The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-17
TRIP OF THE FIRST CAR
II Did Not Meet With a Pleasant Re-
ception.

ception.
The first car which ran down Main
Street yesterday afternoon created quite
a sensation, the like Of which has not
been seen these many days. Every
one rushed to the windows to see it go
by. People stopped on the sidewalk, and
gazed in open mouthed wonder. as though
red car on Main Street was a sight
hitherto never seen or heard of here
abouts For three whole hours no cars
had operated on thisbusy street. Every
one knew that a battle royal was on
between employer and employe. and that
this was the first counter move OF the
former.
The car was manned by NJ. II. Bell,
an electrician who has been in the en-
ploy of the company for over ten years.
as motorman, and H. G.. Brightwell, re-
ceiving clerk Of the company at thei
Main and Vine Street sheds, as conduc-
tor They had volunteered to take out
the first car. Both wore citizens
clothes and hats. rather than caps. The
car, No. 8, Of the Main Street summer
cars, left the Main and Vine StraeP
sheds at 3:18 o'clock.
: Thd offensive demonstration In some
sections of the city were not so notice
able on the first as on later trips. The
first trip rather took the union sympa-
thizers by surprise. But two other cars
followed, and by the second trip good
ly store of salacious epithets had been
accumulated for an emergency OF this
character. The motornen ant. conduc-
tors were cursed and called various
pleasant things in comparison with which
the oft-repeated "scab" and raj" are.
but at the fine dust in the balance.
NOT FROM CAR MEN.
It should be stated that the jeering
was, as a general thing. from others than
the striking street-car men. When car
passed they were usually silent. tx!
The first car met with its first obstruc-
ton, trifling. one, in the shape Of dirt
purposely thrown on the track by en-
ployes Of the city's water department
at Twenty-sixth and Main. which they
refused to move. 1t was removed, how
ever, and the car completed its first run
without serious inconvenience
Among those on the car on the first
trip were Superintendent Hopper. Of the
Main-Street line, Messrs Martin and Gui-
gon, counsel for the company. ND Claim
Agent milford Mr.. George o.. Fisher
had expressed desire to take the ride,
but was detained at the Office by a long.
ulSlduC0= p1lUuc aiAeSSo5S AAo1AA lASSW 1 VI n.
At Nineteenth and Main Streets the
first missile was thrown at the car, an
Irish potato from the hand of a small
white boy, which passed just in front
of the motorman and struck a mule. The
first suee-car men were seen, six in num-
Der, at Fifteenth and Main. They seemed
surrounded by a crowd of people, but
were well behaved
On the eastern trip the register showed
eleven passengers. while west-bound there
were twenty-eight fares collected. The
second car started OH the Main Street
line was No. 80. which passed the, first
on its return below Twenty eighth Street.
LARGE CROWDS.
The most serious blocking of the cars
occurred between five and six o'clock
on the second trips Of the three cars
operated. Large crowds gathered around
cars which had been purposely INSTRUCTED
/ by vehicles at Twenty-first and Main
Streets and also Immediately in front
Of the company's Office at TwelfthS and
Main Streets. A young man in a one
horse buggy was notably prominent in
this species of obstruction. In both in
stances the presence and intervention of
the police were necessary to get the cars
through. The car which had been stop
ped atsTwelfth Street was started again
with Captain Tomlinson, Sergeant Shin
berger and Officers Bradley and Schlfef
on board. It was a novel sight in Rich
mond to see cars running with policemen
on board for protection.