The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-28
NORTH SIDE NEWS
Four Hogs Stolen From U. p.
Freight Car.
POrkers Recovered But the
Thieves Escaped.
LIFE AT U. p. DEPOT.
All Glasses and Conditions Of
Men There.
Employees See Many Interest
ing Incidents of Travel.
LIFE AT U. P. DEPOT.

-Four hogs have been stolen from a
Union Pacific freight car but have
been recovered and are now in the
hands of the Union Pacific officials
The thieves have not been captured
However, they were seen Sunday
night by Michael Intes of 502 East
Gordon street. He was on his way
home from the home of his sister-in
law, Mrs. John Smidt, at Fairchild
and Jefferson street where he had
been called on account of the illness
of the latter. AS he neared his yard
he saw two men chasing four hogs.
He rushed into his house and seized
a gun. He came out and began to
shoot but the robbers escaped. How
ever, they did not try to take the hogs
with them and Intes took the porkers
in charge. He suspected that the
animals had been stolen from the
Union Pacific cars so the next morn
Ing he notified J. E. Henderson,
Union Pacific section foreman. Mr..
henderson, then told j. c. Fulton
about the matter and orders were
given to keep the animals in the rail-
road hog lots. This is according to
reliable information.
With the approach of spring comes
the increase of passenger traffic on the
railroads. The travelling public IN
cludes all classes and are in all cir
cumstances. On this account the en-
Moves of the depots have many OPP
,nortunities for the study of human
nature. They witness many of the 1T
tie comedies and also see many sights
which give hints of the tragedies OF
everyday life.
work at the Union Pacific depot.
There people meet from the four quar-
tiers of the United States to say moth
ing of the foreign immigrants. me
fastener with his silk tile orushes
elbows with the man with the SLOUGH
hat of the western ranch. The easy
going southerner from New Orleans
passes the time of day with the quick
and active northerner from st. Paul.
Then of course are the many people
of Topeka and nearby towns whose
different appearance and personalities
lend interest to the scene.
The real day at the depot begins
about $40 a. m. (You never hear
that time the waiting rooms are fairly
we'll filed with people who are wait
ing for No. 1912 eastbound, which is
due here at $50 a. m. Many of the
people, besides the translents: are
from Topeka They are intending to
make long journeys and start early
10 make the best connections.
At that hour the interior of the
depot does not present a very attrac-
tive sight In the mems waiting room
clouds of tobacco smoke rise. Men
sit around in stolid silence and nod
sleepily. Occasionally two or three
travelling men compare notes OF trade
in low undertones. Then there is a
dead silence broken only by the click
of the telegraph instrument or the
"cough" of a switch engine in the rail-
road yards. Occasionally the cry of a
small child comes from the women's
waiting room.
Here is another scene of sleepiness.
Children toddle over the floor or fret
and toss about their mothers laps.
There are seedlings and soothings
alternately, interspersed with sound
ing slapS.
Occasionally a woman will pace
nervously back and forth across the
floor, with quick glances at the clock
in the ticket Office and ask the men
in the office for the hundredth time if
the train isn't late. 1t is noticeable
that the restless ones are usually well
dressed. Those in humble attire are
content to sit in silence.
If theater women are in the room
there is more or less talk and commo-
ton among them. Discussions and
grumblings about early rising, bum"
board, and '1ong jumps are frequent
to say nothing of much petting of
some small shivering little dog which
is the special idol of one Of the party
Then the whole troupe will settle down
to a quiet until one of the girls gives
her skirt twitch, gets up and PAGES
up and down while she huns popu-
lar song. This will be followed by
adjurations for the girl to "cut it OUT
and she finally desists.
After some time comes the whistle
of the train, followed by a changing of
the bell and the grinding of the
brakes. The theater company and
the others scramble to the doors.
The day wears on and the scene
: changes as the hours pass. In the
wake of a wedding party comes a
group of mourners. A funeral has
Just been held and the remains of the
= dead are to be sent to some distant
point for interment.
The two groups pass out of the
doors almost without seeing each
other, the one full of merriment and
the joy of life and the others absorbed
in grief.
The spice of humor is often added
to the scene by the big woman with
the bundles. who drops her parcels in
her efforts to hurry to her train. She
is usually one of those from the small
towns who make North Topeka their