The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-25
GUARDING THE TRACKS.
THE FREIGHT HANDLERS STRIKE BE-
COMING MORE SERIOUS, AND THE
POLICE CALLED ON FOR AID.


POLICE CALLED ON FOR AID.
Railroads Applying for Protection-speciaIs
sworn in-Hardly Any Freight skipped
from New York-Merchnnts'L Losses Rock
oned Mt n Miiiion-rhe Question of DAM
sses-Acres OF Loaded Cars Idle.
The strike Of the freight handlers assumed
alarming proportions yesterday in Jersey City.
At an early hour wild rumors wore circulated
concerning the intentions OF tho dissatisfied
men. 1t was reported that they had resolved
10 resort to violence IL necessary in order to
compel the other workmen in the various rail-
road yards to quit work. A special and secret
meeting OF the strikers was held at lato hour
on Friday night in st. Michaels Institute on
Erie street. Precautions were observed to pre-
vent any information getting abroad as to
what resolutions they had formed. Despite
their vigilance. however the police sue
ceeded In learning the principal features
OF the programme They had 1t was
said decided to assemble in the morning and
march to the depot OF the Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad. which Is in Ho-
boken and adjoins the boundary line between
that city and Jersey City. They proposed to
force the yard mon employed there to strike
and intended 1t was understood to make use
OF vigorous measures. II needed to accomplish
this object. Thence. the police were informed.
they meant to go to the piers and yards of the
New York. Lake Erie. and Western Railroad.
and in succession to visit tho Pennsylvania
Railroad depot. the Red Star steamship pier.
and the Central Railroad. 1t was believed that
they had deliberately determined to make the
employees Of these different corporations aban-
don their posts and affiliate with them
These reports created anxiety among the
companies Each Of them made efforts to pro-
tect its property and the freight intrusted to it.
The Erie officials considered their road the
chief objective point Of the strikers and made
an urgent , appeal for police protection. twas
ARRANGED that the entire ayaiiable force should
Al o'clock yesterday morning. therefore. the
police were placed in motion, and marched
company at the foot OF Pavonia avenue. Chief
Murphy had so regulated their march that at Z
O'clock ,S battalion a ct l2S men were assembled
houses. Capt. Farrier with about so men from from
equal number from the Second. and Capt
Glenny with about twenty FIVE patrolmen from
covered the area between the river aud Provost
street. At Provost street, where the principal
switches are GaPpt MeKaig Of the Tenth Pre-
FSSat t9s RsSss Shisf MSSrphy and INSPECTOR
on The second ioor Of the ferry house three RD
mounted policemen. who rode through the
streets at frantic speed kept them in commu-
vost street and the Central office.
+, AT o'clock, after these preparations had
at work on Pier 6. They worked in a noisy and
demonstrative way. but made little progress
with the large piles Of merchandise. They were
principally engaged in moving freight from the
barge Chemung to the pier.
THE MEN ON THE MARCH.
At 9 o'clock the strikers gathered to the num-
Der OF 800 at st. hichael's Institute. whore they
down Pavonia avenue to Grove street. to Sixth.
70 Henderson and thence to the yards Of the
and seemed to DO earnest but dienfaed. They
y tS 1nsG
BY one Of his mounted couriers OF their move
but nd deemed their the conduct eat to
believed was their real objective point. The
strikers in the mean time passed through the
persuaded many Of the switchmen and brake
men to stop work.
laborer whom M he rccognized why wan are " You
working on such hot day as this Come. now
and take walk with US"
bar with which he had been mendng the tracks
and took place in the line Of march, His
s s9n s was sS@as s By hFfS esr
PPurman; Mr.. Albeit. Adj. Gen. strykcr and the
nndI started to make a tour Of the shore
Hall an hour later the Chief received
were on their way across tho Gap at Washing
n sts re and we're about to break into The
First, Third. and Fourth Precincts to the Cen
trails premises and to meet the strikers there's
minutes. however. the Annex boat came along.
bosn but hf tSs s trip M
Il
= make tie best time he could for the Central
srun Of eight minutes and the police disem-
barked. Detective Lennon of the Central un-
marching over the tracks under blazing sun sun
for half an hour they had the satisfnctionof
seeing the retiring handlers on the opposite
them to do but TO return to the Elmira which
had s been found lying at the slip, where tho high
eussing riots. The Strikers had INVADED the
yard had obliged or induced the driers and
ssw l to desert their posts and had fallen
SAD that the drillers and ,switchmen had gone
on Tiih the hanSIcrs This was aiterwarrd
business remained practically suspended.
NO FREIGHT MOVING.
The Emira made her way back to the Erie
pgpI rH opPhg on ne her FGnte at thG rsnnSy
pick up M e Alter the men H1eS pg5
they were sent TO dinner in squads. and the
strikers at about the same time broke their
ranks for the same purpose. As the day wore
on the railroad officials gave up their at
ttempts to move freight trains. and the
The Pennsylvania officials. after the raid
upon their yard. sent a message to
President Bird asking him to appoint 200
special policemen. whose salaries would be
paid by the company. A special meeting ofthe
follce Board was summoned for that purpose,
ana thlrty-seven policemen were Immediately
created 10 protect the Pennsylvania Railroads
property. The Mohiessen Wilchcrs Sugar
kelning Company also obtained tho appoint
Meht oiiourcen patromen 10 guard then prem
iSss in Washington street. The force OF specials
TTas subsequently increased until they reached
.he number originally demanded. Sheriff Gro
nan nWl long interview with Chief Murphy.
~ a. l9id him candidly." said the Chief that
u the strikers took to violence the police would
H. w. unable to cope with them. | pointed out
ma, .iat our force was so small numerically that
hh",Gouil not act effectively against any large
tpOuy OF rioters, except we acted as a unit. The
sStrltpry 10 be protected, | showed him, was so
extensive that it could not be covered in such
manner as to have "A sufficiently strong de-
%yGhmeht nj any given point that might be as
SSaieu We woul be obliged TO concentrate to
10 any good. and II we concentrated at one
pJilht, We left the rest to the rioters
Nm consequence Of this talk with the Chief,
plT trOnun n Trantpn and pDnSultpl