The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-31
TRAFFIC BLOCKED
NEARLY AN HOUR
Heavy Safe on Main-street Line
Brought Things to a Stand
Still.

AS a result Of an unsuccessful effort to
move d 900 pound safe from the Rch-
mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac
freight depot in the extreme West End
Of the city TO place OF business OF c,er-
chant on lower Main Street, a distance OF
fully two miles. the trolley cars OF the
city were tied up for fully an hour dur
ing the busiest portion OF yesterday az
rernoou. thousands of people being com
PEELED TO discontinue their journeys upon
the cars and hoof IL 10 their destination.
The congestion OF traffic was appalling,
being by far the worst experienced in
Richmond il many day
The safe had been loaded upon a eray
OF the Pioneer Transfer Company and
the wagon had moved along from III.
freight depot to the corner OF Main and
Fourteenth Streets, where a tire on the
OF rear wheel slipped the rim as the
d!1Fer was making an effort TO clear the
vehicle OF the right hand eastborad car
track There, with one car close upon It
and others rapidly fling up the track
behind it. safe, wagon. mules and negro
anchored themselves for an hour
LCDICROUS SITUATION
The situation was iudicrous and serious
at the same tirne-ludicrous TO the Pc
destrian upon the sidewalks. who had
time 70 spare, and serious to the people
upon the cars, who were anxious TO reach
the Chesa peake and Ohio depot in time
TO catch train or ger 10 their homes
in time for supper There was 'cussia.''
and plenty OF it; there was laughing. and
plenty of il.
a chesty-iookins individual. with
dress suit case about half as large as
himself. was aboard one Of the las. cars
10 pull up at the blockade. some i've
blocks distant from the scene OF tn.
real trouble, ard he was unable to IN
derstand why the car did not move. He
asked the conductor ard received shake
OF the head. He asked the rotornaa and
received a grin He asked fellow pas
senger and received scowI He asked
q pedestrian and received the merry ha!
Ia.
Finally. In despair of learning anything
about the cause of the tie-up. the chesty
individual grabbed his grip and sailed
forth, taking the middle OF the street.
the sidewalks being TOO crowded 10 ad-
nit of rapid transit work with the feet.
Blowing. sweating and weasy-Icoking he
climbed the steps OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio depot just IN time 10 see his train
pulling out OF the shed ard then he
cusssd. denouncias the railroad. the
trolley system and the public in general.
The last seen OF hin, he was cbscLior
his bag. having determined 70 &c. 4, awav
On the next train whether be missed 1t
or not.
THE FAT WOMAN.
Then there was the TAI woman. who
with determined look upon ns- face vowed
and declared she would rot bulge peg
| until the cars resumed operation She
seemed to think the tte-up had oseo
caused by the street railroad COMPANY
for the purpose OF saving q nc,.e. and
she was bent upon making them give her
her moneys worth. Some kiad-hsarted
gentleman volunteered the information
that no rain checks would be given while
transfers were out OF the question mas
much as the nearest cross line was some
six blocks distance
To enumeEate the numbers OF COM
plants that were fled with the car con-
ouctors would require columns.
But after the street had been blocked
for quite while some one suggested that
the safe be removed from che wagon.
thus making 1t possible to get the vehicle
out OF the way OF the cars. and allow
them TO continue IN their work OF haul
Ing the people 20 and from their homes
and places OF business II required soma
time to do this work. and once more the
track was open for ,rarlc- put by this
time the tracks were blocked ali the way
fror, Fourteenth to Ninth Streets.
The safe which caused aIi the trouble
was built by the Disboid Safe Company.
Canton, Ohio, and was consigned TO r.
I. Barnes Richmond !. was some eight
feet in height and weighed 7,o1a pounds.
While being taken from the oroken-down
wagon II came near topping over time
or TWO. and upon more than one occasion
it looked as 4 the lives OF several people
wers in danger OF being crushed cut.