New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-04

Intermittent Iiot reigued all day yesterday
around two centres in Brooklyn. where street
railway companies attempted to collect a second
fare for carrying passengers TO Coney Island.
Fully thousand men. women and children were
thrown from by hurley "bouucers'' in COM
pany uniform. on the Coney Island and Brook
lyn Company's road-better known as The Smith
ST. llne-the evicting station was at Avenue L
and Coney Island-ave There the police from
the Sheepshead Bay station backed up the rail
road employees with everything but actual force
On the Culver line OF the Brooklyn Rapid Tran
sit Company passengers were tumbied out AT
Ciravesend-a and Neck Road.
Many Of the struggles betweer passengers
and "bouncers" were most bitter. and only the
superior force Of the ejecting gang made evic-
tion possible. Several times the inspectors were
unable To get passengers off, and they were car
ried The island for single fare scores or
passengers were more less injured by the
rough. almost brutal. treatment accorded them
by the inspectors Women received hardly
more consideration than men. and children We're
hauled about as IL they had no bones 10 break.
Ankles were sprained. legs twisted. skin was
torn from arms and faces. Many were badly
bruised by being thrown heavily 10 the ground,
Generally seven or eight of the big railroad men
piled on one passenger. and. as a rule they mad
things their own way. Cries OF pain and shouts
Of anger from the protesting passengers could
be heard for blocks around the eiecting sta
tions.
In spite of these almost continuous riotous
scenes there were few arrests. The police stood
bv as interested spectators. Only when blow
was struck die they make any show OF inter
ference and when they did interfere it was al
vays on the side Of the railroad companies.
Scores OF people took down the numbers OF the
policemen. promising 10 write TO everybody from
Mayor Mcclellan to their district leaders. The
usually quiet communities I'm which the trouble
occurred were scandalized at the scenes. and
the authorities will receive no end of complaints
tomorrow from disgusted citizens.
FOLLOWED COURTS DECISION.
This unusual outburst against double fare is
.he result OF the recent decision of the Appellate
Division OF the Supreme Court. which imposed
"a Nne Of $50 on the Brooklyn Heights Railroad
for refusing TO give a transfer to Luke O'Reilly,
aud decided that the railroad law made it oblig-
atorv for street railway corporations 10 give
continuous passage over their original and leased
lines for single fare The public was quick 10
apply this TO the Snith-st. line, which charges
q double fare on Saturdays. Sundays and holi-
days There was considerable trouble on S2tur-
day. but the storm broke in earnest when the
Sunday crowd began 10 travel to the beach
ignoring the fact that the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit lines to Coney Island run over section
Of tracks which was built under a steam rail-
way charter, with the right to charge three
cents a mile. hundreds of people yesterday re-
fused 10 pay a second fare on the Rapid Transit
lines. They made fully as much trouble there
ss they did for the Smith-st. line and seemed
IN think that their chances of getting 500 for
feits ard damages for election 10y force were
fully as good as on the Smith-st. lire.
i was evident that fully half OF those who re-
fused to pay a second fare and were thrown out
( ,p consequence were out for $50 forfeits which
/ the railroad law provides. This class knew that
II was not necessary 10 put up a fight and were
seldom injured in the pulling out process.
fsolid Substantial citizens. who did not care
( ,-,,, fo. the forfeit but who were determined
} - .er,rc tbci- rights. suffered the most at tho
,,,1e ~ the hurley "bouncers." They honestly
hsi,oved that the courts had decided that they
,,.a,e entitled 10 ride COney Island for five
cents. snd they were ready TO night II out 10
tbo last ditch Some of :hsm wound their legs
urde- the foot rests and tangled their arms in
tsrd rails et the e,d Of the seats. hanging on
,.,.,l ,bsir last hold broken. often they
. ct,r,hAd hack on the car after they had been
4 ,,s,tad and went through the tug Of war again.
I, was nj the eiection-staton OF the Coney
island end Brooklyn Company at Avenue U that
one OF the most striking incidents OF the day oc-
,.,,,,,od shortly before noon. 4 big of dig
niaed bearing refused absolutely 10 pay second
rare The ..bouncers'' surrounded him. He
waved them back. and pulling paper from ms
nocxet began to read the section of law quoted