The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-26
THE CAUSE OF THE STRIKE

In order to understand the cause
which has produced the terrible conflict
between the employers and employees OF
several Of the leading railroads in the
North, we:subjoin the following brief ac-
count going back, to its inception taken
from the New York Herald:
On the 1st of July the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad issued an order to the
effect. that on and after the 18th inst. the
wages of all employ yees receiving over 81
per day would be reduced ten per cent.
This was done, as claimed, by the COM
pany on account of the reductions in
freight rates, and the same order had
previously been issued by the other trunk
lines. The employees throughout the
country claim that not long since their
wages were reduced from 1925 and So to
S1.75 and $1.50, which they stood with
out murmur, but that now, in addition
to the proposed reduction of ten per cent,
they are not to be allowed to make but
fifteen days in month. This, they say,
will not. furnish them with the barest
means Of subsistence. For example,
fifteen days at .$1.35 per day is s2O.25; ;
board is, at the lowest estimate, twenty
five cents per meal; thirty days at sew
enty-fve cents is $22.50; this brings
them in debt $2.25 per month for board
alone. They also claim that the COM
pany will find it an up bill job to find
men to fill the places of the present en-
ployees, and lose thousands of dollars by
employing inexperienced hands. The
firemen and brakemen employed in the
city say that the first cut was made on
their pay in 1873. They had then had a
quarter of day deducted from the time
allowed on trip which previously occu-
pied day and a quarter, and a similar
reduction equal to twenty per cent. made
in all cases.. On Sundays they had been
allowed half days extra pay, which
had also been deducted. The quarter Of
! day allowed; them at the depot when
called and not sent out was also stricken
from their. pay, which at that time was
S2.25 per day. On August Is, 1876, this
was reduced to sl.75 and additional work
given them. They were compelled to
take trains greater distances and put up
their engines, which gave them three
hours additional work daily without
compensation, By this last reduction
the iremen and brakemen of the first
class received $1.5S per day and the sec
ond class $1.35, with but four days work
in the week. The engineers formerly re.
ceiyed 1915 per day and bonus o.
twenty-five cents per day for every othel
month. They now receive $3.50 per day
and conductors 1925. While neither o.
the latter had Joined in the strike they
sympathized with the movement and LEM
tall the aid they could.
a large number of the strikers assem-
bled at Martinsburg, West Virginia
stopped all freight trains, and would per
NIT none to depart from the place. Th'
militia were called out, and Tuesday th'
18th inst, occurred the first conflict.
DETAILS OF THE RIOT AT MARTINsBURG
The following is published as an accu
rate account of the collision at Martins
: burg on Wednesday morning between
Captain Faulkner's militia and tn
strikers: The militia company was de
ployed on both sides of a train which wa
about starting, an engineer and fireman
having volunteered to work. AS tn
train reached the switch one OF tn
strikers, William Vandergrif, seized tn
switch ball, to run the train on a sid
track. John Poisal, a member of th
militia company, jumped from the Pilo
of the engine and attempted to repiac
the switch, so that the train should 60 on
Vandergrif fred two shots at Poisal, on
causing slight flesh wound in the sid
of the head. Poisal returned the fire
shooting Vandergriff through the hip
Several other shots we're fired at Wander
griff, striking him in the head and arm
When the firing was heard a very iarg
crowd of railroaders and citizens collected
and the feeling became intense. Th
volunteering engineer and fireman of tn
train ran off as soon as the shooting be
Gan. Captain Faulkner then made tn
statement that he had performed hi
duty. and If the train men deserted thel
posts he could do nothing more. Ih
militia company was therefore marche
their armory and ingloriously dis
with with SIS s9Bsaying the rioters. in possessio {.
90 .. ss's' and the road blocked U
w. eains on the siding'
ing himself unableto quell tneia find
acall upon the President for Feasl
troops, and the following correspondent