New-York tribune., 1905-12-24
GOSSIP.OF THE BOROUGH
Ne5U VestibuIe Lac Troubles Brook
IAN Ramd Transit Men.

officials and employees of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company having their first ex-
perienoe with the trolley vestibules. which are
required under law passed by the legislature
last winter. The result IS that there has been
much difficulty in adjusting the vestibuIes in
such a way that the motorTnan could do his
work properly. During the moderate weather
the motormen have had the windows in the
vestfbule open. When they shut them up re-
Gently on account of the cold and stormy
weather they discovered that something was
wrong. It seems that the reflection nf the
lights in the car from the glass of the vestibule
prevented the motorInen from getting clear
view OF the track ahead. Various temporary
devices have been resorted to in order TO keep
the light from the car getting out TO the vesti-
bule. Large pasteboard cards have been
tackled over the front door and window, or
newspapers have been pinned up there In
some cases the mot0rmen have obtained black
cloth and fastened it over the glass III the door
and window. These unusual decorations have,
Of course, resulted in the usual crop Of worry
ing questions to the conductor. FUssy people,
VINO insist upon knowing what il is all Tor, are
driving the conductors nearly mad. 4 Hebrew,
on his way to Brownsville, a crowded Doug
lass-st. car, yesterday, held up q conductor and
inquired why the glass in the front door and
window was covered with black cloth.
Why that is mourning for the Jews killed IN
the Kshineff massacres," replied the trolley
empoye with solemn face.
The Hebrew seemed deeply impressed with the
mediately began to explain al about iCs mean
ing to several companions, who evidently could
understand only the Yiddish tongue.
Probably no division of the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit Company has more esprit de corps, if
that term may be used among it's men than that
which has its headquarters in what is known as
the Crosstown line station, IN Manhattan-ave.,
Greenpoint. For many years the men there
have had reading rooms and billiard rooms, and
this year they planning to have Christmas
entertainment and a tree for themselves and
their families. All agreed that it would be
much more satisfactory to have one large tree
in common than for each to have tree in
his own home. Each Will bring the presents
for the members Of his family, and all will be
placed on the same tree. They will share the
expense Of decorations, Of 40 boxes of candy
and $50 oranges, and the same number Of balls
Of popcorn Ben Olmstead, formerly a
ductor on the Crosstown line and now employed
in the 52d-st- shops. is to be the Santa Claus
part capitaily. The men are looking forward
eagerly to the fun, which is scheduled for to-
morrow night.
Apropos Of the recent election of Hal Hal
stead, who has only one arm. as captain of the
Boys High School football team for the COM
ing year, it is recalled that several years ago
the Commercial High School had a one armed
pitcher who was the best baseball player IN
the High School League. His right hand was
gone, but one would never suspect II If he
simply watched the curves as they came in
over the plate. Most pitchers depend TO a
considerable extent on their second hand to
aid them in putting the various curves on the
ball, well as to conceal from the batsman
the kind Of ball about to be delivered. But
this clever cripple had way of fixing the
ball in his only hand by bending it into the
crook OF his elbow. From there the ball was
delivered rapidly that could get any
line on II. When il came TO stopping ground
catching flies there not man on
the team who could excel him, in spite of the
fact that he could not wear glove of course.
This player famous that crowds used
TO gather on the Parade Ground near Prospect
Park 10 see him play.
More marvellous, perhaps, than his pitching
ability, in view Of his inhrmity was his bat
ting. Grasping the bat IN his one hand well
up toward the middle and letting the handle
drop under his upper arm, close to his side
the remarkable player used to line out some
hits that made the spectators wide-eyed with
wonder. Halstead. the captain of the Boys
High School team. played tackle last season,
where it was not such wonderful thing for a
one-arIned man 20 do good work. 1t is said
however, that he Is seriously considering going
back OF the line the coming season How he
wiz succeed in carrying the ball is something
that is yet TO be determined