The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-07-27
likewise the N. K. at.


The great railroad strike reached EN-
poria Wednesday evening, at which tint
the railroad fisemen and trackmen stop
ped work, and notified the company thai
no more freight trains could pass thii
point until the matter o. wages was sat
isfaetorily adjusted. The strike Is said &c
have begun at the west end OF the road
and now extends along the entire line
The company quietly aequiesced so far a
running freight trains. was concerned,
and have made no attempts to run any
here, or at any other points on the road
so far as we can learn.
President Nickerson and Superintend.
emit Morse, OF the A. T. a. 5. F., were out
in Colorado when the strikes east began,
and were Fastening to Topeka on . spec
iRl train when the strike occurred on this
road. At Newton they were stopped sew
eral hours by the strikers, who wanted to
confer with them, but were finally per-
United to go on, having refused to give
any positive answer to the requests of
the men. They came through Emporia
Wednesday night, and were not held
here as has been reported.
The passenger trains are not Interfered
with, and are running as usual to-day,
(Thursday.) The passenger train bound
east was stopped this (Thursday) fore
noon, at the junction depot. and held IN
til Superintendent Morse who was tele-
graphed to at Topeka, would agree to pass
committee OF three strikers M to TOpe-
ka and back to confer with himself and
other officers Of the road. This he frst
refused, and then offered TO do it II the
men would permit > freight train of rail-
road iron here 70 60 on to thehew branch
road u Eldorado, which must be finished
next weekin order to secure the bonds
voted for it. The men refused to agree
to this until Mr.. Morse telegraphed to
let their committee pass on the train, and
after the train started they agreed to for
ward the iron. and informed Mr.. Morse
that they would furnish crew and take
1t along to Butler county If he would pass
the men back, which he agreed to, and
tine iron went out. so that the company
Will not lose its bonds along the line Of
the new branch road. There were about
100 government soldISrs on the passenger
train, under command OF Col. Smith,
bound from Fort Lyon to st. Louis, but
the railroad men, Of whom there are about
100 here, stopped the train just the same,
not appearing to care whether there were
any, soldiers on it or not. There was no
disturbance, the train men quietly obey
ing the orders Of their striking brethren.
The strikers have not as yet made any
specific demand on the company, further
than that the wages paid up 10 Jan. LIST,
1877, be restored, and a guarantee given
that the proposed reduction OF per cent.
August LIST, be recinded and no further
reduction be made.
= We are told by the men that :
Up to May LIST, 1877, conductors receIv-
ed 800 to $l20 per month, May list they
were reduced to $40 per month and no
allowance for extra time.
Jan. LIST the engineers made q special
contract with the company, for $3.50 PEI
100 lies run on passenger and 1915 per
100 miles on freight trains, and the fire
men contracted for $1.75 per 100 miles for
passenger and S2.O5 and $40 per 100
miles for freight frains. 1'hs firemen av-
eraged $50 per menth under this arrange
meut. Brakemen received up to May LIST,
81 80 to $50 and 81 per day, but were on
that date reduced to $45 per month and
no allowance for extra time. They claim
that they were made to work more than
30 days OF 10 hours each, and then gel
but S45 per month.
Extra crews get S45 for 80 days full
time, and no extras, so that IL they work
30 days OF ten hours each they get only
S45, but If they work less than 30 days
their pay Is deducted for all time lost.
Trackmen got 81 per day. A general
reduction OF per cent. was to take plac,
August LIST, and they now strike against
this and for the wages paid up tc Jan. 1st
leaving IL " their committee to confel
with the company and agreeing to ADOPT
whatever arrangements or prices the COM
mittee and company sgree upon. They
say they do not intend any INJURY to prop
erty or persons, but that no other mer
shall take their places on the road. They
are perfectly quiet and orderly, and NJ
trouble win arise hereif no attempts ar,
made to run freight trains against the or
der OF the strikers.
The railroad operator at the junction
depot o. g. Bjerkie, having been detec
ted in voluntarily rendering all the In
formation about the Strikers be could get
to headquarters, was advised to go to To
peka on the train to-day, and went &C
cofdingly. - -
There are several freight tralns full o
western bound merchandise here.
At Usage City 400 coal miners struel
Wednesday.
At Newton train containing zoo color,
ed soldiers was stopped Wednesday and
is held there At present. The men her,
say that the soldiers on the train to-da,
will not be allowed to go beyond Kansa
City.
At Newton, Wednesday night, con
ductor named George Benedict, known q
Blackberry George" vas heard to ex
press the opinion that any railroad EN-
ploye who resisted the company ought t
be shot whereupon he was showere,
with eggs and LEFT for Withita.
The Western Union telegraph operator
at Newtons named Parks. was requisite,
by the division superintendent to reves
q telegram sent by the strikers there, an,
refused saying it would be = violation o
his oath. The division superintendent
appealed to Chief superintendent Tor
nngton and Mr.. Torrfngton refused to re
quire the operator to reveal the message
The division superintendent then di,
charged the operator
The II. Il. & 7. road IL also In the strik,
and no freight trains running on it.
The railroad employees feel that the
have the sympathyof the public In thei
effort to secure adequate wages, and ar
resolved TO do nothing 20 forfeit publ
approval except SO far as may be absC
lGtely necessary TO prevent the runnin
Of freight trains and the consequent EAil
ure OF tn cir strike.
! J. T. Terrell, who used to be At sOden,