crowding was excessive The
same thing occurs on every day. Some of the