N&W in 1910--Coal crappers

[NW Mailing List]

As Will Rogers said, "All I know is what I read in the newspapers."  This is the first time I have seen that word used other than in conjunction with a certain sanitary fixture attributed (apparently incorrectly) to Thomas Crapper (1836-1910).

Otherwise, I have heard that it was a common practice, particularly during the Great Depression, for people to climb on a stationary, or slowly moving, coal car and throw off coal to take home, or maybe to sell.  Remember, much of the coal then was lump coal which could be thrown off and carried away more readily that the fine coal that we see today.  I have even heard that after the advent of slide detector fences certain enterprising residents would push on the fence to set the signal to stop.  When the train stopped in response to the signal the miscreants would climb on the cars and throw off coal.

Gordon Hamilton
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: NW Mailing List 
  To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org 
  Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 8:47 PM
  Subject: Re: N&W in 1910--Coal crappers


  Ok, I've got to ask, exactly what are "coal crappers" guilty of doing and how do they do it?

  Chuck Stewart
  Bahama, NC


   
  -----Original Message-----
  From: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
  To: 3N&W Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
  Sent: Fri, Jun 4, 2010 3:28 pm
  Subject: N&W in 1910--Coal crappers


  Bluefield Daily Telegraph
  December 16, 1910

  THE GRAHAM DAILY NEWS
  ------
  AFTER COAL CRAPPERS
  ------
  Moonshine Merchants Assessed $6* Each for Handling Goods Without a License
      Mayor Sexton is hot after Graham coal crappers and he had one or two of the moonshine coal dealers before him last night charged with rolling the black diamonds from a passing freight train.  The evidence was quite elusive and the merchants were assessed $6* each for handling goods without a license.  It is said that the coal crapping has existed along the railroad here more or less ever since the first freight train passed through the town hauling it, but since the Mallet engine has been in service the work of the coal robbers was made comparatively easy on account of the slow speed the big engines are able to make when hauling a full tonnage train.  Coal is only selling for $3.75* the ton in Graham and is in reach of every consumer who happens to have the price, and it does seem that this moonshine business might be broken up.  So far as is known, the railroad company has not made any complaints as to the alleged coal stealing, but the complaint, it appears, is from Graham coal dealers whose business is probably affected by the consumption in certain Graham homes of the hand picked moonshine fuel.
  ------
  *Some numerals were indistinct on the microfilm.  The best interpretation is shown.]

  Gordon Hamilton
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