The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-07
The Unskilled Italian Laborers Unable
to Perform the Work of Manu-
facture Rapidly Enough.
SEVERAL OF THEM sINGED.
The Strikers Overawed by the Police, but
Menacing in Attitude.

fresh and unlOOkedfor complication to che
already much-vexed question. The company
Is IN very undesirable position, for the
reason that by their arrangements with the city
the failure to supply gas during night breaks
their charter. They endeavOr to take advantage
OF the men without properly considering the means
at their disposal to fight them. This trouble was
originated by the company with view to reduce
expenses. The Mutual has received large
share OF the private trade, and 20 meet
the falling or in receipts the New York Company
tried the experiment OF doing with less men and
making the Others work longer Since the strike OF
last season three separate gangs of workmen have
been employed, each party working nominally
eight hours. The other gas companies in the city
were doing their business with two gangs but the
two were paid extra for the additional
time. This extra pay the New York Com
pany promised the men when the gangs
were cut down to two The men grumbled,
but consented. As soon then as the company
thought everything was in running gear with the
two gangs they cut or the extra pay, ana the re-
suit Is the present strike. AS as the men
went out Mr.. Mowten the superintendent, ar
ranged with the head OF an Italian society in Jer-
sey City for a number OF men to I'LL
THE PLACES or THE STRIKERS.
THESE were at once transferred 10 the works.
where they are lodged and fed, but their inability
to I'LL the positions OF the men on strike has made
itself painfully apparent
| People in that portion OF the city below Four
teenth street were much surprised when they found
themselves in darkness, and they began to realize
that the affair was more seriuos one than was at
| first anticipated.
! they found the gas did not come to time. From
| one lamp TO another they went, but without any
better result and they mt last gave 1t up in despair
| AT halfpast seven, however, the gas came through
| the pipes and was made use OF Immediately. In
! the private houses also the same want Of gas had
| been experienced. and houscholders improvsed all
manner OF articles 10 make good their light Old
Kerosene lamps that had not seen the light
| Tor years were brought out OF honorable
| retirement and pressed into service. When the
| gas came, however. at halfpast SEVEN 1t was
made use OF, and candles and Kerosene lamps
| were again thrust back to their old places. At
halfpast nine again the gas went out and once
more the people without light turned gladly to
| their time-worn lighting utensils Grocery stores
did lively business, and opened as soon rs 1t was
found that the usual supply had given out for the
| night.
| The district In which the gas had given out
stretched In complete darkness from Grand street
the city. Above Grand street the gas burned
partly but not to any universal extent. At some
points the Mutual gas used, and here, OF
course, the lights were all right. But wherever the
New York gas was In habtua use the city was
Coming downtownwards the city presented
| most singular and unique sight, or, rather. there
was sight at all. At some points the pale renee.
| ton OF lamp might be seen where the gas had
not been completely exhausted, but after some ,In
streets became black. One could distinguish IN
the pale light o. the heavens the silhogettes
and here and there the pale spark Of
candle in some window doing duty for the
absent gas. Passers-by were lew, and hurried on
as II half afraid OF being out on such night IL
| almost seemed, so singular was the event, that
city. Here and there, far down In the distance,
| one could see an occasional glimmer OF some faint
light, but otherwise all was stone dark
| In the lower precincts OF the city the crcum-
stance even more appalling, for In the streets
where there are no dwelling houses the still
tary policeman would pass on mis- beat and one
could scarcely discover his shadow as he passed.
gar for Snmsn SepS could lot hardly
| be distinguished three yards of. In every
dark doorway there seemed to be lurking some
| robber, and strange shadows seemed to nit about
| here and there. Along the river bank the same
intense darkness prevailed. At the Jerry house
| some hand lanterns were hung up here and there,
giving Just enough light to make the darkness more
visible beyond.
| has been partly stated already but it appears the
statement OF the superintendent to the contrary
Notwithstanding that the gasmen are skilled WORK
| men, and that the Italians are almost OF no value
| whatever. The men say that 1t takes at least
| year to become competent gasman; that the
mere making OF the gas is not the dfcult part, but
exact heat to which the furnaces must
When the Old gasmen Struck on Saturday the re-
tortS had been treated, so there was no difficulty
Sunday morning NOR they Attempted to begin the job
| they utterly failed, and In consequence, made so
little gas that u was almost OF no service. The
| company had, however, some gas left in the re-
torts last night but preferred to husband 1t care
fully to letting IT all 60, and thus be worse of than
ever tonight. They, therefore, turned the gas of
| at halfpast nine, when they supposed that the
main body Of outdoor promenaders had returned
The police around the gasworks in Twenty-first
street said last night thai some fifteen OF the
Italians were slnged yesterday pretty badly while
making gas. IL appears from the statement made
| that when making the gas great deal OF the mud
escapes when the furnaces are opened to put IN COAL
n btp af.Aan In oil
very careful to be at distance at this moment. The
Italians, not knowing this trick OF the trade, stood
before the doors OF the furnace. and when the gas
rushed out were burnt about the hair and face
The damages are slight but II IL said temporary
hospital has been erected inside the gas works the
Italians being AFRAID to venture out to procure aid
THE LOSS OF THE GAsLIGHT
last evening q serious casualty 10 hotels, eat
ing houses and liquor saloons In these, OF course,
\ candles and lamps had to be used In Sweeneys
Hotel, IN Chatham street, candles had been stuck
on tne gas burners IN the chandeliers, and the
aspect was very dismal and unsatisfactory. In
number OF eating houses and liquor saloons
| two candles would be stuck on the coupter and
difruse pale light around At Fulton ferry all the
coffee and cake shops were lighted up with smok-
ing lamps, which OF themselves make very lively
| stencil around. Many liquor saloons and eating
houses closed up in despair.
back at their work to-day, as they say the company
| cannot anord to sacrifice the confidence OF tne
as Il ad last enns the the sSn
ger, they think win be enough TO
get them back IN their places At the increased
| rate OF wages which they demand. only a. very
faint show OF violence was made by them ana tnat
was quickly stopped by Captain lyman, VINO sent ma
policeman home with the man VINO was threatened.
IL would be folly however, to suppose there ID not
great danger OF an outbreak.
THE MEN ARE pOGGED
and resolved and much better organized for re-
sstance than they were last year; other compa.
+. MES are taking advantage OF the misi0rtunes or
the New York Company, but II Is not probable that
the men now out win allow this to continue. The
managers Of some Of the otner companies have
promised their men the same terms as those the
strikers demand, II they shall succeed In wringing
them from the New York Company and begged
them to go on and keep at work. BY this
stroke OF policy they are able TO continue
| "a usual, while the New York Company
fights the battle. The workmen on strike object to
this and demand that all the gasmen shall strike,
In order to show the people that the companies are
treating them unfairly and imposing conditions