Story of a group of boys who scare street car drivers with faked body on tracks
There is a band of small boys on the Manchester road, near the Evans & Howard Pipe Works, who, if they continue to work their present system, may turn out some successful train robbers.
The boys have a practical joke, which is great fun for them, but plays havoc with the nerves of the motormen and with the cars of the Kirkwood division of the Surburban road. Thursday night they played their trick successfully. A west-bound car was going along the straight run which parallels the railroad at a terrific rate. Suddenly the motorman began ringing his gong; then he shut off his power, put on the brakes and then reversed his motors, so that there was a blinding flash of electricity. The car slowed up an instant and then slid along, with the wheels grinding sparks from the track.
Everybody jumped up and looked ahead. It was either a man lying down or a big white dog just ahead. In another moment the car passed over it and there was a sound of tearing paper and cracking sticks, mingled with a derisive shout from the boys.
It was a dummy paper man, set up by the boys, but was very lifelike and alarming. The motorman swore quietly and started again, but many of the women in the car were shaky for some time after.
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