New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-10
" DON'T RATTLE HIM !"
THE Story of a Motorman 0n@SH's
6tk-ave. IL" Passengers

A
$50 on "wednesday evening in the rush
aour. not liking the prospect of a nrteen n'ii'
,s6a on the surface cars, chose the oth-aN0
elevated road to take him home. he Went 10
she Rector-st- station which he found ALREADY
well crowded. n policeman told MN 1iidI II
was about ten minutes SINCE the last Tram
,o5 left the station After long wait three
trains passed going down TO the 1erry' Ane
hone which they suggested that facilities would
500, he on hand 10 get uptown was somewhat
1ess.naa by the foresight Of persons uptown,
who had nearly packed them, to ride down 10
she South Ferry and thus make sure OF a way
OF going home
Af,er the Bronx man had waited about half
an hour the first train came UP damned In the
srout END Of the first was a little space, ana
when the gates on the first Platform We're
opened 10 take on mailbags the Bronx man
and q few Others crowded aboard.
Everybody seemed TO think the Inconvenience
Of the strike a lark. AS the motorman started
every one wshin hearing distance undertook
10 run the train. A score shouted free advice;
Don't stop at the next station!" Don't stop
iii YOU get TO 1Sth-st! "Seventy-second for
1nine!" Make her an express"'
= policeman who stood at the door next to
The notorman's box interrupted waTningly:
Don't rattle him. byes! He's ratified enough
now! I don't give a d for him. but don't
want to go down into the street and don't
want You to-" His words were enough. Every
body in the forward part Of the car ceased
shouting.
The policeman. a good natured, simple heart
ed Ilishman, put himself in charge Of the run
ming Of the car He opened the motorman's
door, Don't stop at the next station" be |
said After q moments thought he opened the |
door again and said BLOW your whistle and |
let 'em know you won't stop. so as they won't |
crowd on the platform" The train crawled by /
nd
shout OF derision at the waiting crowd on the |
station platform
but the mail messenger on the platform in |
sisted on stopping for mall and SO after the |
warning whistle was blown the trsla s!0"eu
down. The men on the train yelled defantly at |
TIE the platform while the mail was
being taken aboard. Don't stop again till
tell ye" said the officer. Then, as happy after
thought, do you mind the curve just after
leaving the station" The mOtOrman did, and |
also tie other end of 1t. At Bleecker-st a stop
carried beyond the end of the station. Back
s." said the officer. Then, mindful of the pos
FibiIity that passengers were trying to get or
off: Wait till ye get the bell 10 so ahead and
then hack up!'
Everybody laughed good hunoredIy at the
1rishman, which the cltuation seemed to call for,
and So with frequent advice from the patrol
man as 10 stations and curves, 1Sth-st. was
reached Where the nrst stop was MADE for pas |
senEers to leave II or enter. Many got out, but
no one was TO enter by the front platform, the
gate of which was blocked with bags of mail.
Four Irish girls from some shop pleaded for |
admission, and such was the gaIiantry of the
officer that he lifted them all over the gate
amid the cheers Of the passengers.
Thence slow progress was made uptown, mind
ing the curves and stopping at all stations The
having risen to give his seat to a young woman,
stood the seat (there was nowhere else to
stand while she sat on his feet. He busted
himself ringing signals from the rnOtOrInan TO
The conductor, a confusing proceeding. Pas
sengeTs protested, and finally the officers atten-
ton was called TO the youth He yanked the
lad from his perch. Some impudence brought
from the officer: Shut UP now or I'll warm yer
Jaw for yer-something yer father don't do, but
he ought TO-" The youth staggered and re-
Torted. I'D like ter sec yer hit me-" Every
body waited for a singing lesson in manners
such as would be a credit 10 the "for-r-Ce" but
unhappily it didn't come.
AS the 1O4th-st station was left the motor
man, looking ahead and seeing no lights Of
station or otherWlse, thought apparently, he
had before him a clear bit Of track on which to
make speed. He let out a tuck or two In his
motor, and the train made better time than
anywhere before in the trip. The Bronx man
looked out Of the front door and wondered what
would happen At the 110th-st curve Six Young
women arose and screamed to be permitted TO
get out
The policeman remembered. Look out for
the curver' he shouted, the first car reached
Il Put her down hardl" The naotorrnarl nun
her down hard" The train gave hop, skip
and q jump, and by Z miracle of grace was still
On the track when the bend was rounded. The
motornan looked out If his box and winked at
the Bronx man. This was irregular and not ac-
Sofolng 10 marlborough etiquette, but the Bronx
man says he does not think * was a ribald per
romance The motorman, he thinks was onlv
Ninklng 70 keep his courage up. as lads are wont
10 whistle. a few stations further while +ba |
Bronx man was testing his eyes for color blind
ness, the naotorman brought his train to an I'M
commonly sudden stop. The suburbanite with
crew his nose from the window pane of the
front ooor. The motorman came out Of his box
ano improved the acquaintance he had estab-
hard he said. "
me suburbanite said something about the
II0th-st curve. The motorman looked blank.
That high place you mean2" he said. Though
re didn't know where it was, he had been i'm
pressed by its possibilities in the daylight