New-York tribune., 1874-03-30
A RAILROAD WAR.
ALARMING STRIKE ON THE ERIE RAILROAD.
MILITARY NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Or ihA rho
prE-rAssENGER TRAVEL RESUMED

ALARMING STRIKE ON IhE EhiE
MILITARY INSTRUMENTATION OF Iiih rho-
pIE-rAssENGER TRAVEL RESUMED
IBr TELEGRAPH TO rHE TRIBUNEl
s.,o,-,u,xx, Penn March 29-Tbis scene of the
.tr;ke of the Erie Railway shopmen is tonight tne
80 of military operations, and fully 500 militia
from Iuzerne County are guarding the extensive
sbops and the depot, besides mounting sulc'
septrv duty in the streets The backbone OF the
strikers has been broken and during the last three
hours DELAYED trains have been rushing through
east and west While the great body Of the strkers
are somewhat awed aud dismayod by the presence
of tba armed home guards among theui tnoy na'o
NOT abandoned their position OF beingereucy' 'no
most intense anxiety exists among the lhhaotahts
~ the CITY and fears of open rupture between the
two forces are imminent. The scene around ana
shout the depot to-day has been of the hveiest de
st,op and since the militia have taken possession
of the town matters have grown worse.
yice-President Clark. who is here with number
of other prominent Erie officials, has positively
assured the men that they will receive tomorrow
morning every dollar the corporation owes
them II the money IS paid the strike must
be considered over but not the hOstilities. 1t Is
nostiyey asserted at headquarters that 800 of the
sbopmen will be DISCHARGED, event which Will
orecipitate war and prOlong hOstilites. The strk-
ers are determined to cling together the leaders de-
larng that the policy will be to stand by each other
10 the bitter end. That end has not yet come, and
come serious developments may be anticipated very
soon.
The shopmen were astounded this morning by the
sndden ARRIVAL of 200 home guards from Wilkesbarre
and Scranton. The news of the advent OF the
militia few like wildfre throughout the town, and
indignation at the Governors sancuomng sucn jill
act was everywhere expressed.
hrou erht hprq a
Attorney Jessup and the Sheriff of the county, and
the strikers denounce the entire business having
bes, precipitated by the vles misrepresentation.
The special train that conveyed the troops brought
along battery of four pieces from Hyde Park,
and these guns have been planted as to sweep the
yars east aud west. Gen. T.. s. Osborne. Commander
of the Ninth Division of Pennsylvania Militia, Is IN
command of the forces. Any person who passed the
lines are required TO show pass signed by Gen' Us
borne OF his Chief of staff.
This afternoon the shrill shop whistle assembled
the strikers around the car IN which the Ex-
ecutiye Committee had established its head
quarters. The Chairman stated to the expect
ant thsong that he had received certain propositions
from President Clarke, but vote resulted i'll
the pos. 2onement of action until tomorrow morn
ing. The strikers finally concluded to allow
passenger travel to be resumed
~
from Scranton. and swelled the entire force of
militia to about 800 men, A large flag is flying from
staff planted near the depot, showing that the city
is occupied by troops.
AS yet no violence has been attempted by either
side. The strikers having closed all the saloons in
the place. are not drunken or dsOrderly.
Tonight their committees are guarding the i'm
mense stock Of freight lying in the depot yard, and
spies are stationed both up and down the road.
signaling the approach of passenger trains TO the
Committee. Passenger trains tonight are coming
in regularly.
About dark six car loads of emigrants, bound fol
Canada arrived from Deposit, where they had been
detained since Friday. Everything is orderly to-
night The troops have taken possession of the
shops an0 strong detachment is doing patrol duty
around them.
The militia are regarding the affair as an excur-
sion trip. and many Of them are anxious to return
home The strikers are armed, and if rupture is
precipitated will make a stout resistance. Several
of the leaders declare the strike to have just begun