, 1879-04-20
q War on the Troublesome Cues
ton Of Wages.
rhe seamen Arc Firm in Demanding
Pay of So Day.
Il. 1u,nber-Yessel 0Wners Swear They Till Geyer
Pay 1t,
Bnt Viii Lay Up Their Ships First-Live.
ly Times Expected.

o,ened Yesterday in the most aggressive man
mr. the former sending forth the edict, $1.50
ner day, or We will lay up our vessels! and the
latter-s2 per day, and layup your vessels IT you
ike! The Lumber-V Vessel Owners promulgated
the following, after signing It:
fu1cAoo, April 18, 1S79.-We, the undersigned
owners and masters OF vessels now lying in the
rot of Chicago agree to lay our vessels up until
foucession is made on the part Of the sea1ncn who
hare determined to cxncr 81 per day for wages.
To which the Seamen's Union replied By post
Inc the following in conspicuous places along
the docks and in the vicinity OF Franklin and
South Water streets, where the mariners do the
most Of their congregating:
HEApQuARTERs or THE C1l1cAao SEANEN's
BENEVOLENT UNION, Corner OF Market and Wash
iuston streets. Anril l9, 1879.-Tbc following
resolntion, was unanimously adopted ut the meet
iuc Saturday, april 10:
WHEREAS, the vsese1-owners Of Chicago and
Milwaukee met in body and came to the conc1u-
sion not to nay the reasonable figure that we ask
Kesosrtd, That VIC, the seamen in Chicago, OF
this Union, etand by action Of Thursday night,
this Inion determines it otherwise. md allow
such men to suit themselves IS to laying their
vessels up.
R1cHAnD POWERS, President
There will be meeting Tomorrow {Sundny) at
2p. NJ at bohemian Hall.
At m early hour in the morning the sailors
aud others began to eongregate On South Water
street, until at o'clock the sidewalk from
Fifth avenue to point some distance west of
franklin street was filled with men. who were
discussing the situation and generally conjcctur-
ing how the contest would result, taking sides
according to their interest The Union sailors
were hopeful, and inserted that they would
carry their point, while on the other hand the
vessel-owners and some masters declared In the
most apparently earnest manner that they
could not pay 50 day,-it WAS an exorbitaut
ts and ,5n: Tue sailors were foolish iq asking it.
aud '' all they Ss'' could - afford II TO pa; pay
out at the present rates Of freight Some
owners remarked that the seamen did not seem
to understand that the freight rates could not
be raised IN tie face OF a slow lumber market.
The sailors Tcfuted this latter statement by say
iny that the owners had been having a good sea-
son at hettcr rites than for several seasons past,
and that the owners could not lay up their yes
sells in the face OF demand for them because
the sailors asked So per day.
Reports we're circulated that two or three YES
sells had gone out With crews taken at S1.50 per
day, after the Union had announced 81 as the
rate, and notably the schr l. NJ. Forrest; aud
reports were made and denied thai the
srhoouers Skylark and Pauline had gotten crews
sells were ready and waiting for fair wind to
carry them over or down the lake, and one. or
two Of the cousignees who had engaged vessels
were desirous lhat they should set sail Mt the
earliest moment possible. The craft were Ger
tainty not then able to get crews at less than
endeavoring to elect engagements with sailors
at trip figures, or ut 81. 50 or Sl.75 per day.
There were no demonstrations OF riotous or
threatening character on the Part OF the Union
Geamen, aud, so far as learned, no attempts were
made to prevent men from shipping at any rate
they saw lit to accept, though some Of the mas
ters aud owners expressed fears that they would
use violence.
Union, headed By band Of music, returned
from the Northwestern Depot, on kinzie street,
whittier they had been escorting the remains of
Thomas Cahill, comrade, to the funeral
train and the procession filed into South
Water street from Fifth, avenue, and
thoroughfare. When the head OF the line
reached franklin street double team Of spir-
ited ponies, attached to 3 democrat wagon, be-
came scared at the loud music and dashed off on
that street at mad galop, throwing the driver
of his seat and inlur.ng one Of his arms badly,
and upsetting one William Walkers buggy aud
causing the horse attached to it to run away.
The procession moved along, however, aud the |
Captain of the achooner Mary E. Cook rushed
out 10 the President Of the Union, who headed |
the band from playing. The skipper was
summarily dealt with, being knocked over and |
thrust aside. The runaway horses we're stopped |
before further damage was done. The funeral |
procession was not a demonstration apropos OF |
the wages conflict, as WAS rumored By those who |
we're Dot aware Of the object of the turnout
All was quiet around tue lumber market dur |
Ing the afternoon, aud it was reported by mas
tefs that fire or six vessels had Lett port with
crews who had shipped for S150 day per man,
the vessel was to leave tits morning. 4 fleet
.. about twenty iumber-hookers pulled out
during the day, Notwithstanding the wind was
IRON the north, aud the Union sailors inserted |
1hat oll that had engaged crews subsequent to |
the PRONUNCIATION OF tie Union rate had agreed
10 pay 81 day to each mvn.
AT the headquarters Of the Seaulen's Union,
IN the Central Block, corner of Washington and |
Market streets, 4 large number OF sailors
gathered during the afternoon, and number OF
ne" !a members member we're received and badges issued
TO them. The situation was discussed
u the most animated and sometimes
III the most vehement manner,
anu .1 one sentiment was expressed, and that was
11l2t the hight be carried OH until they gained
1nelr point, II it took all summer.
j., lhe ball will probably open tomorrow in the
n'eltcst sort Of a way, and some exciting scenes
nay result IRON the attempts Of the owners to !
carry their point. The meeting of sailors tool
uaI WI probably DC very large one, though
many are away on the lake. Should the grain
trace opc1 up soon there will be great de-
ihana 1or sailors, and that would tend to
aeleat t 11e object Of the lunber-vessel owners;
oues suoutd the Straits not open for some time
set the employers will hare an advantage,
siS ssniouEn: Inc Directors Of the Chicago Board OF
1nls m port, met In the afternoon at the Board of
4laoc conu1t1ee-room, and it WIS reported by
que ot It's members that no action WIS taken |
opon nc question Of saitors' wages; that the
pson pa nau not opened rs yet, and they would
1ot NEEDLE With the matter; it was the |
Lumber Vessel Owners. Association +h.+ ~ t1,o |