The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-28
jain eArgns.
Friday evening. April as, lsn.
Tha Rallroad war.
[ Broom PeOria Review Ami 25lh. ]


The railroad war, after we went to press
yesterday, assumed gigantic proportions.
The Chicago 4 Rock Island railroad had set
it's pony engine on the track, With three
Empire cars in front of it. These three
cars were forced down 6 switch ON the track
the Peoria d Rock Island railroad were
attempting to use. The P. &R.I.R.
aided by the T., P. 4 W. r. R., brought up
five engines, and attempted to force the
Empire cars out Of the way. The G. Il K.
|. road brought up three engines TO assist
the pony. There were thus nine engines
engaged with three Empire cars between
them. The engines of the G. d X. l. K. r.
remained quiet most of the time, making q
passive resistance, with their wheels blocked
BY railroad ties. The FIVE engines on the
p FRI. r. r. would back off few feet,
and then coming up would strike the Empire
cars with terrible force, breAAing the
bumpers, smashing in the ends, and sway
ing them back and forth like blocks of wood.
Several thousand people gathered and
swsrmed about the spot, and II was
wonder some one was not killed. The con-
test lasted for several hours. About half
past five, the Peoria d Rock Island engines
succeeded in partly breaking up and forcing
the cars out Of the way far enough TO run An
engine BY. This termination of the fight
was received with immense cheers. The
audience had Witnessed the contest with the
utmost good nature, and pubic opinion was
about equally divided. As soon as the Pc
oriA Il Rock Island took possession of the
disputed track, their opponents withdrew,
but this morning had blocked the track
again. At this juncture, both parties
enloined each other. The G. x r. /. rail-
road eDjoined the p. 4 K. |. from using the
track from Bridge street to Fsyette, and the
p. Il r. /. K. r. eDjoined the c. & r. l.
from obsructing it. The matter is now in
the courts, where it will be adjusted. The
inlunctions were granted by Judge Turner
of Pekin. The P. & r. |. r. r. claim that
they have q contract for the purchase OF
this part of the track. The c. & Il. l. say
that there was an agreement for swapping
the track above this, but none for this piece,
and that their opponents have never paid
for il nor offered to pay for it. 1t is foolish
for the people of Peoria TO take sides in this
matter. The city is equally interested in
both roads. 1t is not interested in their
Engagements. For public opinion to
espouse the cause Of one against the other
Is foolish The city intsrfered once in this
matter, and what was the result? Why, we
were involved ir lawsuit that cost US sew
eral hundred dollars to settle. Let us
remember that "he that passes BY and med
dleth with strife is like him that taketh
dog by the ears"
APRIL &c.
The true Anglo-Saxon dearly loves q
fight. Any chance scrimmage on the street
always draws GU eager aud excited crowd
The bystAnders take sides, and the contest
within the ciccle is generally supplemented
by wordy debate outside of it. The re-
cent war on Water street was the chief ex-
element dag before yesterday. On yester-
day the hope that the conflict would be
renewed drew together q large audience.
Water street WAS full and rumors of the i'm
pending crisis we're frequent. The G. & R.
|. K. r. had II was said, six engines all
ready to batter down its opponents. On the
other hand, it was said that the P. & r. l.,
backed by the T. P. Il W., had twelve en-
gines linked together with their famous
wrecking car in front, and il the others
moved finger they we're going to come up
aud ''litssraly pitch their opponents into the
drink
The crowd remained, patiently awaiting for
a renewal of hostilities. Many lost their
suppers, and even at late hour last night
the crowd maintained its ground, Anxiously
hoping thA. something would turn up.
1t is to be regretted that the collision be
tween the roads occurred. All such things
show a contempt for the .aw, and have toe
much of mob violence in their composition
e. - =. k.xkL i. ~
There is better method of busting differ
ences between corporations than smashing
cars and destroying property. The effec
of seeing two great corporations at open Wal
with each other on the public street, running
into each other with their trains, savort
much more of the prize ring than it does OIL
peaceful, lRw-sbiding citizens. If one need
ed q text against the growing insolence Of
corporations he could find it in such actions
as theye. Every such performance breed
contempt of the law. If two bullies meet
in a public street and batter each other il
the face, they are arrested and dealt with al
disturbers of the peace. But two corpora
tions, headed by our most respectable citi
zens, engage in almost q pitched battle TO
an entire day. Thou sands of people gsthe
to witness the disgraceful struggle, and ye
no one is arrested. Why, are they not a
ameuAble to the law as private individuals
So far as the merits of the contest are con
cerned we have nothing TO say. 1t is no
the interest of Peoria to take sides wit
either organization as against the other
The G. & r. l. r. r. has been our friend il
the past, and is so to-day. The P. &. r. ]
r. r. must be allowed to come into our city
On these points every one is agreed, Blu
the manner in which these two roads hav
chosen to settle their difficulties is highl
reprehensibls, and every sober-mInded cit
zen cannot but condemn the disgraceft
performAnce