The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-07-25
The Railroad EnlpIOyees' strike.

lie IallIOaN SCllkc WHICH HrSC mani
tested itself at Martinsburgh West Va, has
now spread to other states and other railroads.
No violence has yet taken place but the strik-
crs are numerous and evidently determined to
persist in their movement. At Martinsburgh,
the blockade has been broken with the aid of
the United States troops but in other To-
calities the movement has gained more than it
lost in the place Of its inception. The strike
and consequent cessation of business now
| extends from Martinsburgh to Parkersburg,
Benwood, Columbus, Newark and Chicago, and
strcng CITIZENS as it extends westward. A call
has been made upon the Governor of Ohio
for troops. At Newark and Columbus fret ght
! trains only are stopped-passenger trains
being allowed to pass unmolested. At noon
on the 10Th, the freight men on the western
division of the Pennsylvania Railroad stopped
work, and at night large and enthusiastic
meeting was held at which was expressed a
determination to continue the strike. The
| fight was based upon the reduction of wages
of June list and also upon the doubling of
trains
~ The railroad employees strike which
was inaugurated few days ago at Martins
steadily tgrown until it now extends to the
three leading trunk lines to the east, and
from present indications, seems likely to in
cludc many more Of the principal roads of the
country. The situation has become serious
and alarming and the troops have been called
out in four States, but it appears, the force
thus far called into requisition,, is ut
tcrly inadequate to stem the current and ar
rest the strike. Commencing at Martinsburgh
the strike extended westward to Wheeling,
Newark, Columbus and Chicago, at each of
which places an almost entire blockade of
business was established. At Martinsburgh
this was in a measure raised by the appear
ancc upon the scene of United States troops
sent there by order Of the President, but only
to be re-established at Newark and Columbus.
In the, emergency Gov Young has been ap-
pcalcd to and has ordered to Newark four mil
itary companies to suppress the rioters. At
latest accounts, however, nothing has been ac-
complished in this direction and the strikers
were still masters Of the situation. The next
point on this road to be affected was Cumber-
land, Nd, where all freight trains were
stopped and the crews taken from them by
the strikers. Thereupon Gov Carroll ordered
the famous Fifth Regiment of Baltimore to
proceed forthwith to the scene of the disturb.
ancc. AS the troops were marching through
the streets Of Baltimore to the depot, a vast
mob gathered and commenced pclting the sol
diery with stones, when the latter were fired
upon and eleven men killed and several more
wounded. On the Pennsylvania Road the
strike was n;uiyurated at Pittsburg, and, as in
the c;,:,e oT the B. & o. Road, comprised only
freight train men. Very soon a complete
blockade was established, which remains un-
broken to this writing. The military were
promptly called out and forwarded to the city,
butas theysweress ontnuMhered, three to one,
Enothing could be accomplished. AS yet no
collision has taken place between the rioters
and the military, though the city is absolutely
in the hands Of the former. On. the Erie Road
the strike began at Hornellsvillcs and spread
promptly to Buffalo and other points. On this
road the strikers are much more quiet than
on the otley two reads, Lut here tee, the call