New-York tribune., 1880-06-28
VIOLENCE IN SECOND AVENUE.

Very Unexpectedly trouble arose early yesterday
morning with the cardrlvers of the surface roads in
Second and Third.aves. The drivers on the Third
Avenue Road did not exhibit the same determined
spirit as their fellows on the Second Avenue Line,
and temporary truce was patched up with them so
that there interruption 70 travel The strike
on the Second Avenue Road, however, was begun in
earnest, and with such feeling of bitterness the
part of the that in several instances they pro-
ceeded to unlawful extremes and made police inter-
ference necessary. Travel was largely interrupted,
and only about seventy out of 110 cars were on the
road during the day, and these were very irreg
ulary
Inspector Thorne was found on duty at the Office
and stables of the Third Avenue Line, at Sixty
sixth-st., yesterday afternoon. in command of
force Of the police reserves He said to TRIBUNE
reporter: "At 1890 o'clock this morning l got
word that trouble was looked for from the car
drivers Of the Third-ave. and Second-ave lines,
and that the presence of tho police was required.
The chief trouble was expected on the Third-ave.
line but the event has been just the There
has been no difficulty here to-day. The cars were
got out on time, and have been running regularly
all day, but understand that the men intend to
turn out IN the morning. During the day have
sent an officer each from this point to Harlem
and return and the effect of this action has been
quiet. The Second-ave. line men, however, have
shown n very ugly md malicious spirit. At
o'clock this mOrhing they put two or three cars
crossways on the track at seventy and
they also chucked off on his head the driver who
took the first ear out of the stable. Captain Rob-
bins of the Twenty-eighth Precinct, was on duty
mt the stables Of the SecOnd-aye. line aud he
Strengthened the cars out"
At the office of the Ihirdave line no information
of the threatened trouble could be got, because, as
il was SAID, nothing definite was known there about
the matter. The men had made no complaint or de-
mand but there was dissatisfaction among them
from some cause 1he drivers when approached by
n reporter of the THE TRIBUNE, were not commune
catiye. One driver said that the drivers of open
cars were dissatisfied because they were not paid
more than the drivers of regular cars, although
their work was much harder. Said he: During
this weather three four passengers take an open
car 10 one that rides on a regular car and TINS
makes extra work for the driver" This statement
was borne out by observation taken of an open car
on m up trip. Al one time there were hfty four
passengers in this car. which had seating accOnmO
dauon for only thirty-twO passengers; while reg
ular car Just ahead was comparatively empty. lhe
pas Of drivers on he Third Avenue Road ~ Sl 10 n
day the short line, and 81 80 day for those who
60 10 Harlem.
The strike on the Second Avenue Road was a COM
plcte surprise to the officers of the company. rs no
communication had been received from the men
conveying n complaint or u demand. When II was
learned early III the morning that strike would be
made, rs the spirit OF the men was understood w0rd
was sent TO Captain Robbins, OF the lwenty-eghth
Precinct. for "A force OF police The first car was
sent ont about o'clock in the morning, and when
II reached EeFenty-becODO-ht.s Inb uIlNeIs NeOIHo
Cornell, was NhTOwn headlOng INTO the street DY
some of the strikers, aud tue car placed across the
track. Cornell was badly bruised about the face,
but he was not seriously Injured. Richard OBrien
and Michael Shea discharged drivers, were arrested
for participation in this outrage and taken before
Justice BIxby, who discharged them because no one
would make n complaint against them. George
Khngman, % striking driver OF the Second Avenue
Road, was arrested for throwing brick
at car on the Third Avenue Road at
Ninety-eighth-st.; he was locked up. About
o'clock in the afternoon driver was struck under
the ear with stone. at y-iifth-st and badly
hurt. When he arrived at the depot at Ninety
seventh-st he was 80 dazed that he drove the car
into the depot, amid the jeers of the strikers who
were collected near by. The assault on this driver
had the effect OF Tightening other drivers and for
some time It was found difficult to send ont car
Al 400 o'clock, Captain Robbins received orders to
Observation-Disclosures. and Seventieth-st; The
drivers who were induced to run were fearful that
they would be stoned or assaulted under cover OF
darkness.
While no information could be got at the railroad
Office the strikers more than willing to state
their case 10 a newspaper man. One 0t them; VINO
was constituted the mOuth-pece OF more than q
score of strikers found near the depot, said: we
did not make any demand or give any notice. but
we Just tied up this morning; What did we % do
day for fourteen hours wOr.'. Take NV case: l. go
at 4:2o a. IN; and go off 5:45 p M; iW and mine
stand all the time or be discharged. On the
Thir1-ave road the drivers are allowed to SIT down
part of the run, but If one OF us Is caught even
leaning against the dashboard, he IS gone up Inc
hours are SO long that once in every eight or ten
days man must lay off couple of days to
recruit himself, and that means loss to
him. We want 50 day; we can't
live on less. My landlord has raised the rent on
me. and have TO pay him So month. Can you
tell me, after the rent is taken out and allowance
made for the time Oft to recruit, how am 10 sup
port my family on 81 70 a dayP
This same man further stated that the drivers on
the Third Avenue Line held q meeting on Thursday
evening to agitate the subject of demanding higher
pay. Some of the Second Avenue drivers attended
the meeting. On Saturday seven of them were as
the drivers was called and the resolution to strike
was adopted. Aasecond meeting was held last even
ing, ut which a committee was appointed to call on
President Thorne, of the road, this morning anu
make known 10 him the demands OF the men. which
will include the reinstatement OF the discharged
drivers.
- q. .,r.l,orn n, nnnrrnr,nrr