The New York herald., 1873-12-29
THE GREAT RAILROAD STRIKE.
The Strike NJ Clevcland-The Brother
hood of Engineers Disciatm Rcsponsi-
btlity.


The strike OF the railroad engineers is the gen.
eral topic OF conversation. Cleveland has been
very little arected by the movement thus far, the
trains on all the roads centring here arriving
and departing with the usual regularity. AS
Cleveland is the headquarters or the brotherhood
OF Locomotive Engineers much interest is attached
to the action OF the grand officers OF the associa
tion. Mr.. Charles Wilson,
GRAND CHIEF ENGINEER,
will publish In the Herald Monday morning the
following communication -
EDITORS HERALD
Inasmuch as many extravagant rumors have
been circulated In regard to the engineers strike,
deem 1t due to the public to say that the strike
on the leased lines OF the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company west OF Pittsburg was caused by q reduc
ton Of ten per cent OF the engineers wages The en-
gineers claim that an agreement was entered into
about two years since regulating the wages OF the
engineers, and tnat the engineers were assured
that no change would be made in their pay unless
they were consulted. Tney also claim that slack
IN business on the roads materially reduced their
a tsy they ey e 5ps
did not make hair time, yet the company retained
them in service hoping for an increase in
claimed to have treated all alike yet 1t will readily
OF 500 per month still leaves $9O while the reduc
tion caused by the less number OF trips run than
OF the engineers over 50 per cent This, the engi-
| neers clam, Is unjust. The company posted the
notice OF reduction without consulting the engl-
/ neerS, and 1t created an intense excitement The
engineers appointed committee TO wait on the
general manager and request the restoration OF
their pay. II not acceded to the committee was
authorized to demand the restoration OF pay and
notify the company OF the time the engineers
would quit work. In doing this the engineers
ACTED UPON THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY,
ignoring and violating the rules OF the brotherhood
Both sides claim to be sure OF success aud, 50 lar
as heard lrom they are stubbornly carrying on the
controversy. The Brotherhood OF Locomotive En-
gineers claim 10 be able, as general rule. to OBJ
OF vi iRnl mr. n m a fnrn
have recommended this organization to public favor
Is their action IN regard TO strikes. While IT IS
I quit II he js not satisfied yet, when that man
accepts position that involves the welfare OF
ent, and the fact that the members OF the
Brotherhood had voluntarily obligated them
e se to
them more influence and pay than any other labor
society obtained. 1t Will be lamentable II, after
gaining SO much, our members, through ill-tem.
per and nasty action, lose all. There is no doubt
but that both sides are at lault, and the results
! thus lar snow plainly the absolute necessity OF
! providing In some way tribunal that shall have
| POWER TO PEACEABLY SETTLE ALL SUCH Diff
| CULTIES.
The business interests OF the country cannot al
| lord to stop and witness fight between railway
0ca and employ,es r and more than al else
sits Idly BY. AS have already stated, the main
purposes of the brotherhood are to
AVOID these rulnOus conflicts, and, although many
! OF our members are engaged in a strike at the
present time, l feel 1t to be my duty to say that
|
and SO far as the officers of the organization are
concerned, 1t is my firm belief that they will en-
force our rules, II by SO doing we exclude one-haf
CHARLES WILSON, Grand Chief Engineer
| Mr.. Wilson has also issued an order Tor all en-
! gneers OF the brotherhood to go to work and to
desst from any interference with the men or
| property OF the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
| Mr.. John Feherenbach, President Of the Ma
chlnists and Blacksmths' International Union, has
| nT = at;>
to refrain from any interference with the iocomo-
| tive engineers in the present strike.
Violent Phase OF the Strike at Cincin-
natl.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 49, 1873.
1t is now apparent that tine strike OF engineers
is more extensive, systemized and wicked in
spirit than at first 1t appeared to be. The move.
ment embraces over 5000 miles OF roads, known
as the leased lines OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company, the termni OF which
are Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Chicago Indianapolis
and Louisville, and as nearly 5000 men
are engaged in it, about twice that number are
necessarily thrown out OF employment There is
every indication OF a determination on the part
Of the strikers to enforce their demands by ter
rorism IRON which humanity shrinks with q sick
ening heart.
The first demonstration of this diabOlical spirit
was made at Columbia station, few miles east Of
this city, on Saturday night, when it appears that
the Eastern express on the Little Mama
Railroad, due here at minutes past three
+. NJ. was several hours behind time
In leaving Columbus but would have
reached our depot at eight p. M. only for
MURDERous EFFORT
to throw it of the track at Columbia and precpi-
tate it into deep gully. The train was in charge
OF Conductor Holloway and Mr.. J. II. Gatchelle
master mechanic at the Cincinnati shops, acted as
engineer from Columbus. When 1t reached Colunl-
bla 1t was running at speed OF 25 miles an hour
ana just as 1t neared the Columbia switch the
engineer felt 1T leave the main track and knew
and gave the usual signal for stopping, but not
withstandlng TINS check the train demolished
and as there were no bumpers at the end
| II walked over large sycamore tree and dashed
the end OF heavy box car into small frame
with her only child, narrowly escaped destruction.
The engineer and fireman jumped i0r their lives
before the tram struck and escaped with some
severe bruises. The conductor had his hands pain
luly lacerated by broken glass. None OF the
/ PASSENGERS WERE INJURED,
although the train was large. An examination OF
the switch showed that 1t had been purposely
shifted, and to-day there is evidence that q man
was seen to shit Il shortly before the train passed
and tnen to run away.
Charles wilson, the Grand Chief of the Interna-
| tiona Division OF the Brotherhood or Locomo-
/ tive Engineers, has been interviewed at
Cleveland, ana reports the organization in q
very HOuTIsHlug CoHuitlOu Win
nearly $4,000 on hand and membership
OF $500 men, tie positively denies that the
| order Is In any way responsible Tor the strike,
ana afiirms that 1t was not authorized consented
! to or encouraged In any particular by 1t; but the
simultaneousness and Obstinacy OF the strike and
the many facts now appearing OF concerted action
only prove that, without the organization had
through the Brotherhood, there could not have
been such widespread and Instantaneous results.
At Dennison, ohio, the Shsrir and the whole iorce
at the command Of the county were
UNABLE TO PREVENT VIOLENCE
to those cmplOyeS who willing to run the
trains and the Governor OF the state was called
on Tor troops TO protect the road and maintain the
peace. The strikers had possessed themselves OF
large quantities OF liquor, and the aspect OF affairs
was very serious Trouble was expected at Fort
Wayne Ind Engineer Vance was shot at and
wounded in the arm as he TOOK his train out OF
Indianapolis on saturday night, and at Logansport,
Ind. the Sheriff was telegraphed for assistance to
quel the riot commenced there by $50 strikers.