The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

the train for Chicago six had departed and
one arrived. which were running on time,
and there were two o. three trains con-
siderably behind time that were also leav-
ing at the hour of midnight. In bad
weather. however. there is hardly a night
that this midnight rush is not increased
to a great extent by late trains. This de-
lay in trains, which necessitates three or
four leaving at the same time, causes much
trouble to the caller and gatemen because
the former has TO call one train imme-
diately after the other. and must be care
full not to get them confused, and the lat
ter must read the tickets very closely so
that no one will get through the gates
without the right kind OF transportation.
THE PEOPLE VANISH
The surprise felt at this transformation
must have been plainly written in the eyes
of the nocturnal visitor as he turned to the
blue-garbed station policeman, who smiled
and said: 81 thought you would notice it.
The work has not stopped by any means.
because night is not recognized here by the
ceasing of work. The station never sleeps,
and the men have simply gone 10 eat their
lunches. The people-well they always keep
going through here and sitting around the
IL o'clock, and then they disappear as
quickly as the last note from a violin. That
is the way Ii is every night"
Quick as the last note from a violin Is
what sentimental expression for a station
policeman to utter who is supposed to have
no sentiment whatever. The comparison is
hardly true. for the last notes from a violin
are long drawn out; but this is not true with
the vanishing act of the Union Station
crowd at midnight. II disappears quickly.
not with n rush with any real apparent
movement. but just seems to melt away
and before one knows il is is gone, leaving
only the tired individuals who are ticketed
for the mail trains lounging on the benches
In the waiting room. 1t was as though the
midnight hour had by magic wand caused
the laughing, hurrying crowd to vanish.
One moment the station is in all that hurly-
burly that a large number of people pro-
duces; the next moment Ii is plunged in
stiffness with only scattering reminders of
the recent life In the shape of weary indi-
viduals doing away until time to board the
later trains.
The station master does not look upon
this disa appearing of the crowd anything
extraordinary, for he contends that ii is
largely due TO the fact that no one is per-
mitted to lounge around the station after
rule Is stringently enforced and Ii Is the
duty of the train caller. after the last train
has left at midnight. to examine the trans
portation Of all the people who remain If
one Is found who has no ticket. he must
either purchase one or leave the place. If
the obstinate traveller refuses he is then
referred 10 the station master. who will de-
eide what course to pursue with him. If
IL were not for this rule the Union Station
would look like the bum" room at the
bonds in town would congregate there, much
to the inconvenience of travellers. This
rule. OF which all the employees approve. is
the basis of tale of woe of each of them,
for there are obstinate travellers who refuse
20 buy tickets until their trains are in the
shed.
AN OBSTINATE CITIZEN.
An incident illustrating this occurred the
other night. The caller was examining
transportation and came across a man who
said he was going to Anderson. but that he
would not purchase a ticket until he got
ready. The caller referred the matter to
the station master. who told the man that
he would either have to leave or buy q
ticket. The man said he would do neither,
and that III he were put out he would bring
suit against the company. The station mas
ter explained 10 him that the station was
not public property, as 1t belonged TO the
Union Railway Company, and that he had
no right there: but this had no effect on the
man. who wanted to be put out by force
and dared any Of the officials TO lay hands
on him. 1t is needless TO say that he got
what he was looking for, and was put out in
short order. He. however, must have
thought better of his threat. for so far moth
ing has been heard from him.
From midnight no trains leave until near
IL 3 O'Clock, and, as most of the people who
frequent the station for evil purposes know
this, they generally disappear soon after
the clock tells OF midnight There are how
ever, many visitors who have come down
10 see IrlendS ana relatives of the
trains that have been leaving almost con-
tinually up to this time. With these people
the station employees are indulgent and
often those who have relatives and friends
coming in on late trains are permitted TO
come to the station and remain until train
time. Ii often happens that these people
who are waiting for those coming in on the
through trains. will come to the city on the
late interurban cars. and with their friends
will remain In the station until the first
cars on the interurban lines leave the city.
Sometimes crowds OF young people will
come down TO see their friends when leav-
ing. and this is especially true after the
holidays. when many OF the young people
are leaving for the various colleges They
congregate and stand about talking until
after their friends have left without any
consciousness OF the real time until they
turn their eyes toward the big station
clock. which brings thoughts OF home to
them.
Besides the station master there are a
number OF men employed as special police
men whose duty II Is 10 look after the
peace and morals of the station, and there
are also two gatemen and a caller. In the
ticket Office are two clerks and in the bag
gage rooms a large crowd OF men employed
s In handling the trunks and mail received
and sent out. and there is also n number of
people engaged In the restaurant, which Is
part OF the station. With this crowd OF
employees life does not entirely cease ut
: midnight. nor does II even doze. In the