Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-07-20
EVENING STAR,
THE RAILROAD VAR.
ID. a o. Railroad
go, Iszz.

| NIGHT.
The Geographic dispatches 10 The SRA
| yesterday from Martinsbuug. W. Va. an
nounced that the Baltimore and Ohio Ran
road Company had dispatched freight trair
| east and one west from that point. paNi,
| Ziler WIS engineer on the train going eass
| and John Martin on the western bound train
The east bound train was compr sed entirely
| q coal hoppeTs, with "A coach attached foi
The eusTd OF troops. This train passed oul
OF MaTtlnsbufg without any Interference a,
- p; M, breaking the blockade. The west
ern bound train, which shortly afterwards
left ia the opposite direction compris.sd gen
era. merchandise. The coal train was drawn
by No engine, and a. IL moved of some
strlktrs occupied the hill beside the track.
Wb' sc there was plenty OF rocks. The sol
ditrs brought their arms 10 a ready but no
demonstration was made The gdari on fhe
lIaln was under Lieut. Lewis. with ten men
The olher train had also ten men The ~ol-
diers on the east bound train Were 10 20 As
far as Harper's Ferry. and those on the west
bound train as far as keyser. II was conti-
IDENTIFY believed that the departure OF theSe
trains without mClestation had broken tue
instruction, and that the show OF force and
determination had demonstrated the hope
lessness OF further persistence IN the strike
At the city limits the firemen deserted tie
west bound train, which was composed of
STOCK c@-S. until 40 p. M, when IL moved of
with Geo. Zepp as fireman. He walked up
the track with navy revolver In his hand
and was followed by his mother, who tried
10 disSuade him from going. Some of the
thy and prevent him from ang. when be
wa we'd his pistol over his head aud marched
boldly 10 the engine AID took his place. TIE
lrd'h lben moved OF. There were several
soldiers in the cab 10 protect the enginemau
and fireman, besides others in a car AZ the
ear OF the train. Richard Zepp. a brother of
Geo. Zepp, and the chief OF the strikers. was
rested by the sheriff, assisted by tue state
military, and lodged I'm jail. Toe strikers
dld not appear much dlsmayed. r. they
believed the freight trains leaving Martins
kaICl other no N : a. Isl
and west. The westward bound train passt
Sir Johns RuL all right, and no further
trouble il anticipated from 10. 10 went our
under charge Of John Msuford. engineer
There are now lying at Martinsburg seventy
three locomotives, nearly all OF which have
their fires banked so that they may BE- ready
To start after a few minutes notice. Toe
streets AT 80 O'Clock last evening were nearly
deserted, and most OF the military had gone
TO their quarters.
MIDNIGHT DISPATCHES FROM MARTINS
said that at that hour perfect quiet prevail
ed, and few persons were 10 be seen on the
streets. The arrest of Iepp caused all strik-
ers 10 retire to their homes. \ number OF
them informed the officers of the ROAD that
they are willing TO work but are afraid. Tue
wives and daughters of the str kers are un-
willing that their sons and husbands shall
incur the risk of going TO work. The whole
trouble originated with the second class fire
men, who have been sustained and encour-
aged by some of the citizens to whom they
are indebted. The federal military officers
retired To their quarters. the Berkeley hoase.
and at midnight there was only guard Ga
duty.
ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST TRAIN AT COM
BERLAND.
The first train OF freight from the Martins
burg blockade reached mberland at 9l5 ID.
M, Lieut.. Curtis and thirteen soldiers
aboard. The train was stoned at Sir Johns
Run. The train left for Keyser at 1890 with
out disturbance, although there was a good
deal OF loud and ugly talk.
WHAT THE STRIKERS SAY.
The striking fremen in Baltimore have
continued perfectly quiet, orderly and sober.
terday anXlously expecting news from the
central point of the movement, at Martins
burg. Many were congregated at their places
of resort in the southern section of the city.
They were confident OF the success of the
movement On peace basis. A committee
representing engineers, conductors, frenen
and brakemen had left Baltimore TO confer
with committees Of the strikers along the
whole line OF the road To insure unauimIty in
the demand for a. day for nremen and
brak men and no reduction for engineers
and conductors before resuming work. In
speaking of the causes of the strike tue men
state that in 1873 they received - a day, aud
could by extra work make ten and eleven
days a week. At that time reduction was
made taking OFF extra time allowed, the
extra half day for Sundays, aud putting the
regular pay al 2.25 a day. Last August a
the pay of first-class dremen was Sl.s5 and
second class SI50. The ten per cent reduc-
D Is a
day. The men state that in addition they
have to take trains TO Locust Point, instead
OF Mount Clare, TO draw the fires and put
away the engines. They allege that the
number of brakemen have been reduced the
size of the trains enlarged, and the danger OF
accidents on the trains greatly increased.
The work is very heavy, man having TO
handle some eight tons of coal several times
during the day. They claim that their work
Is trade as much as any other, and requires
skilled labor. man must not only throw
In nal h..f l. H. Il.
engine will consume, or he may stop her
running by putting in too much or too little.
They say that eighteen days IN a month is
average would not be over fourteen DAYS.
In the winter twelve days is good average.
The story OF their struggles 10 live Il very
sad. On the road they have to pay their
board while waiting for return trains, each
meal costing thirty cents. They assert that
they are detained from one and two to as
much as four days on trips, so that on their
return they have little or nothing over from
the proceeds of their work. Those who have
families here are obliged to pay house rent
In Baltimore and to get food for their wives
and children. They say that this keeps them
always behind with the storekeepers, and
complain bitterly of an order issued by the
company discharging any OF them whose
that for long time past they have been
Obliged frequently TO deny themselves meals
and lodging, because they had to take the
money for their families. TQey also COM
Iorbidding any of them TO sleep in the ca
boose car, so that often, even in cold wealth
er, they have to take soft plank In the open
air for a bed. They say that they did no.
resist SO long as they could live, but the
struggle now is for bread, which they cannot
make under the reduction. Many OF them
declare they might as well starve without
work as starve and work. They now say
that, having once acted, they are determined
TO have the worth of their labor, -, or
nothing. The engineers and conductors are
now getting $3.50 and - . day, respective
ly, under the reduction. The men claim that
they are entirely on their side. aud If neces-
sary would join in the strike, but IL is not
considered well advised that they should
do so.
Strike ON the Central Ohio Division.
The strike on the Baltimore and Ohio rail
road has extended TO the Central Ohio div
sion, and all freight trains were detained al
Newark, Ohio, yesterday. II is stated that
the strikers have threatened to use force in
case of the removal OF trains. No demon
STATIONS OF violence have yet occurred, but
are anticipated i'm case trains are taken out.
Men gathered about the depots IN large num-
bers, but good humor prevailed. TIE engi-
neers have not yet openly Joined the firemen
in the strike. NJ. l.. Doherty, master OF traffic |