The Portland daily press., 1883-08-08
THE STRIKE.
Western Union Wires Cut Near
New York.
Charges and Counter Charges by the
Company and Operators.
Only Few Of the Railroad Oper-
ators Go Out.

NEW YORK, Aug Asst. General Manager
Bates says there is not word of truth in the
report that the Western Union Company has
absolved railroad companies from contracts to
do commercial business with view of pre-
venting further complications.
The Western Union Telegraph Co. has issued
notice saying that as an organized effort is TO
be made 10 destroy Its wires around New York,
in connection with the strike, a reward of
$1,000 will be given for proof to convict any
persons interfering with wires, etc. In rela-
tion 10 the matter the officials of the company
say cable box at the company's cob was
destroyed last night and cables were cut, that
26 out of 20 Mutual Union wires were rendered
useless at Searsdale, and that the American
Union and Atlantic d Pacific routes to Boston
were interrupted with the evident intention OF
preventing the Boston papers from getting full
reports of the Sullivan-Slade affair.
A large amount of business was being
handled last night by the Western Union Co.
over its eastern wires. Special newspaper des-
patches to Boston and New England in regard
to the Sullivan-Slade fight had greatly in
creased the ordinary volume of work. Sudden
~ about 1880 the wires refused TO work and
there was for time cessation of all business
About rs wires to the east were still at work
and business was crowded upon them. Later,
however, these were also interrupted. 1t was
found. however, after considerable delay that
circuits by way of Albany could be utilized,
and most OF the business was transmitted by
that route, as well as by Toronto and Montreal
To-day linemen found that the wires at Sears
dale, point on the Harlem railroad about 25
miles from New York, to the number OF 80,
had been cut, evidently by experienced hands.
At the company's cob, where 80 wires of the
Western Union Co. cross the river by means OF
q cable, it was found that the cable box had
been demolished and the cable cut close to the
armor. 1t had come to the knowledge of the
company hat an organized plan for cutting
wires displacing them, and otherwise injuring
the property of the company, had been in
operation for over week. Every means
would be taken to capture those engaged in
this enterprise.
A despatch from Richmond saws: There
were only three or four railroad offices on the
Chesapeake & Ohio and on the Shenandoah
Valley which struck. The remaining roads
are all right.
A reward OF $1,000 was offered this evening
by the Brotherhood for the arrest and conyic-
tion of any of the Western Union employees
found maliciously interfering with the wires
OF that company, and similar reward was OIL
fered for the Identification of any agent OF the
Western Union Company offering bribe to
striking linemen to interfere with the wires
Members of the Brotherhood assert that the
Western Union Company have directed their
employees to cut their wires in oIder to turn
public sympathy from the strikers.
PITTsBuRa, Aug. 7.-At 2 o'clock about one
third of the operators working on the Pittsburg
division of the Baltimore a. Ohio quit work
and are now out.
CINCINNATI, Aug. mo strike among the
railroad operators on any of the roads leading
into the city is reported up to 130.
CHICAGO, Aug. TIT appears thatathe Tele-
graphic Brotherhood sent orders to strike yes
terday noon to the operators on the Chicago &
Alton railroad, but the orders failed to reach
the operators here and in many other places,
consequently no strike took place. 1t is said
the strike will take effect to-day. The Broth
erhood claim that the men on the Southern
divisions of the Alton and Wabash struck last
night. They also claim that the Wabash men
have been notified, and that seven out of six
teen men have quit work. The City Council
last night passed a resolution 81 sympathy
with the striking telegraphers.
ST. LOUIS, Aug. THE Superintendent of
the Wabash telegraph lines reports that only
four operators on that road left their keys yes
teyday under orders Of the Brotherhood. These
men we're at Dscatur, Ill. No other point on
The road was affected.
The General Manager of the Vandalia road
says: Only two members of the Brotherhood
have been found en- that line, and they were
required to resign.
The General Manager of the st. Louis &
San Francisco road has no apprehension of
trouble, as he has about 40 good operators FL
ing other positions on this line who can imme-
diately be called into service in case strike
oceurs.
BALTIMORE, Aug 7.-Officials at the main
office of the Baltimore & Ohio Telegraph Co.,
at 8 D. IA. to-day, made the statement that all
the operators at Camden Station quit work to-
day. Not one remained. They have heard
from nearly every station along the lines of the
roads, and the number striking and leaving
their posts does not exceed half dozen, and
their nlacAs have beeu sunDlied