Richmond planet., 1904-12-03
VOL. XXI NO 80
EDITOR MITCHELL'S TRAVELS.
Fine Banquet at Hampton Bassett's
Academy.-knights of Py thias Jubi-
Iant.-iiunters and The;r AMI
mals.-The Workings Oftke
Jim-Crow Car law.

mals.-The Workings of the
Jim-Cr0w Car law.
We left Richmond Wednesday at5P.
IA. for Hampton, Va. The baggage car
was well filed with hunting dogs of the
setter and hound type. 1t seemed that
the mania for a trip in the country had
affected both white and colored. AS we
neared Williamsburg the last of the
hunters left the train.
After leaving that city, hunters began
to board the train One white hunter
had large raccoon, squirrels and rab-
bits hanging from his waist Reaching
Hampton, we found no one to meet us.
We proceeded to the palatial corner resi-
dence Of DR.. VIM. E. Atkins.
A COSY RESIDENCE.
As we rang the bell, he responded and
was much surprised, having Just come
from the train and he had informed his
wife that we had not come on that
train. We were made comfortable and
later Capt Il. NJ. Hill called and paid
his respects.
The banquet of .ninsuia Lodge, No.
rs and Joseph Wilson Co. at Bassctt's
Academy was grand affair The brass
and string band was discoursing lively
airs to which the ladies and gentlemen
Were tripping the light fantastic toe.
A CoJoRED MANS ENTERPRISE.
This hall is owned by Lawyer A. W.
L. Bassett and is admirably suited for
entertainments of this dc scription.
1t was nearly - o'clock when the
throng repaired to the dining room hall
in the room above The arrangement
of the tables and che serving of the
courses were superb. We have seldom
eeen It's equal. Al the centre table sat
US Grand Medical Director, W. Z.
IS. Past Chanceilors. A. w. E. Bas-
) ct, "a L. 81. " di,S- IS es 2aos ms,
and Sir Person. Lieut.. Col E. Blue
was also present. The snowy uniforms
OF j. L. Wilson Company added much
70 the beauties of the occasion. Sir
Bassett was Master of ceremonies and
speech making was indulged in until a
late hour.
THE RETURN TC RICHMOND.
1t was nearly A NJ. when we again
reached the residence of DIR. w. L. AT.
kins and his accomplis he'd Madame, We
were conveyed to the train in DR. AT.
kins buggy behind his fast Jrayeier. He
has an automobile also, but his wife
may tell the public about it. We left at
7:lS n. Nj. Thursday for Richmond.
Reaching Newport News. an army" of
white and colored men, armed with shot
guns and provided with hunting dogs
thronged the baggage car and coach for
colored passengers. The white men oc.
cupied seats III the colored coach and
seemed disposed to stay there for the
coach FOR the white people was rammed,
1amm d and packed
THE BAGGAGE MASTER GRUMBLEp.
The baggage master was grumbling,
declaring that he must have room for
the baggage. The train moved out and
soon the conductor appeared. You
gentlemen can't stay III here" said the
conductor. Il don't propose to pay any
nifty dollar hne. you mnst go into tho
baggage car or into the rear coach"
The white men slowly and sullenly
obeyed his order. AS the door Of the
baggage car swung open, these white
men presented a sorry sight seated on
boxes and trunks while they cast fcrtive
glances IN she colored coaches where the
colored folks had seats and plenty of
them.
WHITE FOLKS WORRIED.
You made the isgT" remarked the
conductor af er he had gotten them out
and you must live up to it, he said as
he shut the door On the white passen-
gers. The colored folks were doing lots
OK thinking aud reahZed that the Jim
Grow" car law on this line was al
least on this trip operating in their favor
From our observation of It's workings
the author of the separate car law would
nave Jared badly had he submitted
& "a fhnSa NEh ra
CROWDED Co-CHEs.
All along the road white peope
sWar arheu at the depo;S and literally
choked all the aIsles of the train. Other
coaches We're sent from Richmond. but
the ecTowded cOndition continued. White
ladies entered the colored coaches any
1ous TO occupy the empty seats which
Were at the disposal of the colored mas
senSers. but were forced 20 'hug'' each
oVheF IL the crowded entrances of the
coaches for white passengers.
KISSING on THE PLATFORM
There ale some slow people. " re-.
marked the conductor. "A ladv was ON
the platform as the train was abont IN
pun OUT; she was kissing some friend
ana bidding good bye, when / gave tba
ire signal to pull out. The train mova6
Oh ana lett her standing on the nlat-
19rm. had no time to stop. told her
she snould do her kissing at home. She
got 20 the station somehow and came
Dack ON my train that evening. She
SAID she would never do any more l,issiny =
aEa'h on the platform. 1t had taugbf
Aer lesson" We laughed as the conr.
teo9s conductor smiled and passed on;
to the next coach. O"'
thls train e0' On
We arrived at Richmond at ,O.ao