Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-08-13
The Railroad War in New York.


The New York papers are full Of the details
OF the Susq uehanna railroad war, which, &C.
cording to latest accounts, had been trans.
ferred from the line o. the road to the Courts
The Erie Oompan had, Tuesday afternoon,
from 70J to 500 men at the tunnel, and holding
The station near it. The force OF the Albany
oered, between and O'Clock, tnlrty-nve men,
at which time the main force Of $50 or 400 men
arrived. At about that time the Erie manager
determined to take the disputed ground. A
train of two cars was filled with men, mum.
beripg, perhaps, $50, and sent into the tunnel.
NO obstr ction was met with until the tunnel
was passed. Atthe upper end rail was found
to have been taken up, and was replaced. Then,
on turning curve, q train with Ramsey men on
board was observed approaching. The Erie
the other tram increased its speed. Seeing this,
the speed Of the Erie train was increased, and
the two trains struck with heavy crash. The
collision was the signal Tor the nsnt. The al.
shouts, and they had scarcely come to blows
before the Erie party Ned back through the
tunnel and over 1t. The engine backed into
the tunnel and returned. Both engines were
considerably injured. The Erie locomotive
lost its head. light and one flag staff, and part
of its cowcatcher, while the latter lost almost
ably bruised, and thrown partly or the track.
While getting the engine in position again, it
was determined to follow mp the victory. S)me
OF the Albany men had chased the Erie men
numbers to attack. After the engine was righted
it was driven through the tunuel; but so M ch
time had elapsed that the Erle men were raj
lied and ready for battle again. The ,nfiic I
was reopened with great fury. The Erie men.
occupying their own ground, had no in teution
OF giving il up; besides they were expecting
momentarily the arrival OF the Forty fourth
regiment The Albany men, flushed with sue.
cess, attacked vigorously. Pistols were used,
with stones, clubs and fists. Threats, cries
ana horrid oaths were mixed SO as to be quite
n N
ness and profanity. Some Of the men Were
drunk. The fight was continued until about
eight O'Clock, when the Forty. fourth regi.
ment having arrived, the Albany men left
the field and returned TO the other end OF the
tunnel. They were not pursued on account
of the darkness. The Erie men sustained
Two Of the Erie men receive pistol. shot
wounds-one, Chas. Ernest, OF Susquehanna.
was shot through the hand, the other WAS shot
IN me leg. Inc foii9WiEg were Injured, some
hanna, skull probably fractured Edward
Herrold, OF Susquehanna, struck with heavy
club on the head; George Colgrove, of Susque.
hanna, injured on the head VIM. Bolger, hurt
in the breast; John Smith, dubbed; John Simp.
son, conductor, struck by stones in the head
and side.
tending parties to understand that the riotous
demonstrations on either end OF the route must
cease, and the question OF control be decided
by the courts. The parties undertook to agree
upon some method OF adjustment, but failed
His Excellency thereupon said that he would
be compelled to declare the district in a state
OF insurrectIon, take possession OF the road as
military necessity, and run II as a military
road. II they thought such a course ad yisabie
for the stockholders, and that the State should
be put to the expense Of a quarter of million
OF dollars to enforce his proclamation thew
might take the responsible His course, how.
ever, was clear to him, and he should pursue il.
.. Ihereupon the counsel Of the respective par
ties, consisting OF Messrs. David Dudley Field,
John GansOn and Amasa J. Parker represent
ing the Erie interest, and Messrs. VIM F
Allen and Rufus w. Peckman, Jr, held a
consultation in the executive chamber the
result OF which was the signing of communi
cation to the Governor, requesting BIN to
appoint sore suitable person or persons to act
as superintendent or experimenting, and To
run and operate the road.
While Messrs. Pruyn and Ramsey were in
the Executive Chamber that afternoon, thew
were arrested on a warrant served bv the
Sherif, for contempt of Court. The warrant
was issued by Judge Barnard, of New York.
Judge Clute Immediately issued a writ of
hd6eds corpus and Messrs. Pruyn and Ramsey
Were brought before him. Superin ten dent an
talkenburg was arrested for contempt Ii is
said that Fisk, unders landing that a warrant
Would be issued for his arrest for contempt
chartered steamboat and started for New
York. " N"
Judge Barnard at a special term of the
supreme Court yesterday morning vacated ALI
the orders OF Judge Peckham in the case of
Chase VS.. the Susq johanna Railroad Compa-
ny, and also issued non bailable attachments
against Robert V. Pruyn, Joseph Ramsey, and
JONI H. Van Walker burg, and an order re-.
curing them 10 show cause why thew shouid
not De punished Tor contempt.