Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24
TIED Up THE CAR LINE

OF noticeable proportions was the cause
OF a tie-up on the 9th-street car line q
few. nights ago. The tie-up occurred
about midnight. time Of day when 1t Is
generally supposed that most good citi-
gems are in their homes. However. on the
occasion In point there was no small au-
dience on the street to witness the pro-
ceedings.
The cause OF the trouble boarded
northbound 11th street car down on ~
street southwest. He was a well-put up
individual. and his clothes did not indi-
cate that he took any unusual pride in
his personal appearance. He could not be
called fop. When he climbed onto the
car his persistence and aggressiveneSS
did not particularly assert themselves; he
kept them concealed, but the evidences
of his package" were displayed almost
Immediately he had taken a seat.
He began talking In loud tone Of
voice and occasionally his exuberance Of
spirits would compel him to burst forth
into a noise like song The music and
the words were not especially pretty, but
he liked EN-. and when the conductor re-
quested him to "cut it OUT he did no
such thing. Tired OF singing, the hilarious
individual began asking himself conun-
drums and answering them in a voice
sumclently loud to be heard all over the
car. The jokes did not appeal to the con-
ductor's sense of humor, and he again
demonstrated with his unruly passenger.
Judging from the latter's remarks no
entertained an unmitigated contempt for
the conductor, for the conductors family,
for the railroad and for all its officials
and employees
The car continued on its way until 1t
reached 9th and D streets. when the
ticket. puncher concluded he had had
enough of the passengers playful antics,
SO he caught him in standing position,
and with great dexterity and some dis
play of strength proceeded to throw him
from the vehicle.
Then it was that the passengers per-
sistence began to show. He declined to
occupy recumbent position on the pave
ment, and Immediately he had landed
of the street car. He caught 1t at e
street. and when 1t stopped there for the
crossing he again climbed aboard. In or
der to show that he had not been fooling
the conductor started once more to per-
form his amusing little stunt of ejecting
an obstreperous passenger without other
human aid. 1t was a pretty stiff tussle.
but by the time the car had ratified over
the switches at E street the conductor
had demonstrated his ability as bouncer
and the hilarious individual again col
lided with the pavement.
But he had paid his little old nickel to
ride on the stereet car and he was long
ways from home. and then. besides. he
evidently disliked the idea OF being treat
ed rudely by an employee of the railroad
corporation He was one OF the common
'pee-pul." and he felt that blow had
been struck at their rights. So. with sew
eral dents in his hat and considerably
more dirt than ordinary on his clothes,
the persistent man with the package
pursuit Of the car. Determination SEEM
fngly lent wings to his feet, as 1t were,
and before the car could start across the
street tracks the persistent man had
boarded 1t and was making faces at the
conductor from the back platform.
Right here was where the aggressive
ness OF the passenger came to the fore.
Tho conductor, no doubt, was displeased
with the passenger for insisting on re-
naming where he was not at all wanted.
He came out of the car in some haste
and commenced to respond to the encore
for a repetition of his popular stunt But
the passenger by this time had ceased to
treat the conductors liberties with his
Get or" the railroad employee COM
manded. real harshly. Get of. or I'll
Come on and do it," replied the passen-
ger, with a -coaxing smile; Just come on
and do 1t. I like it."
The conductor accepted the invitation
changes of short-arm Jabs and swings
for the jaw, and finally the conductor
forced his man to the steps. But there
the passenger, to use a foot ball term.
against the lower end Of the step and
with his head and shoulders against
the inside of the yestibule, the passenger
was wedged as tightly as a crowbar. The
railroad employe used all his strength to
dfslodge his adversary; he pushed and
showed and lifted and kicked. but all to
no avail
And all this time the car stood still,
with the rest Of the passengers anxious
to get home. but yet interested in the
cause Of their delay. While the con-
ductor continued endeavoring to pry his
man loose from his strong position on the
To 20 Ah~s,A
the car. Other cars on their last trip for
the night came along behind and lined
up for several blocks, while the motor
men and conductors on them swore gen.
tie oaths under their breath. Some of the
employees walked forward and Offered
suggestions to the conductor in difficulty.
Nearly every addition to the big crowd
had some curious question as to the
whats the matter?" asked one new
conner
He's run over a cockroach." voiun-
teered q facetious byStander.
mo, he's lost his spark plug" said an.
other
The earburetter Is out of order" de-
While the crowd Of probably 200 per-
gressive passenger was smiling and
shouting unlovely eptthets at his assail.
ant
"Ah, hal" breathed the conductor pleas
ed with the shouted suggestion.
He leaped over the passenger wedged
in the steps and went to hunt up a COP
Deserted by his enemy, the passenger ex-
trfcated himself from his strong position
and, pulling a pencil and pad out of h $
pocket. began writing down the names
Of the passengers and bystanders who
had witnessed the encounter.
Meanwhile the conductor wandering
up the street short distance, found a
big man who had been helping q bar
tended close up his refreshment en-
porium who said he was q cop. He was
in plain clothes, though, and made no
impression on the aggressive passenger
Here, get Off this car and come with
me-" commanded the plain clothes man.
approaching the belligerent person.
who are your sarcastically asked the
passenger.
The sarcastic question apparently hurt
the big mans feelings. I'm an officer"
he replied, in an aggrieved tone.
Don't believe you,' said the other;
you're not a real officer"
The crowd roared and urged the pas
senger to .'be shown"
Honest, I'm a regular policeman" said
the big man. "See! and he threw back
the lapeis of his coat and displayed a big
silver badge.
II won't go, anyway" said the passen-
ger. I've paid my nickel and I'm going
to ride. I'm going to get some damages,