The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-05-26
SERIOUS RAILROAD RIOT.
From the Pioneer Press.


Telegram, May Our city has
been the scene of the widest excite
ment known for years during the last
nine hours, on account of the very ser
ious alteration between the authori-
ties of the Wisconsin Central road and
the officials Of the Omaha. A few
days since the Omaha people survey
ed line from Eau Claire to this city,
making junction with the Chippewa
Falls & Northern, one of their branch
es, For quite distance the line runs
parallel with the Central, and directly
along the side for the last mile on en-
tering this city. In the neighborhood
of 200 men have been working on
the line for the last week. Active OPP
erations we're commenced here on
Wednesday. Thursday morning be-
fore daylight the Central folks threw a
spur track across the proposed grade
of the Omaha, ran on an iron train
and ditched part of the cars, thus
practically suspending operations of
the Omaha people on this important
part of the line. Today large num-
Der of officials Of both roads congre-
gated in the city, and plans for an ag-
gressive movement were set on foot by
the Omaha to remove the obstruction.
1t is stated on authority that they
made fair overtures to the Central by
offering to put in and maintain a
crossing. The proposition was not ac-
cepted. For double security the Cen
trail folks placed an engine with steam
up at the head of the iron train which
lay across the way. While the Cen
trail people were off their guard a mo-
ment an Omaha officer ordered L. T.
Mead, an old engineer and conductor
of that line, to board the Central en-
CINE and jerk out the train. This he
succeeded in doing. Then followed
hand-to hand contest between the res
pective engineers and their allies.
Mead was hustled from the cab, and,
quicker than thought, the obstruction
train was back on the contested ground
In the interval, however, the Omaha
official had paced crew of their men
with rails so placed as to ditch the in
coming train before it reached their
grade. The Central superintendent
was on the engine and babe the men
get out of the way or be crushed;
while the Omaha officials ordered
them to hold their ground and never
fear the results as they dare not run
into them. But they did come back
with terrific force crushing two of the
men under the wheels, entirely sever
ing the legs of one, a FinIander, whose
name is not known, and who has since
died at the hospital Several others
were seriously injured. The sheriff of
the county Immediately swore in a
large number of deputies, and proceed
ed to the scene of the riot. The en-
gineer who ran the train into the men
has made his escape. No arrests have
been made up to this time. 1t appears
that neither company has gained the
right of way from the parties who own
the land, and the Chippewa Lumber
and boom company by their attorney,
r. D. Marshall, has ordered all work
stopped on their land which comprises
about sixty rods of the Omaha grade
lying between the Central depot and
the Omaha road Immediately COM
piled with the order The circuit
court being in session, and Judge
Clough in the city, the Central folks
obtained an injunction at 3 o'clock
this afternoon to restrain the Omaha
from further operations. NOtwith-
standing this an attempt was made by
tear the Omaha men about o'clock to
mp the spur track, when the respect
IKE road masters had a personal set-to
with no more serious results than
bloody noses and loose teeth. Further
truble is looked for during the night,
and the county and town authorities
are on their guird. The companies
are running lines in different directions
in the city and the widest excitement
prevails.
LATER.-Later advices from the
seat of war shows the above report to
be somewhat exaggerated, and also
informs us that peace has been de-
clared between the contending parties.
The Omaha company is to bring their
grade up to that of the Central road,
and the companies will jointly build
and maintain the crossing, each pay
ing one half of the expenses. Now
why could they not just as well have
agreed to this plan before as after the
row and the murder of an innocent
workman?
They have been having terrible
floods at Deadwood and neighboring
points in the Black Hills. The i'm