New-York tribune., 1919-08-03
Erie President
Is Arrested to
Test Ferry Rule
Acts for Mothers and
Babies Riding on Staten
Island Boat; Assails Regu.
lation Putting Them Off

Frederick D. Underwood, president
of the Erie Railroad put on an immac-
ulate crash suit and white yachting
cap yesterday and set out to effect
some transportation reforms. He be-
gan with the municipal ferry to ST.
George, Staten Island
The large and determined figure of
the white clad crusader occupied a
chair on the upper stern deck of the
Ferry slip at $40 p m. Some twenty
minutes later the rattle of winches be-
tokened arrival in port.
! There was shufiing Of feet as the
/. nome -crusading passengers jostled one
= mother in the rush fer the companion
ways, but Frederic Douglas Underwood
neard III the sounds OF departure the
challenge to combat and sat solid as an
armored knight in the saddle.
The Foe Appears
Nor was this Casabianca mistaken.
Presently his foes appeared. two in
number and accoutred as deckhands.
"All OFF," remarked one OF them,
giving Mr.. Underwood what is known
to ferryboat deckhands and Bowery
bouncers as "the eye"
Douglas Underwood; the president Of
the Erie seemed immune. He was gaz-
ing thoughtfuly at the hazy towers of
Manhattan, one hand casually seeking
his coat pocket.
Hey, you" called the deckhand. "All
off here. Palm Beacn,"
Mr.. Underwood withdrew his hand
from his pocket and mildly futtered a
bit OF pasteboard before the deck
hands
That is a ticket" he said. at en-
Tha+ where wish to CO."
- off the boat" countered the
deckhands. Cant you read them rules
pasted up over your head? Everybody's
got to get off when the boat stops. If
you got a ticket give it to the collector
in the ferry house and then get aboard
again if you want to-"
Mr.. Underwood cody reiterated that
he was going to New York; if the
rules forbade deckhands to receive
tickets he suggested they could go
one authorized to take the ticket. He
was going to stay until the boat reached
South Ferry.
The deckhands retired in state as
near confusion as the mental poise of
deckhands permits. Presently, how
ever, they were back with reinforce
ments-two ticket agents, each duly
authorized to accept tickets if offered
at the proper time and place.
Mr.. Underwoods resolution was
agent-proof as we'll as deckhand proof
men failed to move him, and they fell
back amid a barrage of comment from
newly arriving passengers who paused
to watch the combat. All four soon
were back again with patrolman, who
likewise eXpounded the rules and regu-
latons of the municipal ferry
With the help of the patrolman, the
two ticket agents and the deckhands,
Mr.. Underwood was placed under ar
rest and marched off the boat The
policeman started off at a brisk pace
but Mr.. Underwood hung back. The
patrolman said that according to the
rules of the department his prisoner
would have to be booked at Stapleton,
two miles away. Mr.. Underwood re-
sponded that in that case the patrol
man would have to carry him or per-
NIT him to hire a taxi.
Taxi to Jail in State
The patrolman chose the taxi. find
ing nothing in the rules TO forbid it,
and the pair drove in state to th.
police station. There a charge of dis
orderly conduct was entered against
Mr.. Underwood and the lieutenant in
formed him that if he had $500 to put
up as bail he would be released
Mr.. Underwood didn't happen to
have $500 and fered diamond ring
which, according TO the Iieutenant's
recollection. he SAID was worth
$40 900. The iieutenan. looked at the
ring and said maybe it was, but it was
agains. tie rules to take it as bail. SO
| Mr.. Underwood sat IL a corridor until
| Thomas R. Mckinley, an accommodate
ing undertaken Of Stapleson, happened
along and gave bail for him.
Then he departed in the taxi which
had been waiting for him and came
hack to Manhattan by virtue of the
ticket which two deckhands and two
ticket agents had spurned.
Mr.. Underwood said he had planned
! he affair as q test case and that n.
would retain counsel and sue Tor
! damages. He thought it was shame
thar sTCw.en and children out for a
Saturday or Sunday excursion should
have to give up their seats on arrival
at Staten Island and take their chances
with an unruly crowd of recovering
them again.