The Wilmington morning star., 1945-12-23
TRAINS, BUSES CREAK
UNDER RECORD TRAVEL
CONTINUED from Page One)

gers from the west coast was
military personnel.
Another $4,000 servicemen
were awaiting eastbound trans
portation in Seattle, Portland,
Los Angeles and other west
coast docking areas.
From coast to coast rail officials
echoed the words of Charles Fen
drych, New York Central agent in
Albany, N. Y.
We're licked today" Fendrych
said as trains left with aisles
packed ar passengers jammed
vestibules. There's not spare
car left. But the worst is yet to
come, when the state workers
start wanting 9 home
Stampedes marked the trans
portation jam in Chicago, the ma
tons greatest rail center. Tens
Of thousands-wiJh more than Is
900 alone in the Dearborn station
were stranded in Chicago.
The Dearborn was the scene OF
a small-scale riot when some 400
passengers broke through the
gates to board passenger train
even before it had stopped. Mill
tary police, shore patrolmen and
special agents were called out to
halt the melee. Many women
tainted and minor injuries were
reported. A Dearborn gateman
said the stampede for several
trains had been so great that many
passengers lost their shoes at the
gate and left them there.
Several trains were IL hours
late leaving Chicago, the point of
origin. Other trains were arriv-
ing from western poi: S II to "a
hours late. Trains from the east
were making better time-they
were only four to eight hours late.
At Madison, Wis, a 20-year-old
sailor, Mark Rushmann, was in
jured seriously when he was
showed under a passenger train by
a crowd on the station platform.
He was on his wa. to Chippewa
Falls, Wis, for a Christmas at
home.
The transportation picture by
sc ctions incluo ed:
Far West: In Portland, Ore,
heavy military trains were receiv-
ing priority while military passen-
gers were taking up rs per cent of
the remaining sleeper and coach
space. Railroad agents said the
situation was precarious. Airlines
reservations east from Portland,
San Francisco, Salt Lake City,
Los Angeles and other Far West
points were unavailable. Scores
of passenger coaches from the
East were added % trains, but still
passengers damned aisles and
stood in the vestibules. Bus trans
portation was just as chaotic. All
available vehicles were being used.
Middle West: Chicago, Minnea-
polls, Des Moines, Kansas City,
Denver and Omaha jammed with
passengers trying to get OUT by
plane. train or bus. Rail officials
said conditions were terrible. :"
Bus operators said the situation
was awful" with worse days still
ahead. Many passengers getting
as far as Midwestern points were
giving up and buying tickets back
home. In Omaha, Union Pacific
officials said all reserved space
had been sold out two weeks ago.
Denver transportation officials es-
timated IS per cent of all passen-
gers were military personnel.
South: All types Of transporta
ton overcrowded. Southern Pa.
cific, which has reserved coach
space since 1913, said its trains
were booked solid through Dec
26 and also for Jan. l and 2.
Brainff was seeking additional
planes but did not know when they
could be obtained. It's offices re.
ported 1000 telephone requests q
day for space. Holiday travel into
and out of Miami was at a peak
A slight let-up was noted in north.
pound travel but this was expected
to tighten again after the New
Years day Orange Bowl football
game. Pan-American airways was
running more than so flights daily
between Miami and Havana, han
ding more than thousand pas
sengers daily!
East: Bus strikes crippled an. al
ready serious situation. In Cleve
land Greyhound officials said the,